Rough Radio

(*The BCD refers to the various British Columbia Business Directories. Their published data may be a year out of date.)

Samuels Operator at Point Grey in the 1920-23 period.
Sealey, Fred Fred was born in the UK, and came to Canada in 1918. He got his license and joined the Canadian Marconi Company as a sea going operator. In 1928 he joined the Wireless Service and was posted as an operator on the RCMP Vessel 'St. Roch' for its maiden voyage into the Arctic. He was the first OIC at the new station at Coppermine, NWT from 1931-32. This station opened in the mid 1930’s. Two years later he was in Victoria as a Radio Inspector. He later transferred to the Aeradio Service and finished off as Officer in Charge (OIC) at Victoria Airport's aeradio station. The aeradio station closed around 1969.
Shatford, S.A. Larry Reid's book has him listed as an operator on November 05/1923.
Skinner, F.H. Wireless operator at Bull Harbour in 1928 (BCD*).
Smallwood Smallwood was a Chief Petty Officer from the Navy, loaned to the Victoria Radio Workshop for the duration of World War One. The radio shop at that time was located at the Esquimalt Navy Base.
Smith, 'Escalante' A German bachelor living up at Escalante (north of Estevan Point) in the 1930's. He vanished--see photo 077 here for details. Aitkens' diary mentions a Jim Poli perhaps visiting Smith.
Smith, George Smith was assigned to Basil Irvine as a driver for the interference van. He observed Irvine’s methods so well, he started doing the job himself and was reclassified to a Radio Electrician and became Irvine's assistant. He retired around 1958.
Smith, N.J. Larry Reid's book has him listed as an operator on November 05, 1923. He appears as an operator at Estevan Point in 1926, 1927 & 1929.---(BCD*)
Spouse, Ray Listed as an operator at Estevan Point in 1923 (oper.), 1924 (oper.), 1926 (mechanic), 1927 (mechanic), 1929 (promoted to powerhouse attendant), 1930 through to 1939 at least---(BCD*). Spouse was the power house operator at Estevan Point when Bowerman arrived in 1923. Mary (d.1997 at 90yrs) was his wife (nee Trowsdale) and son Ray Jr. The family appears in many of the F.C. Aitkens photos. (d. 1984)
Stemson, Gordon Served in the Ferry Command between Newfoundland and Britain as a radio operator. After WW2 spent a couple of years a Vancouver looking after the Lulu Island transmitter site.
Stark, Arthur Stark was in the BC Directory listing for Estevan in 1935 and 1936 as an operator. Aitkens diary notes he went to Vancouver in 1935. He was replaced by Beart.
Stephen, J.C. Stephen was the operator who replaced Lambert at Cape Lazo. Larry Reid's book has him listed on November 05/1923 as an operator.
Stephenson, L.W. (Stevie) In June 1909, the Times paper reports he is a Marconi operator on the Empress of China. He came to the attention of C.P. Edwards and was offered the job of Pacific Coast Government Radio Engineer. Stephenson carried out, with Gilbert and J.D.Taylor, the installation and calibration of the new Pachena Direction Finding Station in 1922. Larry Reid's book has him listed as the division engineer with the Radio Workshop in Esquimalt on November 05, 1923. Aikens notes Stevie visited Estevan in October 1934, and again in August 1935 to install radio telephone equipment. Retired in 1945. Signature plate is from his copy of "Motor Troubles"dated 1909.
Storey, Jack Gene Aitkens mentions him as an operator on 'the boat' while they were at Estevan Point. (Could have been the Maquinna or the Norah.)
Sutherland, Alex Born in Scotland in 1883 and came to Canada in 1910 and was working as a wireless operator at Triangle Island when the 1911 census was taken. No doubt he received his initial training in Britain. He was relieved at Triangle Island in 1912 by the arrival of Bowerman and Berry. Sutherland went to Eastern Canada during World War One and carried out ship inspections. After the war Sutherland remained in eastern Canada.
Swiler, B.H. Larry Reid's book has him listed as an operator on November 05, 1923. In 1926 he is working as an operator at Estevan Point---(BCD*).
Taylor, Fred Larry Reid's book has him listed as a carpenter with the Radio Workshop in Esquimalt on November 05, 1923. In the 1928-30 period he visited Alert Bay and was then in the position of "boss carpenter" for the Radio Branch, Dept. of Marine & Fisheries, West Coast Branch. In September 1932 he was boarding with Gene Aitkens while he was painting all the buildings at Estevan Point.
Taylor, J.D. Taylor was an ex English and Canadian Marconi Company engineer. Taylor was an early operator who went back east during the early days of World War One for duty. In 1916 he was appointed the workshop's assistant engineer to Stephenson. J.D.Taylor carried out, with Gilbert and Stephenson, the installation and calibration of the new Pachena Direction Finding Station in 1922. Larry Reid's book has him listed as a junior engineer with the Radio Workshop in Esquimalt on November 05, 1923.
Tee, Herbert (Bert) W.Bert appears as an operator in the 1911 census at Estevan Point. He immigrated from England in 1909 and joined the wireless service in the 1911-12 period. At Estevan he was making $840/year. He most likely was trained by the British Post Office. Bert was at Pachena when Hillier lost an eye due to an accident with starting an engine. (b.1886)
Tee, Harold D. Tee joined the wireless service in 1911. He received his training from the British Post Office. His first position was aboard the fisheries vessel Malaspina. Bowerman adds that Tees was the first operator on the Fisheries Patrol Vessel Malaspina, launched in 1913. 1911 census lists Tee at Estevan in June. He relieved operator Arnold at Triangle shortly after Bowerman arrived on station in 1912. (Dates obviously not lining up here!) Still there in 1913 but eventually went to Digby Island to make it a three man station. He shows up in a 1926 BCD* edition at Bull Harbour Radio. Larry Reid's book has him listed on November 05, 1923 as an operator. By 1927 he was in Edmonton opening the new Radio Inspector's Office. In 1930 he became a senior radio inspector and wound up in Saskatoon until 1945 when he became District Superintendent and was posted to Regina. Left photo is 1913 and the right is on retirement in the late 1940's
Thomas, Clarence W. (Tommy) Tommy received his radio training at Sprott-Shaw in Vancouver. He was an operator at Alert Bay Wireless in the late 1920's. From Alert Bay he went to the Radio Workshop in Esquimalt. In 1934 he was operating at Coppermine in the Northwest Territories. He was the brother of Gene, operator Chas Aitkens wife.
Thompson, Jack H. Name is in Gene Aitken's 1930's Estevan Point diary. Jack is listed as an operator at Estevan during the period 1932 through to 1934---(BCD*). There is also another Thompson mentioned in a message from Pachena to Victoria in December 1907.
Thomas, Charlie Appears in a 1915 Triangle photo from the Harris collection. Unknown what he did on the station.
Tozer, Bill The 1911 census has him at Estevan Point Wireless boarding with someone. The same document says he immigrated from England in 1910. Tozer batched with Jack Bowerman at Estevan Wireless in the 1911-12 period. Bill was earning $780/yr. in 1911. b.1885
Turner, Erick Larry Reid's book has him listed on November 05, 1923 as an operator. BCD* lists Turner as an operator at Bull Harbour in 1923 through to 1936. The year 1932 he isn't listed and an operator Potruff is instead.
Tuson, A.H. The January 9, 1909 editon of the Victoria Colonist has an item reporting that Tuson, a Dominion wireless operator, is helping a Mr. E.C.Hayward demonstrate the elementary principles of electricity at the YMCA. Other than that, Tuson is unknown along the coast.
Unwin, Art Unwin was a radio operator at Estevan from 1929 to 1934. He had a wife Ada (d.1988 at 85 yrs.) and children Joyce, Gloria & Ernest. Art also did duty at Pachena Point Wireless, most likely before turning up at Estevan Point. They eventually moved out to Victoria, BC. Aitkens diary notes they were at Estevan in 1931. Art passed way in 1980 at 81 yrs.
Vallance, Glen Vallance was hired in 1938 to fill a radio operator's position at Estevan Point, and appears as such in a 1939 BCD*. When he retired in 1971 he was the in charge the operators and electronic technicians supporting the coast stations and vessel electronics on Vancouver Island. Sadly Glen became a silent key in January of 2007.
Ward, Carl Carl was an operator at Alert Bay Wireless in the late 1920's. For many years Ward was the OIC at Bull Harbour Radio. He was succeeded by Gord Gilliland.
Watkins, Tom Appears in a Lofty Harris Sept. 1914 photo taken at Triangle Island. He was the lightkeeper after Davis.
Watkins, Walter Appears in a Lofty Harris photo dated September 1915 at Triangle Island 1915. He could be lightkeeper Tom Watkins' son.
Ward, Douglas He was at Alert Bay Wireless in 1914 with Bowerman. (Meiss reports Ward was on duty at Triangle the night the phone rang from a wrecked sailor on the beach.) In the early summer of 1914 Ward was transferred to Digby Island. After World War One he moved to California. (1914 looks like a puzzle here!) And to add to that puzzle he is shown in a September 1914 Triangle Island photo.
Whiteside, A.F. (Paddy) Started his career with the Belfast Post Office and at the end of the Boer War joined the S.A. Telegraph Service. He later joined the Canadian Marconi Company and in 1909 transferred from the CPR to the Canadian Government Service. (In those days the Marconi Companies supplied not only the equipment but the operator as well, all for one low monthly payment). Whiteside is listed as the OIC of Ikeda Wireless in 1910, receiving a salary of $85 per month. Paddy is recorded as being the OIC at Victoria in the 1911-12 period. Whiteside, along with operator Dundas, was the first operator at Ikeda Wireless Station in 1910. Ikeda opened in January 1910. He joined the armed forces during World War 1 and was killed in action.
Willowby, Col. Head of the 1930's British Columbia Marine Department. His responsibilities included the maintenance and staffing of the lighthouses and other marine navigational aids along the B.C. coast.
Wilson, R.T. (Bob?) Larry Reid's book has him listed on November 05/1923 as an operator. (Aitkens diary notes a Bob Wilson without any occupation listed.) In 1924 and 1926 a T. Wilson is listed as a mechanic at Estevan Point---(BCD*). Might be the same person.
Wolfe, H. (Bud) He was an operator at the Estevan Point Wireless station when Bowerman arrived there as the OIC in 1923. Still at Estevan in 1924 and by 1926 he was the Officer in Charge. In 1927 and 1928 he was also doing the Post Master duties for Estevan---(BCD*). Larry Reid's book has him listed on November 05, 1923 as an operator.
Woods, Sid Woods was an early operator at the Pachena DF Station. Syd is mentioned in a July 14, 1939 as accompanying Bowerman, Stevenson, and Lowe on an inspection trip to the northern stations. He worked at the Ship Electronics Workshop on Harbour Road in Victoria. Sid retired in the early 1970's. Photo is of Sid at the beginning of his career.
Zimmerman, Z. A. Victoria Times August 31, 1909 notes Zimmerman and Pike are busy installing the new wireless on board the C. P. R. Steamship "Royal" in Victoria, BC. They both worked for the United Wireless Company.
Unknown, Jock Jock was an operator at Alert Bay in the 1949-55 period. Had a boat.