A compendium of West Coast ' old hands '

Gleaned from Frank Stratham web site with thanks to both he and Ian Haynes

 

Haughton, Eddie J.

First operator and Officer in Charge appointed to Victoria Radio in 1908. Pay was $70 per month plus free accommodation. In 1910 he transferred to the position of District Superintendent and was replaced by Howard. His salary increased to $100 per month. (In Reid s book, Haughton became Superintendent on July 13, 1908. He did double duty by staying on as the OIC of Victoria. In 1910 he became the head of all the stations in British Columbia but still occupied the postion of OIC at Victoria. Salary now $110 per month.) He was a telegrapher from either the commercial or railroad systems.

He became a widower in the middle of 1910 and raised their daughter on his own. He never remarried.

Haughton retired in 1937.

...................

 

Howard, Walter
Howard was an early wireless pioneer on the BC coast. He started with his telegraphic career in Britain in the early 1890’s. He joined the Royal Engineers and came out to work on improving the defenses of Esquimalt Harbour around 1900. He then returned to Britain and was discharged. He came back to Victoria in 1906 where he helped construct the Gonzales station. He was stricken with gold fever and spent a couple of years in the Yukon but returned to Victoria where he joined the Wireless Service in 1909. He was married in 1910.

Once the Victoria station was completed, he and Ted Rickensen went to Pachena and Estevan Points do the installation there.

Upon completion of the stations Howard left the service but reappeared as an operator in 1910. He replaced McIntyre at Dead Tree Point for a short time and eventually replaced Haughton at Victoria Wireless. (In Reid ’s account, Howard was the first OIC of Dead Tree when it opened in 1911.) In 1910 his salary at the Victoria Station was $75/mo.

In 1921 he was appointed as a Radio Inspector in Victoria. He was still a RI in the early 1930

....................

Irvine, Basil
Irvine was a Vancouver man who served on submarines with Bruce Restall during World War One. He was assigned to Vancouver in 1930 as a radio interference trouble shooter. He came equipped with a fully fitted out inspection vehicle.

....................

Jackson, Sid
Sid joined the wireless service in the 1911-12 period, most likely from the British Post Office. He was with Bowerman on Triangle Island in 1913. Jackson, with his ailing wife, was transferred from Digby Island in 1914. In 1938 Jackson opened a radio inspection office in Kamloops. He retired in 1940 with Len Crowe replacing him.

...................

Jackson, John
Jackson was Sid Jackson ’s son. He became a radio inspector in Victoria.

....................

Meiss, Elmo (Jim)
Bill Meiss in the 1950's. Joined the wireless service in the 1911-12 period, most likely from the British Post Office. (Reid ’s book says Meiss was Victoria born and worked as a CPR telegrapher in Victoria.) He was an operator at the Estevan Point Wireless station when Bowerman arrived there as the OIC in 1923. Meiss transferred shortly after to Victoria. Photo is from the 1950's. ( not sure that he was a radio inspector )

....................

Sealey, Fred
He was the first OIC at the new station at Coppermine, NWT. This station opened in the mid 1930’s. Two years later he was in Victoria as a Radio Inspector. He later transferred to the Aeradio Service and finished off as a technician at Victoria Airport.

...................

Smith, George
Smith was assigned to Basil Irvine as a driver for the interference van. He observed Irvine’s methods so well, he started doing the job himself and was reclassified to a Radio Electrician and became Irvine’s assistant. He retired around 1958.

....................

Stephenson, L.W.
As a Canadian Marconi radio engineer, he came to the coast to do a vessel installation in 1910. Once the job was completed he accepted the position of Pacific Coast Government Radio Engineer offered by Edwards. Stephenson carried out, with Gilbert and J.D.Taylor, the installation and calibration of the new Pachena Direction Finding Station in 1922. Retired in 1945.

...........................

Taylor, J.D.
Taylor was an ex English and Canadian Marconi Company engineer. Taylor was an early operator who went back east during the early days of World War One for duty. In 1916 he was appointed the workshops assistant engineer to Stephenson. J.D.Taylor carried out, with Gilbert and Stephenson, the installation and calibration of the new Pachena Direction Finding Station in 1922.

........................

Tee, Harold D.
Harold Tee in 1913. An older Harold Tee.

Tee joined the wireless service in 1911. He received his training from the British Post Office. His first position was aboard the fisheries vessel Malaspina. Bowerman adds that Tees was the first operator on the Fisheries Patrol Vessel Malaspina, launched in 1913. He relieved operator Arnold at Triangle shortly after Bowerman arrived on station in 1912. Still there in 1913 but eventually went to Digby Island to make it a three man station. In 1930 he became a senior radio inspector and wound up in Saskatoon until 1945 when he became District Superintendent and was posted to Regina. Photo shows Tee in 1913 at the Triangle Island Wireless Station.