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The Second World War
War in the Pacific and South East Asia  - The Royal Canadian Navy and the Pacific Coast

The Royal Canadian Navy was active in operations along the Pacific coast from 1939 to 1945, patrolling British Columbia waters and helping to support the Allied war effort. West coast shipyards built ships for the navy and the merchant navy.

German Prisioners Leaving HMCS Prince Robert
German Prisioners Leaving HMCS Prince Robert

Canadians search sailors from the captured German merchant ship Weser as they are brought ashore in Esquimalt, British Columbia.

Following the outbreak of war, German merchant vessels interned in neutral ports in Central and South America were suspected of planning breakouts to resupply and refuel surface raiders hunting Allied ships HMCS Prince Robert took part in patrols to prevent this from happening and, on 25 September 1940, a boarding party from Prince Robert captured the German merchant ship Weser, believed to be headed for a rendezvous with the raider Orion.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19820018-005





Bangor Entering Esquimalt
HMCS Armentières, Esquimalt
Firefighting Practice at Esquimalt
HMCS Vancouver Alongside, Esquimalt
HMCS Kokanee
HMCS St. Catharines entering Esquimalt Harbour
The Naval Chapel
Fishermen's Reserve Vessel Z-126 Under Way in Heavy Weather
Confiscated Japanese Canadian Fishing Boats
R.B. Michelin, Fishermen's Reserve
HMCS Prince Robert Refitted as an Armed Merchant Cruiser
German Prisioners Leaving HMCS Prince Robert
Tropical Service Dress, German Merchant Navy
Prisoner of War Work Jacket
Japanese Shell Fragment
HMCS Prince Robert Alongside Pier # 1
Soviet Dirk
Soviet Merchant Ship