|
In 1939 the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) does
not have the strength that the upcoming
war demands. Having recalled the Reserve,
the RCN then launches a cautious recruiting
campaign, to avoid attracting too many inexperienced
men. But as the war situation worsens, the
RCN finds itself facing a full-blown crisis,
as it needs more men and more ships. It
must resign itself to open recruitment to
men with no sailing experience; thus is
created the Volunteer Reserve. Furthermore,
in order to free up as many men as possible
for duty at sea, a women's service is created
in July 1942, to take on ground duties.
Within six years, the RCN's strength grows
dramatically, from 1,585 in 1939 to 92,529
in 1945!
Lieutenant Ralph L. Hennessy,
RCN, on destroyer HMCS Assiniboine,
circa September 1940. Hennessy
enjoyed a brilliant career in
the RCN from 1936 to 1970. He
was awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross for the sinking
of U-210 in August 1942. |
| Department
of National Defence / National
Archives of Canada, PA-104253. |
|
The Royal Canadian
Navy (RCN)
In the summer of 1939, the RCN's permanent
strength is 1,674 ratings and 145 officers.
Through its ongoing cooperation with the
Royal Navy, those men have already served
on warships. They have the experience and
skills needed to organize the growing Canadian
Navy and train its reserve.
Rituals and traditions of the Royal Navy
have grown deep roots in the RCN and its
men are proud of their service on British
ships. Uniforms are the same, as are ranks
and promotions. These men's goal is to give
Canada a navy - naturally, smaller - but
of the same calibre as the glorious British
Royal Navy.
The Royal Canadian
Navy Reserve (RCNR)
The Reserve is made up of officers
and men with significant experience of life
at sea, gained mostly through service with
the merchant navy. Before the war broke
out, Reserve personnel followed training
at the Halifax, Nova Scotia, or Esquimalt,
British Columbia, bases once or twice a
year. They were recalled as soon as the
war was declared. In the next six years,
Reserve officers will often be given command
of newly commissioned vessels.
Crew watching film in mess deck
of RCN ship. By 1942 the Volunteer
Reserve made up for the majority
of the RCN's personnel. |
| Photo
by William H. Pugsley. Department
of National Defence / National
Archives of Canada, PA-139292. |
|
The Royal Canadian
Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR)
Also called the "Wavy Navy", on
account of the wavy sleeve bars worn by
its officers, the Volunteer Reserve enlists
"for the duration" men with no
navy experience, most of them volunteers
from the inland regions of Canada.
As expected, the arrival of so many untrained
men on newly commissioned ships impacted
on efficiency and discipline. But the courage,
inventiveness and tenacity of those brand
new sailors compensated for the lack of
experience. Some remarkable leaders would
come out of the ranks, and resourceful sailors
distinguish themselves. As training and
ships improve, the RCNVR demonstrates it
can be a match for a clever and experienced
enemy.
The Volunteer Reserve soon makes up most
of the RCN's strength. Those ratings and
officers who had never known the Royal Navy's
discipline and strictness bring in a new,
typically Canadian culture, that will help
the RCN develop its own personality.
A "Wren" - a member
of the WRCNS - operating Direction
Finding equipment at HMCS Coverdale
station near Moncton, New Brunswick,
August 1945. |
| Photo
by Leblanc. Department of National
Defence / National Archives of
Canada, PA-142540. |
|
The Women's Royal
Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS)
The RCN's women's service was created
in July 1942, shortly after the Army and
Air Force had made a similar move. Naturally,
there were still duties that were traditionally
those of women: office work, household chores,
food preparation. But among WRCNS (also
called "Wrens" after their British
counterparts), there were also singers and
dancers for the "Meet the Navy"
show.
Following the Royal Navy's example, the
RCN soon realized that women could be skilled
communication and intelligence operators.
Although they worked in cooperation with
sailors, women were not authorized to serve
on board of ships. Wrens worked in merchant
navy coordination, information processing
and signals. They were posted on the East
Coast starting in March 1943, at the Halifax
and St. John's naval bases, as well as at
radio detection and plotting stations, such
as the Coverdale Base in New Brunswick.
Between 1942 and 1945, 7,122 women served
with the RCN; their determination was instrumental
in the Allies' victory at sea.
|
Canada in WWII
