Canada's Naval History

The Second World War
War in the Pacific and South East Asia - The Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and Hong Kong

During the Second World War in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, some Canadians and Canadian ships served with Britain's Royal Navy fighting against Japan. After helping Canadian soldiers reinforce Hong Kong in 1941, the Royal Canadian Navy returned in 1945 and helped repatriate Canadian prisoners of war.

HMCS Prince Robert in Hong Kong

HMCS Prince Robert, sent to serve as an anti-aircraft cruiser with the British Pacific Fleet, arrives at the Kowloon docks in Hong Kong, August 1945.

Members of the ship's crew, many in summer uniforms, crowd the ship's rails, while an armed Canadian sailor can be seen in the foreground. Shore parties from Prince Robert and other ships helped disarm Japanese military personnel and maintain order ashore. In 1941, Prince Robert had helped transport Canadian soldiers to Hong Kong; in 1945, the ship's crew helped liberate many of the survivors from Japanese prisoner of war camps.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20020045-2772