Birth of the Navy (1910-1914)
HMCS Niobe

HMCS Niobe, one of the Naval Service of Canada's first two ships, was intended in part to train Canadian sailors. A large, obsolescent cruiser, Niobe required many crew and was expensive to operate. Lengthy repairs after it ran aground in 1911, and subsequent budget cutbacks, limited the ship's activities.

Sailors Sewing Flags, HMCS Niobe

Watched closely by a warrant officer (right), sailors work on a flag or pennant.

Despite the use of steam engines to propel ships, canvas and textiles were still extensively used on board ship, requiring sailors to learn and practice the skills to maintain them. Assembled from coloured fabric, flags and pennants could also send signals. The crossed signal flags that were the trade badge of the signals branch can be seen on the upper sleeve of the sailor at the far left.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20030174-085