Birth of the Navy (1910-1914)
HMCS Niobe

HMCS Niobe, one of the Naval Service of Canada's first two ships, was intended in part to train Canadian sailors. A large, obsolescent cruiser, Niobe required many crew and was expensive to operate. Lengthy repairs after it ran aground in 1911, and subsequent budget cutbacks, limited the ship's activities.

Visitors Exploring HMCS Niobe

Though HMCS Niobe's acquisition provoked controversy amongst politicians and the press, the ship drew a crowd when opened to the public in Halifax.

Here, visitors, guided by crew members, climb over Niobe's quarterdeck and aft bridge. Many are lined up or climbing ladders to visit the bridge (top centre), while others examine two of the ship's guns on the quarterdeck. The striped arms of semaphores, used to send visual signals, can be seen atop the bridge and on the wings extending to either side.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20030174-004