First World War (1914-1918)
The Home Front

The war at sea affected Canadians in a variety of ways. While extensive recruiting efforts at home sought men to become sailors in the Canadian and British navies, Canadian shipyards built warships and merchant ships to expand Allied navies and to replace vessels lost to submarine attack.

Cargo Ship Half Hull Model, Canadian Vickers

This "half hull model," representing the six large freighters built by Canadian Vickers in Montreal, shows one of the types of merchant ship built by Canadian shipyards during the First World War.

Half hull models, which show the shape of a vessel's hull, were originally developed as designing and planning aids. This example, likely built as a commemorative piece, bears a plaque identifying its type - an "8,000 ton steel steamer" - and explaining that it was built by Canadian Vickers for the Imperial Munitions Board.

Cargo Ship Model
CWM 19390002-139