Point Grey Battery, Vancouver

[David Dunlop]

I remember visiting the remains of the gun emplacement under the Lions Gate Bridge in 1982-83 with the late Peter Ford. Peter had been to it a few years earlier when it was quite intact, but on our arrival, it had been broken up. The locals sitting around fishing were either quite unaware of what had been there, or were indifferent to it's passing.

Peter spotted a large conical shaped piece of concrete in the water with what looked like a steel 'pintel/traverse ring' fitted to the top of it, which looked like it might have been part of a gun mount. He later contacted the local Field Artillery Regiment and I believe they went out and recovered it.

Have the two searchlight towers on the beach survived? There also used to be a small concrete building hidden in the bush at the base of the cliff close to the tower nearest the Point Grey Battery, that was rumored to have been the generator plant and/or crew supplies and quarters for the searchlight tower.

My observations at the time were that the WW2 defences around Halifax were in much better shape in the 1980's than those around Vancouver.

David

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

I remember visiting the remains of the gun emplacement under the Lions Gate Bridge in 1982-83 with the late Peter Ford.

Have the two searchlight towers on the beach survived?

My observations at the time were that the WW2 defences around Halifax were in much better shape in the 1980's than those around Vancouver.

David

Narrows North Fort under the bridge was a three story concrete fort that housed two 12-pounders.

The searchlight towers are still there as well as the little building. Not sure what it's use was as the lights took their power from the powerhouse beside the gun emplacements. The towers give fair warning that you are approaching Wreck Beach.

I guess land has more value that history here. Much has been destroyed in the name of progress. Western Command members did a tour of some of the remaining sights a couple of years ago. Just the sight of George's half-track rumbling down Georgia St turned a few heads.

We are looking at doing another tour this coming year as we want to get into the underground complex in Stanley Park near the tea house. It's been covered over but the hatch is still there, however, we have to get the city to pump some air into it before venturing down.