By The Canadian Press

Dredging off CFB Esquimalt near Victoria reveals sunken naval history

Oct 21, 2016 | 10:33 AM

ESQUIMALT, B.C. — A dredging project in Esquimalt Harbour has uncovered mysteries dating back to the turn of the 20th century.

The dredging is part of an environmental remediation project launched by the CFB Esquimalt naval base and environmental officer Duane Freeman says items linked to the naval and shipbuilding history of the harbour, near Victoria, have been uncovered.

He says objects ranging from a pipe to a wedding ring, service medals and several wallets have been sifted from the mud.

The goal is to track down the rightful owners of the objects.

Freeman says if that can’t be done, it’s hoped that a permanent display can be set up at the base to display artifacts that date back to the early-1900s.

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One wallet appears to contain the naval identification of a sailor named Norman Boulton and Freeman says it was likely dropped from ship more than 70 years ago.

“We hope we can track him down and actually reunite him with his entire wallet,” says Freeman.

“His ID card was inside his wallet, and you can imagine his reaction back in the 1940s when he dropped this over the side.” (CFAX)

The Canadian Press