Canada's Naval History

The Second World War
War in the Pacific and South East Asia - The Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and Hong Kong

During the Second World War in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, some Canadians and Canadian ships served with Britain's Royal Navy fighting against Japan. After helping Canadian soldiers reinforce Hong Kong in 1941, the Royal Canadian Navy returned in 1945 and helped repatriate Canadian prisoners of war.

Artifact Record

Winter Service Dress Jacket, Lieutenant Neville "Riv" Rivington

This jacket belonged to Neville Rivington, of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) who saw service in the war against Japan, primarily with the Royal Navy.

Rivington, specializing as a radar officer, served in the cruiser HMS Kenya from October 1942 until June 1945. While he was aboard, Kenya sailed well over 200,000 kilometres and crossed the equator 22 times, mostly on operations in the war against Japan in the Indian Ocean. In mid-1945, Rivington was posted to the cruiser HMCS Uganda which was refitting at Esquimalt.

Winter Service Dress Jacket, Lieutenant Neville Rivington
CWM 19950092-002