The Navy: A Century in Art
A Canadian Navy

Canada's navy is an important national institution. It is an influential presence in many Canadian communities and is a historic and influential symbol of nationhood. For many Canadians, the navy is a focus of passion, pride, and service.

Dormitory
Painted by Pegi Nicol MacLeod in 1945

The Second World War saw some 7,000 women in naval service.

The Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, founded in 1942, performed a wide variety of often critical non-combatant roles, such as invasion planning for D-Day. ?Wrens' and other wartime women in uniform were a major change to the military's all-male composition. This vibrant work is by Pegi Nicol MacLeod, who captured the experiences in war of both military and civilian women.

Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-5828