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

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