'Winter and rough weather' : Fort Churchill 1946-1964 in defence of Northern Canada
Date
1989
Authors
Tedlie, Alfred James
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study examines the life and death of a Canadian Army base which existed in the vicinity of Churchill, Manitoba, from 1946 to 1964. It explains how this base, called Fort Churchill, came into being and how it grew from an airfield and a handful of buildings constructed by the United States during World War II to become the home of up to three thousand, five hundred men, women and children living in the most modern accommodation among more than adequate facilities.
It explores why Fort Churchill was created and why its utilization was finally terminated by the Department of National Defence despite sporadic attempts to retain its use for military purposes after the facilities had been handed over to the Department of Public Works in 1964.
Some of the training, tests and experimental work conducted at the Fort is commented upon and rocketry at the base is covered in depth. Emphasis is placed on the high degree of co-operation achieved on a base which brought together the armed services of Canada, the United States and Great Britain along with their scientific support agencies. Much of the material has been derived from the files of the Public Archives and the Directorate of History of the Department of National Defence in Ottawa. The writings of armed forces personnel and scientists who served at the Fort were consulted. Interviews were held where possible with persons who were instrumental in the life of the station and its eventual demise. Extensive use was made of the record of House of Commons Debates and other Canadian government documents pertaining to national defence issues.
Major Arguments
1. The activities carried out by the Canadian armed forces in northern Canada prior to World War II were mainly for civilian, rather than military, purposes; thus Canadian service personnel had little training in living, moving and fighting in the Arctic under conditions which might obtain in warfare.
2. Although Canadian soldiers engaged in some fighting in northern Russia at the close of the Great War and had taken part in operations in Arctic areas in World War II, albeit without combat, these experiences were of little value in preparing them for the extended Arctic military activities some authorities anticipated would arise as a result of the Cold War.
3. Post-World War II Canadian defence interest in the Canadian north was triggered by a concern about the expansionist ambitions of the USSR and an even deeper concern about the threat to sovereignty posed by the continuation of any type of American military presence on Canadian territory similar to that which had occurred during the war.
4. Although American pressure had a great deal to do with Canada's decision to establish an experimental and training base in the Arctic after World War II and the United States armed forces played a considerable part in the life of Fort Churchill, their participation was rigidly controlled as to numbers and rank.
The conclusion is that there were ambivalent feelings among Canadian politicians and officials in 1964 as to whether it was really necessary to continue supporting an Arctic experimental and training base. Experience had shown how expensive supporting such a base had become, and, after a drastic cut in the Defence Department budget, Fort Churchill became a prime target for abandonment. Members in the Canadian military had improved their knowledge of the Arctic as a result of the work conducted at the Fort, and a great deal of the clothing and equipment needed for cold weather combat had been improved. Much remained to be done, but the money and the will to continue were lacking. Hence 1964 ended the halycon days of military activity in the far north.