
HMCS
AVALON
RCN BARRACKS
ST. JOHN'S

Aerial view of HMCS AVALON, still under
construction, looking south - circa 1942
Courtesy of Donald (Bud) Rose
Click on the above photo to view the full
image |
Originally
designed as a temporary ocean escort base, during the course of the Second
World War, St. John’s, Newfoundland, evolved to become one of the most important bases in
the Atlantic, second only to Halifax. All the RCN's wartime basses were
sub-commands of Halifax with the exception of HMCS AVALON - her commanding
officer held the title of Flag Officer Commanding. Along with repair facilities,
work-ups training for ships, and recreational facilities for sailors, there
were several training centres at HMCS AVALON - the Tactical Training Centre
in St. John’s contained the Anti-Submarine School, the Gunnery School, the
Radar School and Loran (Long Range Aid to Navigation) School, plus a Night
Escort Teacher.
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and Documents
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First
Line of Defence
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
Photos
and Documents

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RCN Hospital # 2 at Buckmaster's Field, HMCS AVALON, St. John's, NFLD, 1944
From the World War II collection of James
Edward Lowe, Cook, RCN
Courtesy of Kathleen Lowe
Historical
note: Permanent Post War Construction verses Temporary War
Time Construction - In the years 1942 / 43 discussions were held
in St. John's Newfoundland between the Right Honorable Clement Atlee
[Deputy Prime Minister to Sir Winston Churchill] and Secretary of
the Dominions (the Nfld Commission of Government and the Government
of Canada, represented by the Royal Canadian Navy), on the above
captioned subject. Discussion priority was the need for certain
buildings being built for the Navy, to be of a permanent
construction. At the cession of hostilities, these structures were
to be turned over to the NFLD Commission of Government. One such
structure was the R C N Hospital #2.
The
building in foreground is RCN Hospital #2. The white building in
rear with open sundecks is the Tuberculosis Sanitarium built in 1917
(note the security fence). RCN Hospital #2 was located next to the
T.B. Sanitarium, and at wars end became part of the T.B. Sanitarium.
Death rate per-capita in NFLD from T.B. was double that of either
Canada or Britain. By converting this facility to a sanitarium at
wars end, doubled the capacity of the original sanitarium. It would
exist until the early 1970 and was known as the "New San".
Few pictures exist as the Sanitarium was located to the west of St.
John's in a (rather remote) medically restricted area. Visitations
were tightly supervised. Furthermore, the RCN Hospital was a
military installation and pictures as such were forbidden.
(Researched by Donald (Bud) Rose) |

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Nurses Quarters and related facilities - RCN
Hospital #1
The
hospital was built a short distance away (left of photo) on Carvel
Street next to the Nfld General Hospital. It was built as "Post
War Permanent". At the cesson of hostilities, it became first
fully orthopedic hospital in Nfld. The original hospital is now
gone, and the 'Veteran's Pavilion' now occupies the site.
Courtesy
of / Researched by Donald (Bud) Rose |

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HMCS AVALON Fire Station
A
part of the naval vehicle maintenance facility can be seen at the
right rear of fire station. Both facilities were constructed as
"Post War Permanent". This fire station continued to
operate until Oct. 2014, having been turned over to the St. John's
Fire Dept. in 1946. The RCN vehicle maintenance facility was turned
over to the Nfld Government dept. of highways in 1946, Post War
Permanent. Vacated in the 1970s by the Highways Dept. it was used
for storage. This structure was remove shortly after the closing of
the fire station in Oct. 2014.
Courtesy of / Researched by Donald
(Bud) Rose |

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RCN seamen's barracks (South Side Hills)
At center of photo, slightly to the left, is
the Naval Armament Depot (N.A.D.)
Courtesy of / Researched by Donald
(Bud) Rose |

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Bldg. #17 - Wrens barracks at HMCS AVALON
Courtesy of / Researched by Donald
(Bud) Rose |

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Bldg. # 32 - YMCA Hostel which was built
at HMCS AVALON in 1942.
Note the YMCA Red Triangle logo painted on the
C M P vehicle. This vehicle was painted "Navy Blue" and
was sold at 'Crown Assets' auction in 1950.
Courtesy of / Researched by Donald
(Bud) Rose |

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Entrance to nurse's quarters at RCN Hospital
#1.
Courtesy of / Researched by Donald
(Bud) Rose |

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Newspaper article on HMCS AVALON'S hockey team
The Crow's Nest newspaper - Apr 1944 |

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Newspaper article on HMCS AVALON'S soccer team
The Crow's Nest newspaper - Nov 1944 |

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Staff of HMCS AVALON sitting in front of the
Pay Officer
Courtesy of the Naval Museum of Halifax |
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