Canada's Naval History

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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

The Early Cold War
Rebuilding and Transformation

The Canadian navy's main Cold War mission was anti-submarine warfare, as it had been in the two world wars. It sought to build a force of ships, personnel, and facilities to fulfill this mission, as well as to pursue other national objectives like sovereignty protection.

Artifact Record

Uniform, Rear Admiral Sturton Mathwin Davis

This uniform belonged to Sturton Mathwin Davis, who served in the Canadian navy from 1950 to 1974.

Trained as a naval architect - an engineer specializing in the design, construction, and repair of vessels - Davis served with Britain's Royal Navy from 1940 to 1946. After moving to Canada to work as a naval architect, Davis joined the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve in 1950. He headed the 1958-1959 Nuclear Submarine Survey Team that examined the feasibility of Canada building its own nuclear-powered submarines. Subsequently appointed Director General of Ships, Davis was directly involved with shaping the Canadian fleet and the ships built for it.

Work Dress Uniform, Rear Admiral Sturton Mathwin Davis
Blouse, CWM 19990050-019
Trousers, CWM 19990050-020

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