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Birth of the Navy (1910-1914)
HMCS Niobe

HMCS Niobe, one of the Naval Service of Canada's first two ships, was intended in part to train Canadian sailors. A large, obsolescent cruiser, Niobe required many crew and was expensive to operate. Lengthy repairs after it ran aground in 1911, and subsequent budget cutbacks, limited the ship's activities.

Oil Lamp, HMCS Niobe
Oil Lamp, HMCS Niobe

This lamp originally hung in the warrant officers' mess in HMCS Niobe.

Its cylindrical reservoir (bottom) held kerosene fuel, while a burning wick housed in the glass chimney (top) provided light. The lamp's pivoting mount (right) allowed it to remain vertical as the ship pitched and rolled. Though Niobe used electrical power for equipment such as searchlights and the Marconi wireless (radio) set, oil lamps still provided illumination in some areas and also served as back-up lighting.

Oil Lamp
CWM 20010035-001





Model, HMCS Niobe
HMCS Niobe at Anchor
Boxing Match, HMCS Niobe
Visitors Exploring HMCS Niobe
Oil Lamp, HMCS Niobe
Coaling the Ship, HMCS Niobe
Gun Practice, HMCS Niobe
Gun Deck, HMCS Niobe
"Seeing the World in Comfort," HMCS Niobe
HMCS Niobe in Drydock, around 1911
Diver Going over the Side
View of "Victory" Boat alongside HMCS Niobe
Rope-work, HMCS Niobe
Two Stokers, HMCS Niobe
Boys' Mess, HMCS Niobe
Sailors Sewing Flags, HMCS Niobe
Playing Chess Below Decks, HMCS Niobe
HMCS Niobe's Goat
HMCS Niobe Gun Crew and Gunnery Target
Cecil George Corke, Boy Sailor, HMCS Niobe
Dominion Day, Niobe Boys
At the dockside, HMCS Niobe, Halifax
"Stokers Band," HMCS Niobe
Ceremony on the Quarterdeck, HMCS Niobe