Canada's Naval History

Home > Explore History > First World War (1914-1918) > Canadians in the Royal Naval Air Service

Birth Of the Navy

First World War

Between the Wars

Second World War

Early Cold War

Later Cold War
- - From RCN to Maritime Command
  - A Changing Fleet

Navy Today
- - The Gulf War
  - Continuing Commitments

First World War (1914-1918)
Canadians in the Royal Naval Air Service

Among the Canadians serving with the Royal Navy were those in its aviation branch, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). They included aces and future leaders of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The dangers they faced included the enemy, the elements, and their own unreliable aircraft.

Artifact Record

Memorial Plaque, Flight Lieutenant Harry Wambolt

This is the official memorial plaque sent to Harry Wambolt's family after his death in aerial combat.

Wambolt, owner of a movie theatre in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, took private flying lessons before joining the Royal Naval Air Service. After reaching the Western Front in June 1916, he flew a variety of missions before being killed on 4 March 1917 while fighting enemy airplanes. Wambolt's family, like other next of kin of service personnel from the British Empire who died during the war, received this memorial plaque and an accompanying commemorative scroll.

Memorial Plaque, Flight Lieutenant Harry Wambolt
Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals
CWM 19720147-014