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.

Starting the Freighter

This oil painting by Albert Robinson captures the industrial environment of the Canadian Vickers shipyard in Montreal.

The freighters' bows dwarf the workers, while cranes hoist steel plates for the ships' hulls into place. During the First World War, Canadian Vickers, one of the largest shipyards in Canada, built both merchant ships like those seen here, and naval vessels like motor launches and submarines.

Starting the Freighter
Painting by Albert Robinson
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19880266-004