Military history of Newfoundland during World War II
When the
Raising of the Newfoundland Militia
The period between the two World Wars saw great political turmoil in the Dominion of Newfoundland, resulting in the suspension of responsible government and the appointing of the Commission of Government resulting in the Newfoundland reverting to de facto Crown colony status. The presence of the German Navy in Atlantic waters threatened the security of the country, and in September 1939 it was decided to raise a local defence militia unit for the defence of the island.[2] The Newfoundland Militia was tasked with guarding strategic positions on the island, including the dry docks, water supply, and oil reserves in St. John's and the Newfoundland Broadcasting Company's radio station in Mount Pearl. Later, these guard duties were expanded to include the maintenance of a coastal defence battery on Bell Island to protect the Wabana Iron Ore Mines, and mines and docks throughout the rest of the island. Following the Fall of France in 1940, Newfoundland's defensive position was seen as being more precarious. This led to Canada assuming responsibility for the defence of Newfoundland with the establishment of 'W Force': various infantry, artillery, and anti-aircraft garrison forces to be stationed on the island.[3] The Newfoundland Militia was immediately placed under command of W Force and, eventually, under command of a Canadian commanding officer.[citation needed]
In addition to its infantry defence duties Newfoundland also maintained the 1st Coastal Defence Battery, a coastal defence battery on Bell Island to protect the approaches to the island where bulk carriers loaded iron ore from the Bell Island Mines. On the night of September 4, 1942 U-513 entered Conception Bay and sunk SS Saganaga and SS Lord Strathcona. Responding to naval ships firing their guns at a target in the water, 1st Coastal Defence Battery manned their guns and attempted to fire on the same location; however, the U-boat escaped. This was the only occasion that 1st Coastal Defence Battery fired its guns in action.[citation needed]
Newfoundland Regiment
The efforts of the Canadian Army to expand and train the militia to professional standards resulted in the Newfoundland Militia being re-designated the
Royal Artillery Service
Beginning in 1940, Newfoundland began recruiting citizens for service in two Royal Artillery units: the 57th (Newfoundland) Heavy Artillery Regiment and the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Artillery Regiment, though during the war, the 57th transitioned into a field artillery regiment and was redesignated the 166th (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment. Both artillery units were initially assigned to coastal defence duties in Britain, resulting in a backlog of recruits in Newfoundland who could not be immediately posted to either artillery unit. To make use of these excess recruits, the Department of Militia decided in 1942 to utilize the artillery regiments as a training and recruit depot for artillery recruits.
166th (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment
The 166th Regiment was first deployed to
59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Artillery Regiment
As a heavy artillery regiment, the 59th remained in England on coastal defence duties until 1944. In July, following the
See also
References
- ^ Neary, Peter. "The History of Newfoundland and Labrador during the Second World War". warmuseum.ca. Canadian War Museum. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Home Defence". www.heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
- ^ Kavanagh, Robert L. (April 1995). W Force: The Canadian Army and the Defence of Newfoundland in the Second World War (PDF) (MA Thesis). Memorial University of Newfoundland.
- ^ The Newfoundland Regiment 1939–1945 Nominal Roll. Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum, St. John's: Unpublished archival source.
- ^ a b "Royal Artillery". www.heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
- ^ "Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum honours WW II vet | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
- ^ a b Nicholson, G.W.L. (1969). More Fighting Newfoundlanders: A History of Newfoundland's Fighting Forces in the Second World War. St. John's: Government of Newfoundland.