boarded a pontoon boat which left the 341st
Engineer Regiment landing at the south end of
Charlie Lake to deliver equipment, supplies
and personnel to Company E's bivouac site at
the north end of the lake.
of the lake through increasingly rough waters
and strong headwinds. It was then discovered
that a plug had come out of the gas line of one
of the motors and fuel was draining out. The
boat was ordered to the west shore and as it
started to turn, two waves hit it in succession,
flooding the right pontoon, which went under
and tipped the raft in a precarious angle. It
then settled and went under, all in less than
two minutes.
who had been watching the boat's progress,
arrived quickly at the accident scene, finding
nine men afloat. In all, five men were saved.
honour the lives lost that tragic day in 1942. The
stainless steel monument stands 12 feet high,
six feet wide and one foot thick. Viewers can
look through an opening in the monument that
looks to the north end of Charlie Lake where the
accident occurred. The monument stands within
a 12 foot circle surrounded by 12 posts: one for
each of the soldiers who lost their lives. There is
a kiosk nearby with a photo of the barge and
details of what happened that tragic day on
Charlie Lake, May 14, 1942.
10201 - 10th Street
Dawson Creek, BC
250-782-4714
A
Alaska Highway.
Find out how.
from our very own RV.
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