by Lori Treloar
On some Shawnigan Lake maps, Armstrong Road is included. It runs East – West from the lake on the north end of the West Provincial Park. The road is currently not in use, but it is there nevertheless. The road was named for one, if not two, members of the Armstrong family who settled here early in the 20th century. Charles Armstrong was born in 1858 to a well-to-do, titled family. A restless lad, he went off to sea at 16 and returned a few years later. Not long after, his family sent him to Queensland, Australia to work as a “jackaroo” on a cattle station. He was an excellent horseman and he became a formidable boxer. While in Australia, he met and married Helen Porter Mitchell who later became the world renowned, singing sensation, Nellie Melba.
Nellie engaged in a scandalous affair and Charles eventually divorced her and was awarded custody of their son, George. George, at 20, went back to live with his mother and Charles moved to a cottage on 20 acres at Shawnigan Lake. His “farm” eventually became the property where Camp Pringle is today, and borders the road named for his family. He lived at Shawnigan for over 40 years and died in Victoria at the age of 90.
Charlie’s nephew, Neville, was a serious adventurer. He joined the gold rush to the Klondike and spent many years hunting and guiding in the wilds of the northwest. He wrote two books on his adventures. Neville and his wife, Mary Anne retired to “West House”, Shawnigan Lake in 1905. The Armstrong family became involved in the local life at Shawnigan.
Neville, and several other local men, formed a committee and rented the two wooden tennis courts belonging to Col. Eardley-Wilmot for their Shawnigan Lawn Tennis Club. Club days were held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Neville lived at Shawnigan for many years between his military service and big game hunting. BC directories listed him as either “retired” or “capitalist”.
A clever man, Neville invented “the Armstrong carrier”, a pack-saddle that was adopted by the British Army. He received the OBE (Military division) and became a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. After the war, he and his wife divorced but they both continued to be involved in the Shawnigan Lake community. One year, he and his daughter hosted an event at the Shawnigan Lake Athletic Hall where a long list of guests enjoyed bridge, badminton, mahjong, fortune telling and conjuring tricks. His house was eventually bought by Frederick Mason-Hurley and became the Forest Inn. Later the name was changed to the Shawnigan Beach Hotel.
During WWII, Neville was in England. He taught the Canadian First Division “Sniping, Observation and Scouting” (SOS) at the behest of General George Pearkes. Neville died in 1954, likely in England.
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