Canada's Naval History

The Second World War
The Merchant Navy - Serving with the Merchant Navy

During the Second World War, Canadian and Allied merchant mariners faced the constant hard work of operating and maintaining their ships, the threat of enemy attack, and the dangers of accidents and storms.

Christmas Card, SS Lady Rodney

Canadian merchant mariner Robert Bush ("Bob") sent this Christmas card featuring the SS Lady Rodney to his future wife.

Cards like this, showing the ships or military units in which people served, were typical of the time. The British-born Bush ran away to sea as a teenager in 1936 and, after becoming part of Canada's merchant navy in 1941, served in the Lady Rodney for much of the war. Bush met Evangeline Harrold, then a member of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The two married in 1946.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20080094-028