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.

Rope-work, HMCS Niobe

The Boatswain (pronounced Bo'sun) (standing) was responsible for the care and maintenance of all ropes, lines, and cables onboard ship.

Here, he supervises two sailors who appear to be splicing (joining) a heavy line. Rope work remained an important skill in the navy even though the kilometres of cordage of a traditional sailing ship had been replaced by the simplified rigging of steamships. Signalling, moving heavy objects and ship's boats, and securing objects on a ship demanded a continued knowledge of knots and rope.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20030174-058