First World War (1914-1918)
Atlantic Theatre

In response to the threat of German naval activity, the east coast navy expanded from its tiny pre-war establishment to include a wide assortment of ships. Their range of duties included blockading, convoy escort and minesweeping.

SS Brindilla

In October 1914, HMCS Niobe seized the American oil tanker SS Brindilla and sent it to Halifax as a prize.

The Brindilla had been transferred from German to American ownership following the war's outbreak, and Great Britain argued that this was a legal sleight-of-hand to avoid the ship being seized by Allied forces. The then-neutral United States vigorously opposed such interference in its trade and the oil tanker was soon released. By intercepting supplies bound for Germany, Great Britain hoped to disrupt the German war effort.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20030109-013_5