The Second World War
The Merchant Navy  - The Merchant Navy

Between 1939 and 1945, Canadian and Allied merchant ships and their crews transported personnel, munitions, weapons, and food across the world's oceans as part of the Allied war effort. Enemy action sank some 70 Canadian and Newfoundland merchant vessels. Over 1,600 Canadians and Newfoundlanders, including eight women, were killed.

Lewis Machine-Gun

The Lewis machine-gun, usually called a "Lewis gun", was a weapon commonly installed on Canadian merchant ships.

First used during the First World War, the Lewis gun also saw widespread naval use during the Second World War. A flat drum on top of the weapon held ammunition (centre left), while an air-cooling jacket around its barrel created a distinctive profile (right). Fitted singly or in pairs on simple mountings, Lewis guns were used for anti-aircraft and general defence, but due to their limited range and effectiveness against aircraft they were gradually replaced by heavier weapons as the war progressed.

Machine-gun, Lewis Light, Model 1914
CWM 19620017-006