Canada independently declared war 83 years ago
They appeared overnight as if by magic. Because of wartime secrecy, the residents of Sault Ste. Marie on both sides of the St. Marys River had no idea that while they slept on that early spring night in 1942, they would wake up to some 70 strange apparitions in the morning sky.
Thus the decision to launch dozens of barrage balloons all over the city – with the heaviest concentration at the locks facilities in the twins cities of Sault Ontario and Sault Michigan. Further protection was provided by Canadian and American troops stationed at the facilities to guard against saboteurs or a ground incursion by enemy troops.
As post-war military dependence on supersonic missiles took over from conventional bombers and fighter aircraft, the Sault’s location as a strategic target lessened considerably. But at the time, many residents of both Saults took a perverse pride in knowing that they were living in an area that was looked upon by the enemy as a prize worth pursuing.
Sensing that the war balloon was about to go up, the RCN ordered two of our destroyers that were berthed on the west coast – HMCS Fraser and HMCS St. Laurent – to weigh anchor and head for Halifax via the Panama Canal. But before they could reach this shortcut from the Pacific to the Atlantic, German troops blitzkrieged across the Polish border and the game was afoot.
Wess recalled the scene of excitement at his Halifax location as he kept relaying reports of the progress of the two ships: “As a telegraphist, I had a legitimate excuse to be in the wireless room, but it was amazing how many other sailors of all ranks found a reason to crowd into that tiny cubicle to hear the latest update. Senior officers kept poking their heads into the radio shack and asking whether the two vessels had made it through.
“I brought along my log book showing 410 hours earned as a private pilot, and the RCAF recruiter said they needed people like me desperately – the navy at that point didn’t have an air arm – but that I was in the navy and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to transfer out.”
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