Kingston Industries' Contributions to the War Effort

In August, 1945 VJ-Day marked the end of World War II. Kingston's industries contributed people and production to the Allied war effort. Here's a snapshot from the end of August of that year; a summary of notable contributions by the city's main industries:

ALCAN - 623 employees volunteered for service. Returned by August, 1945: 27. (above - unloading 'pig' at Kingston mill, 1940's)

CANADIAN DREDGE & DOCK - Finished a floating derrick for the Canadian government, the last war order, in mid-August. Now building tugs and other vessels for company use. 330 employees, few of whom left due to priority of their war work. Will return to pre-war staffing of 70.

CANADIAN LOCOMOTIVE CO. - Enough work for a year. Four hundred employees served. Veterans returned: 5.

DAVIS TANNERY - War work is 80% of output. Veterans returned: 2.

FRONTENAC FLOOR & WALL TILE - Six-month backup of civilian orders. Of 170 employees, 30 are still serving.

HIELD BROTHERS - Enough work ahead for 2-3 years. 180 workers with 22 vacancies.

KINGSTON SHIPYARDS - One year of orders ahead. A few veterans returned. Women joined the workforce in 1943. (HMCS Frontenac built by the Shipyards, 1943 - top photo)

MACPHERSON - Working on sub-contracts for other manufacturers. Three of 30 workers are veterans.

MONARCH BATTERY - Main war work was batteries for army signal units, especially one large battery made nowhere else in Canada. Employees: 100, veterans will be re-employed.

NYLON PLANT - Busy with war orders for Britain until end of 1945. Employees serving: 70.

Victory truck-floats, 1945. Davis Tannery (above) and Hield Bros. (below - both photos posted to Vintage Kingston FB group

In addition to their labour and service, local plant employees also donated to nine Victory Loan programs throughout the war through their workplaces. A June, 1945 message from the Hield Brothers woolen mill (below - all photos from Vintage Kingston Facebook group) welcoming veterans back to the company workforce: