On May 4, 1910, by an act of Parliament, Liberal Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier created the Royal Canadian Navy. While there were smirks and guffaws early on at this nation’s “tin pot navy,” our sailors have served with distinction in times of war and while keeping the peace for a century.
When Laurier created the navy 100 years ago, he did so in an attempt to guard our sovereignty and to patrol this nation’s extensive Maritime coastline. He probably never envisioned a navy that would be sending ships into harm’s way during two World Wars and Korea, or on numerous peacekeeping missions around the globe. But he would have to be proud of the accomplishments of his creation.
Having a navy of our own was something most Canadians never thought necessary in 1910. The guns of the First World War were still four years away, and there was really no naval threat to Canada. Besides, defending our coastline had been the job of Mother England.
But having a navy to call your own is one of the needs of nationhood, so Laurier acted.
Much fanfare has been given to the high cost thousands of young Canadians paid on foreign battlefields during those World Wars, but we must not forget the sacrifice made by this nation’s merchant mariners and the navy to maintain the lifeline with England during the Battle of the Atlantic some 60 years ago.
In the years since the end of that war, our sailors and fighting ships have taken on a more humanitarian role while protecting our coasts from drug smuggling and looking out for lost fishermen.
Still, we must not forget we continue to live in a troubled world and we need a navy that is adaptable to today’s conflicts and must be prepared to overcome the challenges faced by a modern navy.
However, just as it has for a century there is no reason to feel our navy and its men and women are not up to that challenge and it is reassuring knowing that when the need is great they will be there to protect and defend our nation.
