Second World War
The Navy Ashore  - Building the Royal Canadian Navy

The Royal Canadian Navy expanded dramatically during the Second World War, acquiring ships and recruiting personnel to meet the constantly increasing demands placed upon it. Ships had to be built, repaired, and maintained, and people recruited, trained, and supported.

Calisthenics at HMCS Cornwallis

Sailors in training at HMCS Cornwallis, the Royal Canadian Navy's training establishment near Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, engage in group calisthenics.

Group exercises like this formed part of training for newly recruited members of the navy. The navy's rapid wartime growth and the shortage of space in Halifax prompted the creation of a training facility at a location that provided ocean access and space for the necessary facilities. Construction of Cornwallis began in mid-1942, and training was officially transferred to the new base in the spring of 1943.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19801150-051_10