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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.

Master-at-Arms Ron Crawford, HMCS Cornwallis, 1953
Master-at-Arms Ron Crawford, HMCS Cornwallis, 1953

Master-at-Arms Ron Crawford (centre) adjusts a sailor's uniform during an inspection at HMCS Cornwallis in 1953.

As Master-at-Arms, Crawford was responsible for enforcing discipline and regulations. He is likely adjusting two tapes that secure the knot in the black silk handkerchief worn under the sailor's collar, and he holds a pair of scissors in his left hand to trim stray threads spotted during the inspection. Cornwallis, the Royal Canadian Navy's training establishment near Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, had been built during the Second World War, and continued to be used for post-war training.

2008-09-40
CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum





Graveyard, Sorel, P.Q.
HMCS Micmac
HMCS Sussexvale
Twin 40mm Bofors Gun
HMCS Magnificent and Destroyer
Royal Canadian Navy Recruiting Advertisement
Canadian Ships in Halifax Harbour
Model, HMCS Mackenzie
Desktop Radar Model
Model, HMCS Provider
HMCS Assiniboine and Sea King Helicopter
Twin 3-Inch Naval Gun and Mount
Uniform, Rear Admiral Sturton Mathwin Davis
HMCS Porte St. Louis and HMCS Porte St. Jean
Ship's Crest, HMCS Porte de la Reine
HMCS Ontario in the Panama Canal
Life Ring, HMCS Quebec
Royal Canadian Navy Recruiting Poster
Master-at-Arms Ron Crawford, HMCS Cornwallis, 1953
Wrens Recruiting Advertisement
Naval Reserve Recruiting Poster
HMCS Malahat Crew, 1957
Naval Fire Fighting Training
Cadets in Summer Training