The Victoria Community Development Corporation
Victoria Prison Camp

The camp had electric floodlighting and electric wiring in all the buildings.

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On June 14, 1940, an urgent dispatch from the British Government to the Newfoundland Government started the Victoria Prison Camp. The British wanted a place to send POWs and internees. The Newfoundland Government considered Hearts Content, Argentia, Port au Port, Whitbourne, Random Island and Victoria as possible sites for the camp.

Victoria was chosen because it was considered a secure site: it was not visible from the sea, and it was approachable by one four-mile road which was only passable for five months of the year with a snow plow. The Governor of Newfoundland, Governor Walwyn stated, "A raider would either have to capture St. John's and use the railway to the road at Carbonear, some miles away, or enter Conception Bay and land forces at Carbonear." This was considered highly unlikely as there were many Newfoundland, British, Canadian and American forces stationed all around the island for its defense.

The British Government was desperate for Newfoundland to take some of its civilian internees. Given its financial position, the Commission of Government could not assume to build such a camp. Britain assured Newfoundland that it was prepared to pay all expenses for building and running the camp and to supply the initial guards. Britain wanted to send 2000 internees to Newfoundland, about 7000 to Canada, 9000 to Australia and New Zealand.

The Blueprints for the Prison Camp were finalized on October 8,1940. It was designed to hold about 1000 internees and would require 153 guards and an administrative staff of 24. The administration was to include four nursing orderlies, three clerks, two interpreters, two electricians, and a hospital cook.

By the fall of 1940, the camp was almost completed. The Newfoundland Government was anxious to take the internees from Britain as a German invasion of the British Isles seemed imminent. Work proceeded on the camp. By early 1941, the camp was completed. It had cost $200 000 and covered an area 600 feet by 1100 feet. There were 20 bunkhouses and latrines for internees, 5 kitchen mess house blocks, one officers' mess hall and quarters, three bunk houses and latrines for guards, a kitchen and mess hall for guards, a guard house, an administrative building, a hospital building, a quartermaster's store and offices, an underground vegetable store, and six sentry posts. The camp had electric floodlighting and electric wiring in all the buildings. On January 12, 1991, the camp was stocked with 1224 mattresses and pillows, soap, hardware, cooking utensils. Everything seemed ready for the civilian internees to arrive.

In August 1940, the American and Canadian governments established the Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD) to make recommendations concerning the defense of the Western Hemisphere. When the PJBD heard about the Victoria Camp, it became concerned about the threat to Newfoundland security. Newfoundland was vital to the defense of North America. A prison comp in Newfoundland would jeopardize that security. The PJBD was opposed to the camp, One member of the Board stated, "that incarnation of German prisoners in Newfoundland would present a serious military hazard which might jeopardize the defense scheme for Newfoundland which the board is now preparing and thus menace the safety of Canada and the United States"

Throughout 1941 and early 1942, the PJBD discussed other uses for the Camp: either as a sanatorium and convalescent home or as a temporary accommodation for distressed and injured seamen. The cost of conversion and upkeep put an end to these plans. Finally, in August 1942, the British Government decided to dispose of the camp. The entire camp and facilities were sold to the Canadian Government who had it dismantled during the spring of 1943.

It is with some irony; that on August 2, 1943, Canada's Secretary of State for External Affairs informed his High Commission in St. John's of the possibility of using of the camp for enemy prisoners. But there was no longer a camp for anyone to set foot inside.