It’s been a few years since I’ve been out on a roadtrip in the US & Canada, so it was great to be back behind the wheel for another huge 1200 mile roadtrip, this time across the rocky rugged island of Newfoundland, Canada.
In The capital St John’s, most people visit historic Signal hill & the excellent cannon battery on the opposite side of the estuary. But I also just had to visit this WW2 fort, strategically placed at the entrance to the city’s harbour.
Left to the mercy of the Atlantic, and with no maintenance, the gun battery has fallen into disrepair. Much of the concrete has crumbled into the sea, but the cannons remain in place… A reminder of the handful of areas of the North American continent that saw action in WW2. I stayed over an hour, exploring the ruins, and chilling out watching the ships enter and leave the harbour.
My roadtrip co-pilot landed later on that evening, and we went into town for a few beers. We were “screeched in” an initiation ceremony in a bar, in a group, for visitors to the island involving a shot of Rum, a short recitation and the kissing of a dead wet cod…… Very weird but fun; you’ll just have to google it!
The site has a long, extensive history. St John’s has changed hands several times over the centuries. Several canon batteries were established around the city to defend the harbour, and at further defensive positions along the coast. The first defences were built on this site in 1655 by Vice Admiral Christopher Martin to prevent pirates & enemy vessels from entering St John’s harbour. Fort Amherst was established around 1763, but the current structures date from World War II. The fort was named after William Amherst who successfully recaptured St John’s from the French in 1762. In the late 18th century a defensive chain was erected across the narrows from Chain Rock to Pancake Rock which could be raised in the event of enemy ships advancing into the harbour.
During World War II a steel mesh was installed to prevent enemy submarines from entering the harbour. In 1941 St. John's was becoming more and more important as a rally point for convoy ships heading to the war in Europe, and the site was refortified. The harbour was attacked by a German U Boat in March 1941. . In 1945 a German U Boat surrendered, and was towed to St John’s Harbour.
The existing canons are two 75mm field guns, and are still in place to this day. After the war, the site was decommissioned in 1946.
In The capital St John’s, most people visit historic Signal hill & the excellent cannon battery on the opposite side of the estuary. But I also just had to visit this WW2 fort, strategically placed at the entrance to the city’s harbour.
Left to the mercy of the Atlantic, and with no maintenance, the gun battery has fallen into disrepair. Much of the concrete has crumbled into the sea, but the cannons remain in place… A reminder of the handful of areas of the North American continent that saw action in WW2. I stayed over an hour, exploring the ruins, and chilling out watching the ships enter and leave the harbour.
My roadtrip co-pilot landed later on that evening, and we went into town for a few beers. We were “screeched in” an initiation ceremony in a bar, in a group, for visitors to the island involving a shot of Rum, a short recitation and the kissing of a dead wet cod…… Very weird but fun; you’ll just have to google it!
The site has a long, extensive history. St John’s has changed hands several times over the centuries. Several canon batteries were established around the city to defend the harbour, and at further defensive positions along the coast. The first defences were built on this site in 1655 by Vice Admiral Christopher Martin to prevent pirates & enemy vessels from entering St John’s harbour. Fort Amherst was established around 1763, but the current structures date from World War II. The fort was named after William Amherst who successfully recaptured St John’s from the French in 1762. In the late 18th century a defensive chain was erected across the narrows from Chain Rock to Pancake Rock which could be raised in the event of enemy ships advancing into the harbour.
During World War II a steel mesh was installed to prevent enemy submarines from entering the harbour. In 1941 St. John's was becoming more and more important as a rally point for convoy ships heading to the war in Europe, and the site was refortified. The harbour was attacked by a German U Boat in March 1941. . In 1945 a German U Boat surrendered, and was towed to St John’s Harbour.
The existing canons are two 75mm field guns, and are still in place to this day. After the war, the site was decommissioned in 1946.
