Fairview Point facts for kids

Fairview Point is a piece of land that sticks out into the water. It's located on the west side of Kaien Island in British Columbia, Canada. This area is part of Canada's beautiful North Coast.

Fairview Point's Role in World War II

During World War II, Fairview Point was very important for defending the Port of Prince Rupert. This port was a key location for the CNR train lines.

Protecting Prince Rupert's Port

The United States also used Prince Rupert as a major shipping point. They had a large camp nearby for soldiers. Because of this, both Canada and the U.S. wanted to make sure the area was safe.

Big Guns Arrive

In 1942, the U.S. sent two large 8-inch railway guns to help protect Prince Rupert. These guns were similar to others already in use. Workers quickly built special train tracks from the main CNR line to Fairview Point. They also made strong foundations for the guns by sinking lots of rock into the soft ground.

Setting Up the Defenses

Soldiers from the 9th Heavy Battery RCA helped build roads, bridges, and train tracks. They arrived at Fairview Point in March 1942. They lived in special train cars while they worked. By early April, they reported that the guns could be fired if needed.

Ready for Action

When Japan attacked the Aleutian Islands in June 1942, the guns at Fairview Point were still being set up. But by the next day, one of the guns was ready for action.

How the Battery Worked

The Canadian Army operated the Fairview Battery. It had two 8-inch railway guns. These guns were used for "counter bombardment," meaning they could fire back at enemy ships. The battery also had smaller 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft guns to protect against planes.

Gun Placement and View

The large guns stayed mounted on their railway cars. This allowed them to turn all the way around (360 degrees) to fire in any direction. However, Digby Island was to the west, blocking the view of the open ocean. Because of this, Fairview Point was only used during the day and didn't have searchlights.

Tracking Targets

The battery used special equipment to find and track targets. This included two "horizontal base lines" that were 5,000 yards long. They also used a "Whistler-Hearn plotting board" to figure out where to aim the guns.

End of Service

The Fairview Battery stopped being used for defense on April 28, 1945. Today, there are no known traces or photos of this important World War II battery.