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Naval Traditions and Culture

Naval traditions and culture encompass a wide range of activities, events, and objects, often unique to naval service. Some, like the "crossing the line" (meaning, the equator) ceremony, are old and well-established, while others, such as gun shield art, related directly to Second World War experiences. Many reflect companionship, commemoration, recreation, or esprit de corps.

HMCS Rosthern Insignia
HMCS Rosthern Insignia

This insignia from the corvette HMCS Rosthern was created to help decorate the Crow's Nest Club in St. John's, Newfoundland.

Established in January 1942 for seagoing officers, the club was a popular establishment, with space on the walls allotted to individual ships to decorate as they saw fit. Able Seaman D.A. Geary, a sailor from Rosthern's crew, painted his ship being raised up in the air by its spinning radar antenna (centre, right). The added joke for Canadian sailors would have been the knowledge that this particular type of antenna had to be rotated by hand.

("Hey Mate! Ease down on that Aerial - Do you think this is a bloody helicopter!")

HMCS Rosthern Insignia
Painted by D.A. Geary in 1944
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19850360-001





Dawn Gun Stations in HMCS Pictou
Daisy Mae, HMCS Mayflower
HMCS Westaskiwin's Gun Shield Art
HMCS Shawinigan's Gun Shield Art
HMCS Rosthern Insignia
Ship's Badge, HMCS Inch Arran
Concert Party, HMS Canada
Jam Session at Sea, Seamen's Mess
"Crossing the Line" Ceremony
Boxing, HMCS Swansea
Naval Wedding, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Royal Canadian Navy Rum
"Beatty" Toby Jug
"Jellicoe" Toby Jug
Jewellery Box
Christmas Trees, HMCS Border Cities
Dining in the Wardroom, HMS Puncher
Model 6-inch Naval Gun
Model Cannon
Royal Naval College of Canada Rugby Game
Shearwater Flyers National Football Championship, 1957
Sunset Ceremony
Anniversary Celebrations, Quebec City
Dockside Religious Service
"Piping the Side"
Bosun's Call
Ship's Bell, HMCS Swansea
Ship's Bell, HMCS Inch Arran