Second World War
The Navy Ashore  - Building the Royal Canadian Navy

The Royal Canadian Navy expanded dramatically during the Second World War, acquiring ships and recruiting personnel to meet the constantly increasing demands placed upon it. Ships had to be built, repaired, and maintained, and people recruited, trained, and supported.

Nurse's Uniform, Sub-Lieutenant Georgia Hayes

This dress uniform, with its distinctive nurse's veil, belonged to Royal Canadian Navy Nursing Sister Georgia Hayes.

Hayes joined the navy in the spring of 1943, and served at Halifax, Nova Scotia, at HMCS Cornwallis, near Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, and at Esquimalt, British Columbia. The Royal Canadian Navy had no medical service of its own when war began in 1939, and had to build one from scratch. Established in late 1941, the Nursing Service Branch eventually recruited almost 350 personnel, who served in naval bases in Canada and Newfoundland, as well as in HMCS Niobe, the Canadian shore establishment in Scotland.

Uniform, Nursing Sister, Sub-Lieutenant Georgia Hayes

Service dress veil, CWM 19830523-002
Service dress blouse, CWM 19830523-004
Belt, CWM 19830523-006
Skirt, CWM 19830523-005