Charles at the operating postion of Estevan Wireless Station c. 1930
     Photos are in pages of 25 images.  Jump to a particular block by clicking below:


 Click on a photo to see a larger version, then use your browser's back button to return.


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.
027      A rock at Bull Harbour that looks like a bull.  There are some three people in the photo.
028      A residence at Pachena Light and Wireless Station.  1920's
029      Business end of Pachena's fog alarm.  Horn operated on compressed air.
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'.
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.)
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.

033      Charlie and wife Gene's residence at Estevan Point Wireless.
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.
035      Charlie Aitkens 1957 First Class Certificate of Proficiency in Radio.
036      The other side of 035. 
037      Album page showing the layout of the photos.  Photo 037 was to the left of Photo 038.
038      Album page showing the layout of the photos.
039      Album page showing the layout of the photos.  Photo 039 was to the left of photo 040.
040      Album page showing the layout of the photos. 
041      Album page showing the layout of the photos.  Photo 041 was to the left of Photo 042.
042      Album page showing the layout of the photos. 
043      Album page showing the layout of the photos.  Photo 043 was to the left of Photo 044.
044      Album page showing the layout of the photos. 
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.
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.
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.
048      CPR coastal steamer "Princess Norah" at unknown location. 
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.
050      Kildonan Cannery, Alberni Inlet as seen from one of the coastal steamers.