Red Rock Society Launches WWII POW Camp Archive Online

The Red Rock Historical Society is set to bring the story of a World War II prisoner of war camp online, supported by a generous $60,000 grant from Parks Canada. According to Brian Davis, president of the society, this initiative marks a significant step in preserving local history. “As you can imagine, it means everything,” Davis expressed, highlighting the excitement surrounding the project.

The primary focus of this digitization effort will be on photographs and artifacts from the 1920s through the 1940s, particularly related to Camp R, the internment camp located in Red Rock. “People are looking forward to this, and we’ve been very excited about this right since the get-go,” Davis stated. The society aims to share the rich history of this former mill town, which has a unique narrative tied to the war.

While Camp R takes center stage, the society is also documenting the history of the pulp and paper industry in Red Rock. According to Davis, “The construction camps were built for the workers that were building the original pulp and paper mill in Red Rock, and then when the war broke out, they were looking for places to house German POWs.”

Camp R operated from July 1940 until October 1941, accommodating civilian internees and enemy merchant seamen. As noted on the historical website POWSincanada.ca, Red Rock was selected as a site due to its vacant construction camps, which had been left empty after the local mill went bankrupt. During this time, the historic Red Rock Inn was thriving, serving as a lodging place for many officers and guards.

Unfortunately, the camp was closed in 1941 due to reported water issues. “It just wasn’t meant to be an internment camp, with those conditions,” Davis explained. Following its closure, the remaining prisoners were relocated to various camps in southern Ontario. Other notable POW sites in Northwestern Ontario include Camp 100 (W) – Neys and Camp 101 (X) – Angler.

The funding from Parks Canada will be delivered in two instalments. The first part was allocated for hiring an intern to assist with the digitization of artifacts. This initial funding allowed the society to meet its goals, making them eligible for the second instalment, which will support another intern’s efforts to continue digitizing and preparing materials for the new website.

Once the digitization process is complete and all documents are uploaded, residents will have access to this rich collection online. Davis anticipates that this process could take a few more months. For those interested in learning more about the project, purchasing a membership, or volunteering with the historical society, additional details are available on the Red Rock Historical Society’s Facebook page.