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026 |
Long shot of the Bull Harbour Wireless
Station when Charlie was stationed there. Photo taken from the
harbour mouth, looking eastward. Most likely in the
1920's. |
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027 |
A rock at Bull Harbour that looks like a bull. There are
some three people in the photo. |
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028 |
A residence at Pachena Light and Wireless Station. 1920's |
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029 |
Business end of Pachena's fog alarm. Horn
operated on compressed air. |
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030 |
Canadian Pacific Railway vessels plying the coastal communities carried a wireless
operator. This one is named 'Danny' and is seen here with Gene
Aitkens. May have been taken on the SS 'Princess Maquinna'. |
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031 |
Charlie Aitkens' 1931 Certificate of Proficiency in
Radiotelegraphy. Printed on heavy linen or cotton paper 13" x
16 ". Official signatures were: Manson as the Examining Officer and Hawken as the
Acting Deputy Minister of Marine. A brief bio of the two men who signed this
document is below. (Thanks to Laval for digging
this info out.) |
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032 |
A Scot and former Marconi employee in the 1920s, Donald
Manson was a senior radio inspector for the Branch.
He was then promoted to chief radio inspector and was the
secretary to the Aird Royal Commission before becoming general
manager of the CBC
H.E.A. Hawken, a career civil servant with experience in
shipping, was assistant deputy minister.
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033 |
Charlie and wife Gene's residence at Estevan Point Wireless. |
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034 |
Russian vessel "Uzbekistan", wrecked near Pachena Point
during World War 2.
Photo credit--Public Archives of Canada. Quite the commotion
from the authorities when this vessel came ashore. Crew was
Russian. The coxswain's wife at the Bamfield Lifeboat Station
at the time, Jessie Logvinoff, told me [Frank
Statham] she remembered the rescued
crew sleeping in her living room. In the middle of the night
there was a commotion from downstairs and when her husband
Johnny went downstairs to investigate, he found out it was their pet
cat investigating the sleeping men. Johnny was bilingual and I
suppose that was a help during the rescue operations. |
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035 |
Charlie Aitkens 1957 First Class Certificate of Proficiency in
Radio. |
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036 |
The other side of 035. |
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037 |
Album page showing the layout of the photos. Photo 037 was
to the left of Photo 038. |
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038 |
Album page showing the layout of the photos. |
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039 |
Album page showing the layout of the photos. Photo 039 was
to the left of photo 040. |
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040 |
Album page showing the layout of the photos. |
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041 |
Album page showing the layout of the photos. Photo 041 was
to the left of Photo 042. |
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042 |
Album page showing the layout of the photos. |
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043 |
Album page showing the layout of the photos. Photo 043 was
to the left of Photo 044. |
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044 |
Album page showing the layout of the photos. |
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045 |
The lightkeeper duo, the McNabbs, with Charlie Aitkens in the middle.
The McNabbs served at a number of stations, and at the time of this
photo were most likely at Leonard Island Lighthouse, a few miles
west of Tofino B.C. |
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046 |
Most likely this is at Estevan. It appears they are being towed
out to perhaps the Maquinna. The towing boat would be carrying other passengers and luggage. Gene Aitkens on the left nearest the
camera and Jack H. Thompson next to her. Could be a photo of
the Aitkens leaving Estevan for good. |
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047 |
Album note: "Rae Arthur's" place at head of Hesquiat Inlet.
He was a remittance man. Remittance men were basically men
'sent' to the colonies by their well off British parents
to 'find their fortunes'. The parents sent them (remitted) an
allowance to cover living expenses. In other words, the
remittance men had nothing but time on their hands and so could do
what ever they wanted. |
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048 |
CPR coastal steamer "Princess Norah" at unknown location. |
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049 |
CPR coastal steamer "Princess Maquinna". Vessels such as this
were the lifeline to the British Columbia communities. This
particular vessel was a particular favourite. A portion of her
mast is mounted in front of the local museum at Cumberland, BC. |
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050 |
Kildonan Cannery, Alberni Inlet as seen
from one of the coastal steamers. |