A Canadian sailor gazes over his ship's rail at the Statue of Liberty (centre left) in the harbour of New York.

In 1942, New York City became the great departure point for trans-Atlantic convoys, replacing Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia, although considerable shipping continued to flow through those two ports. New York was a frequent port of call for escort ships in the Canadian-organized Western Local Escort Force (later the Western Escort Force), which helped guard convoys and ships sailing to and from ports in north-eastern North America.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19801071-040_1