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.

Boxing Instruction

Personnel in a vastly expanded navy participated in recreational activities on shore, including sports like boxing.

Naval authorities encouraged organized sports, seeking to promote fitness and keep sailors out of trouble. Gerald Trottier, a sailor and aspiring artist from Ottawa, was posted to the east coast during the Second World War. He painted a number of watercolours of his wartime experiences in the Royal Canadian Navy, including this boxing scene.

Boxing Instruction
Painted by Gerald Trottier in 1943
CWM 20060081-003