Search results
This is a list of World War II-era fortifications on the British Columbia Coast.
The history of Canada during World War II begins with the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939. While the Canadian Armed Forces were eventually active in nearly every theatre of war, most combat was centred in Italy, Northwestern Europe, and the North Atlantic.
During World War II, in 1942, the Estevan Point lighthouse was fired upon by the Japanese submarine I-26, marking the first enemy attack on Canadian soil since the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1871. [2] Currently the Canadian Coast Guard still maintains Estevan Point, with the light still active as of 2022.
Additionally, military maps can reveal the role of British Columbia in broader historical events, such as the World Wars or the American Civil War, and offer a unique perspective on the region's contributions to these conflicts.
During World War II, the West Coast of British Columbia was an important military area for the defense of Canada and the United States. The Canadian government set up defense measures, such as fortifications, radar stations, and airfields, to protect against potential Japanese attacks.
World War II Interactive Map Interactive Map
Between the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan's occupation of two Alaskan islands, and the shelling of Vancouver Island's Estevan Point, the war was now uncomfortably close for British Columbians. The proximity led to a greater sense of duty in the province.
