Canada's Naval History

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Birth Of the Navy

First World War

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Second World War

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Later Cold War
- - From RCN to Maritime Command
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Navy Today
- - The Gulf War
  - Continuing Commitments

First World War (1914-1918)
Canadians in the Royal Navy

Many Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the Royal Navy during the First World War, providing much needed personnel, and emphasizing the strong Imperial ties between both dominions and Great Britain.

Canadians Serving in HMS Canada

This 1918 photograph shows Canadian sailors serving in the British battleship HMS Canada.

Several sailors wear an "RN Canadian VR" cap tally, indicating service in the Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve. The one in the middle of the front row also holds a gun tampion, or muzzle cover, bearing a moose head, part of the ship's badge. R.B. Brett (second row, fourth from left) was one of the Canadian midshipmen training aboard HMS Canada in 1918. The Canadian contingent was just a small fraction of the more than 1000 sailors needed to crew the ship.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19800603-001_38