First World War (1914-1918)
Canadians in the Royal Navy

Many Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the Royal Navy during the First World War, providing much needed personnel, and emphasizing the strong Imperial ties between both dominions and Great Britain.

Motor Launch ML 399, in Drydock, Grimsby

This photograph by Canadian Douglas Urry shows motor launches in a drydock at Grimsby, England.

The Royal Navy used ports like Grimsby along the British coast in its war against German U-Boats. While small, the more than 500 motor launches permitted a tighter screen of patrols than would have been possible with fewer, larger vessels. The motor launch on the right, ML 399, may have been one of the launches in which Urry served. The photograph indicates the small size of the launches, which had a crew of only 13.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20030213-002_14