Canada's Naval History

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First World War (1914-1918)
The Home Front

The war at sea affected Canadians in a variety of ways. While extensive recruiting efforts at home sought men to become sailors in the Canadian and British navies, Canadian shipyards built warships and merchant ships to expand Allied navies and to replace vessels lost to submarine attack.

Artifact Record

Polsons Iron Work Yard, Ship War Hydra on Stocks

This watercolour by Robert Ford Gagen depicts the cargo ship War Hydra under construction at the Polson Iron Works shipyard in Toronto.

As part of the need to replace ships lost to German U-Boat attacks, Canada commenced an intensive shipbuilding program in 1917. The program drew upon resources on both coasts, as well as on the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. Polson Iron Works built eight ships, several of which were not completed before the war ended.

Polsons Iron Work Yard, Ship War Hydra on Stocks
Painting by Robert Ford Gagen
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-0152