Second World War
The Navy Ashore  - The Navy and the Home Front

The Royal Canadian Navy became a strong presence on Canada's home front during the Second World War. Naval imagery appeared in fundraising and propaganda materials, while Canadians built equipment for the navy, or were encouraged to support it through volunteer work.

Censored Photograph, HMCS Wentworth

This photograph of the frigate HMCS Wentworth in St. John's, Newfoundland, shows the effects of wartime censorship.

Here, a censor has hidden details of the ship's location and the surrounding naval facilities in St. John's Harbour. Censorship also conceals the ship's pennant number (centre right) and specialized equipment for helping to locate the source of German radio transmissions (top centre). Events, locations, and equipment were all the subject of censorship, intended to prevent the divulging of information that could damage the Allied cause or make Canadians doubt the war effort.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19850391-091