Canada's Remembrances: The War At Home

During the war, both of Canada’s coastlines were equipped with a series of coastal defence networks, meant to protect Canada from seaborne attacks.

Coastal defences were also built in St. John’s, Newfoundland, which was not yet a part of Canada, but formed part of the North Atlantic defensive shield. This artillery piece and casemates formed part of the artillery defences at St. John’s harbour during the Second World War. They are now part of St. John’s World War II Coastal Defences National Historic Site of Canada, a site of Parks Canada.

In addition to coastal artillery, numerous other kinds of equipment and supplies were used to defend Canada’s Atlantic shores. These included plotter and range finding equipment, the item pictured here forming part of the defences at York Redoubt overlooking Halifax harbour.

The photograph of the submarine net near the York Shore Battery in 1940 was essential protection for Halifax harbour. The gun stores (supplies) for the York Shore Battery – shown here in 1943 – included the material that made the weapons and their crews effective defenders of the area.

Part of the backbone of Canada’s coastal defences – as well as valuable training centres – were local military facilities, such as the Halifax Citadel. This was a Canadian Army post, as the two soldiers shown resting in November 1940 clearly show. The Citadel was also used for ceremonial purposes.

The photograph of soldiers parading was taken on September 6, 1940, when members of "C" Company, The Halifax Rifles, provided a Guard of Honour for the visit of Governor General, The Earl of Athlone. The Halifax Citadel and York Redoubt are now National Historic Sites of Canada, and were integral parts of the Halifax defence network that protected the city and its harbour during the war.