Suffield, Alberta, is situated approximately 40km northwest of Medicine Hat, Alberta. A few "large explosive events" (100 to 500 tons) were conducted at the Defence Research Board's (DRB) Suffield Experimental Station in the 1960s. On 19 January 1961, Medicine Hat citizens felt tremors in the community as a result of five tons of TNT being detonated at the station. The station director attributed this anomaly to freak atmospheric and weather conditions. At the time the DRB was testing the effects of shock waves on military equipment.
In July 1964, the Suffield Experimental Station detonated 30,600 blocks of TNT - 500 tons - to test the largest, non-nuclear, non-confined, surface blast. Placed in various sections radiating from ground zero to test the effects of the blast were targets, dummy-men, miscellaneous instruments, mines, model ships, nose cones, repirators, vehicles, subterranean chambers, shelters, tunnels, foxholes, and trenches. Several hundred people were expected to observe the blast, including 80 "official observers" and a VIP party of military and research personnel from Canada, the United States, and Britain.
(Sources: "Hellyer Heads VIP List Coming Here for SES Blast," Medicine Hat News, 09 July 1964, 7; Patrick J.Roe, "Blast Area Awaits a Cloudless Day," Medicine Hat News, 16 July 1964, 2; "Suffield Explosion Felt Here," Medicine Hat News, 19 January 1961, 7)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a detonation at the Suffield Experimental Station.
Suffield, Alberta, is situated approximately 40km northwest of Medicine Hat, Alberta. A few "large explosive events" (100 to 500 tons) were conducted at the Defence Research Board's (DRB) Suffield Experimental Station in the 1960s. On 19 January 1961, Medicine Hat citizens felt tremors in the community as a result of five tons of TNT being detonated at the station. The station director attributed this anomaly to freak atmospheric and weather conditions. At the time the DRB was testing the effects of shock waves on military equipment.
In July 1964, the Suffield Experimental Station detonated 30,600 blocks of TNT - 500 tons - to test the largest, non-nuclear, non-confined, surface blast. Placed in various sections radiating from ground zero to test the effects of the blast were targets, dummy-men, miscellaneous instruments, mines, model ships, nose cones, repirators, vehicles, subterranean chambers, shelters, tunnels, foxholes, and trenches. Several hundred people were expected to observe the blast, including 80 "official observers" and a VIP party of military and research personnel from Canada, the United States, and Britain.
(Sources: "Hellyer Heads VIP List Coming Here for SES Blast," Medicine Hat News, 09 July 1964, 7; Patrick J.Roe, "Blast Area Awaits a Cloudless Day," Medicine Hat News, 16 July 1964, 2; "Suffield Explosion Felt Here," Medicine Hat News, 19 January 1961, 7)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows blast targets/dummies pre-detonation at the Suffield Experimental Station.
Suffield, Alberta, is situated approximately 40km northwest of Medicine Hat, Alberta. A few "large explosive events" (100 to 500 tons) were conducted at the Defence Research Board's (DRB) Suffield Experimental Station in the 1960s. On 19 January 1961, Medicine Hat citizens felt tremors in the community as a result of five tons of TNT being detonated at the station. The station director attributed this anomaly to freak atmospheric and weather conditions. At the time the DRB was testing the effects of shock waves on military equipment.
In July 1964, the Suffield Experimental Station detonated 30,600 blocks of TNT - 500 tons - to test the largest, non-nuclear, non-confined, surface blast. Placed in various sections radiating from ground zero to test the effects of the blast were targets, dummy-men, miscellaneous instruments, mines, model ships, nose cones, repirators, vehicles, subterranean chambers, shelters, tunnels, foxholes, and trenches. Several hundred people were expected to observe the blast, including 80 "official observers" and a VIP party of military and research personnel from Canada, the United States, and Britain.
(Sources: "Hellyer Heads VIP List Coming Here for SES Blast," Medicine Hat News, 09 July 1964, 7; Patrick J.Roe, "Blast Area Awaits a Cloudless Day," Medicine Hat News, 16 July 1964, 2; "Suffield Explosion Felt Here," Medicine Hat News, 19 January 1961, 7)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows blast targets/dummies post-detonation at the Suffield Experimental Station.
Suffield, Alberta, is situated approximately 40km northwest of Medicine Hat, Alberta. A few "large explosive events" (100 to 500 tons) were conducted at the Defence Research Board's (DRB) Suffield Experimental Station in the 1960s. On 19 January 1961, Medicine Hat citizens felt tremors in the community as a result of five tons of TNT being detonated at the station. The station director attributed this anomaly to freak atmospheric and weather conditions. At the time the DRB was testing the effects of shock waves on military equipment.
In July 1964, the Suffield Experimental Station detonated 30,600 blocks of TNT - 500 tons - to test the largest, non-nuclear, non-confined, surface blast. Placed in various sections radiating from ground zero to test the effects of the blast were targets, dummy-men, miscellaneous instruments, mines, model ships, nose cones, repirators, vehicles, subterranean chambers, shelters, tunnels, foxholes, and trenches. Several hundred people were expected to observe the blast, including 80 "official observers" and a VIP party of military and research personnel from Canada, the United States, and Britain.
(Sources: "Hellyer Heads VIP List Coming Here for SES Blast," Medicine Hat News, 09 July 1964, 7; Patrick J.Roe, "Blast Area Awaits a Cloudless Day," Medicine Hat News, 16 July 1964, 2; "Suffield Explosion Felt Here," Medicine Hat News, 19 January 1961, 7)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows observors waiting for a detonation at the Suffield Experimental Station. Camera operators can be seen on the right waiting to film the blast.
Published by Western News Agency Ltd., Winnipeg, (46 pp.)
Physical Description
9.25" x 6.75" (b/w)
Material Details
Small pamphlet containing photo essay
History / Biographical
Established as Sewell Camp in 1909, it was renamed after Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, Canada's Minister of Militia and Defence, in 1915. During World War I (1914–1918), more than 38,000 troops of the Canadian Expeditionary Force trained there. Many of the soldiers later distinguished themselves at the battle of Vimy Ridge, in April 1917.
Extensive trench systems, grenade and rifle ranges, and military structures were built in 1915 and 1916. A variety of retail stores on a double-avenued area close to the main camp formed a lively commercial midway. Camp Hughes was dismantled in the 1930s as part of an unemployment relief project.
The Camp Hughes Military Training Site, located at NE 34-10-16 W, 10 kms west of Carberry,
R.M. of North Cypress, was designated Manitoba Provincial Heritage Site No. 82 on April 18, 1994.
Custodial History
Donated by Earl Johnson, publisher of the Baldur Gazette, through the "good offices" of Fred McGuinness.
Scope and Content
Item is a small pamphlet containing 50 black & white photographs in a photo essay entitled: Ready for Active Service, Camp Hughes Manitoba.
Notes
McGuinness wrote about Camp Hughes and how he acquired the pamphlet in a Viewpoint column in the November 1, 2001 edition of the Brandon Sun. A copy of the article is with the pamphlet. History/Bio information taken from the Manitoba Government Exlpore Our Heritage Website at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/prov/p082.html (December 14, 2009).
The HMCS Fraser (1951-1994) was a St. Laurent-class destroyer in the Royal Canadian Navy/Canadian Forces. It was a Canadian designed and built warship.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness and his sons on board the H.M.C.S. Fraser. A plaque reads: Atlantic, Je Suis Pret, 1939-40.
Notes
Stamp of the back of the photograph reads: National Defence Photograph Canada (copyright), Please credit Nat. Def. Photo 77842.
On 23 September 1940, McGuinness was seriously injured in a naval accident when his ship ran aground; McGuinness’ leg was broken when the ship’s tow cable snapped and he spent the next 11 months convalescing at Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. While in hospital McGuinness contracted scarlet fever and diphtheria and developed osteomyelitis as a complication of his femur facture. McGuinness returned to Winnipeg to continue his convalescence at Deer Lodge Hospital and was ultimately discharged from the navy in 1941.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness in traction in a hospital bed, possibly at Camp Hill Hospital.
Postcard shows two men in WWI Canadian military uniform. One soldier is seated on a piano stool, the other stands behind him. The men have Canadian General Service cap and collar badges on their uniforms.
Notes
Photograph possibly of the Pope brothers, George Campbell and Roy Clendon Pope, uncles of Fred McGuinness.
