The Facelift
Politics and Perimeters
Camp Wainwright had established a history of considerable importance in the forties as a POW camp and an ideal training area for Canadian forces preparing men and equipment for World War II and its Reserve.
The main camp area belonged to the Department of National Defence, training fields being leased from the Province of Alberta. Local grazing associations time shared a percentage of land with favorable results. In 1950 the Cattalo experimental operation vacated its premises to relocate in Manyberries, Alberta thus freeing an additional triangle of property for military use. But Camp Wainwright’s future was as yet undecided.
When war broke out in Korea in 1950, Wainwright seemed a logical area to proceed with training in the form of summer camps. In January of 1951, the Chief of General Staff directed that Camp Wainwright was to provide permanent accommodation for ten static units and a headquarters operating as a divisional concentration area on general mobilization. It was to be expanded to house 20,000 troops.
This announcement generated a genuine stir of excitement and reform. To expand the training area available, an acquisition of 19,400 acres west of the Battle River was undertaken and finally completed in 1954, providing a more workable boundary to the west and north. This expropriation included a farm owned by Savilles, now noted as such on the existing range map. Within the training area, approximately 600 miles of gravel and dirt roads were established and color coded for ease of definition. Engineers were responsible for constructing 19 grass airstrips at various locations across 18 ranges.
The interior of the camp and the town of Wainwright were at the same time expanding their boundaries.
The Nucleus
Enlargement of the camp nucleus began immediately and over the next few years, most of the present facilities were constructed. This included 117 permanent buildings, 95 married quarters, all utilities, streets, fire protection systems and outdoor community facilities. The buildings included a permanent headquarters, engineer works company, supply depot, heavy workshop, transport company and ordnance railhead. The much expanded interior community welcomed a school in 1955.
Housing for the permanent personnel was an immediate obstacle, as the Married Quarters were not complete until 1955. Wainwright town was unprepared to supply adequate accommodation for its swelling community as many residents took full advantage of the situation by renting garages, basements, or whatever would suffice. (Len D' Albertanson mentions this in his introduction) The few public services and shopping facilities of Wainwright were hard pressed to keep up with the increase in business due to the sudden population and construction explosion in and surrounding their fair town.
With increased traffic upon poorly surfaced roadways and streets, it was immediately evident that this situation was in need of correction as well. The picture on page 55 displaying the top portion of a large truck bogged down in bottomless mud, proves negative reports concerning the road to camp were not highly exaggerated. Roads within the camp and on the ranges left much to be desired too. with the entire area under construction, the slightest rainfall would create instant chaos with road vehicles and pedestrians alike. Occupants of tents were faced with additional discomfort as they tried to rid themselves of the mud, chilling dampness and the odor of wet canvas.
Such was life in a camp with considerable growing pains.