The first military presence in the colony of Vancouver Island developed as a result of tensions between the United States and Great Britain over trading rights in the Pacific Northwest in the late 1840s.
The creation of Fort Victoria and the ensuing need for a permanent naval base on British territory in the North Pacific region resulted in the use of Esquimalt Harbour as a facility for an increased naval presence.
In 1855, the Royal Navy (RN) embarked on the development of a base in Esquimalt. The catalyst for this action was a need to handle the wounded from a potential battle, which the British Fleet anticipated would occur against the Russians during the Crimean War. With this in mind, Governor James Douglas was allotted a sum for construction of three hospitals, located near the present site of the Admiral’s residence.
Both the Royal and Canadian Navies built on this site during three wars and three possible conflicts until present day. The base has grown to encompass in excess of 1,500 buildings and approximately 10,300 acres of land. In 1910, by authority of the Naval Service Act, the Dominion of Canada inaugurated its own naval service and also inherited the former Royal Navy Dockyards on the east and west coasts.
Naden, formerly HMCS Naden, was originally the site built by and for the Royal Navy (RN). The RN took over the buildings for their naval hospital and, except for a brief period, continued in this role until all imperial forces returned to England by 1906.
By 1922, HMCS Naden was commissioned as a land holding. Subsequent expansions from 1925 to 1940 increased land holdings to the current level. Naden today is primarily a barracks and instructional site with the CF Fleet School Esquimalt (CFFSE) as the major unit.
Work Point Barracks, on the west side of the entrance to Victoria Harbour, was designated a Canadian military base in 1887. That year C Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery came by train from Quebec to Esquimalt, where they were to instruct the military in gunnery. To do so they had to clear the forest and build their own barracks, some of which are still in use today. The first permanent infantry unit to garrison at Work Point was B Company, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), from 1920 until 1939, when they shipped to England at the outbreak of war.
When the artillery and engineers left Work Point in 1957, 1 Battalion, PPCLI returned to the property and remained there until 1963. From 1963 to 1970, Two PPCLI was replaced by the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. They were succeeded by 3 PPCLI, which has since been relocated to other bases. Work Point now houses Venture, the Naval Officer Training Centre.
Colwood, on the western side of Esquimalt Harbour, was originally built as an ammunition depot. The period from 1937 to 1943 saw the construction and expansion of magazine and storage units. The Colwood Ammunition Depot later became the site of the nuclear, biological and chemical defence school, a fire fighting and damage control school, general storage space, and a base for the Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific).
Belmont Park, located southwest of the Colwood site, adjoins the Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Park, which was built as a coastal defence battery in 1896. Today, Belmont Park is a married quarters area for CF personnel serving at CFB Esquimalt.
The Veterans Cemetery was purchased in 1868 for $250. It lies between the 12th and 17th holes of the Gorge Vale Golf course with access at 1200 Colville Rd. The department of Veterans Affairs took over the cemetery from the navy in 1947. The Cross of Sacrifice was unveiled in 1961 by the late Major-General George R. Pearkes. The cemetery is still active accepting both cremated remains and conducting full burials of former service members and their spouses. Please contact Veterans Affairs at 363-3836 or the cemetery attendant at 363-0443 for more information.
Albert Head and Mary Hill are both training areas located southwest of Victoria and Esquimalt. They were originally the sites of coastal defence gun batteries that formed the portion of the Victoria-Esquimalt fortress during both world wars. Today, both CF regular and reserve units use them for training purposes.
Rocky Point replaced Colwood as the site for the West Coast Ammunition Depot. It is located southwest of Victoria on an isolated triangular peninsula between Pedder Bay and Beecher Bay.
Note: In 1966, as part of the integration of the CF, all of the above sites were incorporated to form CFB Esquimalt.
.jpg)
