A Brief History The Canadian Merchant Navy

During the times of imperial expansion, the merchant navies of European states served as an important lifeline to the overseas colonies. Supplying the New World with vital supplies and food for establishing the settlements, the Merchant Navies and their crew faced the daunting task of fighting the elements to make these important Atlantic journeys.

With the turn of the 20th Century, the nature of trade and supply drastically changed with growing conflict in Europe. The outbreak of war in 1914 cut off trade across most of Europe. The Alliance of the French and the British could not alone stand against the Germans in the devastating battle of attrition that would consume the next four years. The Dominion of Canada was then given the task of keeping the Empire alive with supplies from North America. The Royal Canadian Navy, lacking proper ships for this task, enlisted the aid of private merchant vessels and their crew to transport troops, munitions, fuel and food to an embattled Europe. The hardy sailors who manned these ships faced many hazards, including unrestrained submarine attacks from German forces. Despite this, the Canadian Merchant Navy and its sailors continued to brave the dangers and aid Britain in its time of need.

The Armistice in November 1918 was not an end for the Merchant Navy, only a short break. A few years later, when Hitler took hold of Germany, conflict in Europe became reality once again. Canada joined its Allies in the war on September 10, 1939 and she once again call upon the Merchant Navy to transport vital supplies to Europe. With the devastating loss of France, supplying Britain became critically important to merely stay in the war. Moreover, the fearsome presence of German U-boat “wolf packs” on the high seas made each voyage a brush with death. German U-boats accounted for 69% of the total ships sunk between 1940 and 1944, a frightening percentage.^{Footnote 1} Canada would lose over 2100 men and women from the merchant navy operations, not including the multitudes of wounded and 72 Canadian ships would be sunk by enemy action.^{Footnote 2}

What is the merchant navy? The merchant navy is a Canadian legacy, a shining example of a time when Canada met the challenges of aiding her allies, and prevailed. The veterans of the Canadian merchant navy are living record of that national perseverance; a fading group of unsung heroes. By conducting research and publicizing the stories and deeds of the Merchant Navy, this theme project hopes to raise appreciation and awareness of the immensely important role that the Canadian Merchant Navy played in our national history.