Work Archives | Page 3 of 6 | When World War II Came to Bell Island, Newfoundland

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. […]

SS Lord Strathcona

The steamship Lord Strathcona was owned by the Dominion Shipping Company, a subsidiary of the Dominion Steel & Coal Corporation, which owned the Bell Island iron mines. The […]

SS Saganaga before World War II

SS Saganaga was a British steamship owned by the South Georgia Company Ltd. (Christian Salvesen & Company) of Leith, Scotland. All but one of the crew were from […]

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 […]

Nameplate from SS Lord Strathcona

This wooden nameplate from SS Lord Strathcona washed up onshore on Bell Island after the sinking. The nameplate was attached to the exterior of the ship’s bridge. It […]

Ship’s bell from SS Rose Castle

The ship’s bell from SS Rose Castle washed ashore on a piece of wreckage after the sinking. The large brass bell is inscribed with the name of the […]

Compass from Bell Island shipwreck

This navigational compass was recovered by divers from the bridge of one of the shipwrecks. The compass is now on display in the Bell Island Community Museum.

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. […]