At the beginning of World War II the Canadian navy was minuscule: Six ships and a few thousand people. Basically nothing. Yet war is a speedy affair and Canada had some playing to catch. It built the third largest navy in the world by the end of the war. No joke.
This wasn’t a navy of giant battleships however. But Canada’s job was different and no less crucial. This was all the business of keeping supply lines over the Atlantic. Ships full of food, fuel and weapons – everything that the Allies needed to be able to continue fighting. If any of those convoys were cut off then the whole war could fall apart.
So Canada stepped up. The smaller ships – corvettes and frigates – were built and sent out to guard the convoys. Not glamorous. Not safe. German submarines lurked everywhere below the waves. She froze and it was rough in the North Atlantic, life was miserable and cold and wet on those little ships.
Still Canadian sailors kept going. Over and over on the trips they protected the lifeline sustaining the war effort.
This is no story about big battles or headlines. It’s quiet strength, quick growth and doing all the hard work you’ve never heard of. Canada didn’t chase glory it made sure others could. It was that that made all the difference.
