Canadian Forestry Corps Company No 25 sawmill at Mar Lodge
The image is courtesy of Alistair Cassie, Ballater, who received the images from a contact in Australia.
Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC) Company No 25 was one of eight companies based in the Deeside area as part of CFC District No 2. Records indicate the Mar Lodge camp construction began in December 1941 aided by men from Companies 2, 3, 4, 13 and 16. The team of men (around 200) that formed Company No 25 arrived in Deeside at the end of March, early April 1942 and no doubt began timber production shortly after.
This wider view gives some idea of the substantial size of the sawmill building but unfortunately the interior is too dark to see any of the saw bench layout. The building is certainly large enough to house parallel and also in line benches for processing the timber baulks after the initial slabbing saw the sides of which is just visible through the open sides. Note the trailer positioned to receive the side slabs and off cuts.
There is mention in some reports of a ‘Scotch Bench’ used along with the Canadian saw to produce sawn timber and it is possible that this local type mill bench was also set up within the shed. Any information welcomed?
The smoking chimneys are interesting but what they signify is not certain. The Canadian Corps used diesel engines to power their mills but preferred mains electricity if it was within reach. The chimneys could signify heating fires or possibly even forges. The bicycles lying in the front look very new.
Any information on mill bench layout and power systems used at this mill would be very welcome.
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Groups: Canadian and Newfoundland sawmillers in Scotland, Forestry Areas, Sawmills, pulp mills, chipboard mills, War time constructions and defence structures in woods and forests