Military Archives | Page 2 of 5 | When World War II Came to Bell Island, Newfoundland

Ensign of the Free French Naval Forces in World War II

Ensign of the Free French Navy in World War II. General Charles de Gaulle led the Free French Forces, which split from the French Government in Vichy, France […]

Halifax Memorial to Canadian Sailors Lost at Sea

The Halifax Memorial in Halifax, Nova Scotia commemorates Canadian Merchant Navy and Royal Canadian Navy sailors lost in wartime with no known grave. Names of Canadian Merchant Navy […]

Tower Hill Memorial to British Merchant Navy sailors

The Tower Hill Memorial in London, England commemorates British Merchant Navy seamen lost in wartime with no known grave. The names of British sailors lost when Saganaga was […]

Map of second U-boat attack at Bell Island

This map of the second U-boat attack at Bell Island was drawn by Canadian Army Intelligence staff who investigated the sinkings. The map (marked SECRET) shows two ships […]

Map of first U-boat attack at Bell Island

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) investigated the first U-boat attack and sinkings after September 5, 1942. This map came from RCN files on the sinking of SS Saganaga. […]

Sinking of the Saganaga by Joe Dwyer

Painting of the Sinking of the Saganaga by Joe Dwyer. The painting shows the explosion as a German torpedo strikes the side of the steamship Saganaga on September […]

Locking ring from German torpedo, recovered in Bell Island Tickle

Locking ring that attached the warhead to a German G7e torpedo that was fired by the submarine U-518 on November 2, 1942 at the SS Rose Castle. This […]

Fairmile Motor Launch Q-060 in Conception Bay

Royal Canadian Navy’s Fairmile Motor Launch Q-060 in Job’s Cove, Conception Bay in 1942. Fairmile Motor Launches patrolled Conception Bay and Bell Island Tickle to defend against German […]

Two coastal defence guns on Bell Island

Two 4.7-inch coastal defence guns on Bell Island, installed in 1940, overlooking Bell Island Tickle. These guns were manned by the Newfoundland Militia. The location of these guns […]

Telegram from Newfoundland Governor on defence of Bell Island

Secret telegram sent by the Governor of Newfoundland (Sir Humphrey Walwyn) on October 28, 1939 to the British Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on the need for […]

DOSCO report on need for coastal defence of Bell Island

Extracts from a report of October 16, 1939 by J.A. Macdonald for the Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation (DOSCO) on the need for coastal defences at Bell Island. […]

U-513 with iceberg off Newfoundland in 1942

Photo from U-boat commander Rolf Rüggeberg’s personal collection. Probably taken in late August, 1942 in the Strait of Belle Isle off northern Newfoundland. Photo taken from the bow […]