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.

Reloading Motor Launch ML 139 with Depth Charges

This photograph shows motor launch ML 139 (right) being reloaded with depth charges, anti-submarine weapons.

Motor launches were fast boats that patrolled the English Channel and other European waters to counter German submarines, called U-Boats. Depth charges were containers filled with high explosives. Projected from a ship, they sank into the water and exploded at a pre-set depth. A direct hit could destroy a U-Boat, while a nearby explosion could cause damage, forcing the submarine to the surface to face its pursuers. Douglas Urry, a Canadian who served with the Royal Naval Motor Boat Reserve, kept this photograph in his album.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20030213-002_28