Canada's Naval History

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First World War (1914-1918)
The Merchant Navy

From 1914 to 1918, Canadian and Allied merchant ships and mariners transported personnel, munitions, weapons, and food to Great Britain and Europe as part of the Allied war effort. German U-Boats (submarines) and mines claimed tens of thousands of Allied lives and thousands of ships.

SS Scandinavian, Canadian Transport

This photograph shows Canadian troops aboard the SS Scandinavian in October 1914, either departing from Canada or arriving in England on their trans-Atlantic voyage.

The Scandinavian was one of 31 ocean liners that carried more than 31,000 Canadians of the First Contingent across the Atlantic in October 1914. Although the word "Glasgow" beneath the ship's name indicates that the ship was registered in Glasgow, Scotland, the Scandinavian was a ship of the Montreal-based Allan Line.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19920085-1011