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Calm Before the Storm
As with every year under the Borden Government, 1914 was yet another bleak period in the history of the Canadian Naval Service. No better can this be seen than within a memo written by Rear Admiral Kingsmill to the Naval Minister Desbarats.
“Although at the present stage of naval defense, it does not seem to be an important matter, it would be as well to lay down now what would happen should we in the future inaugurate a naval service which would be able to carry out its responsibilities.”
Even though the current service was languishing in disrepair, Kingsmill saw it important to update the war plans of the Naval Service in the event that they would be needed and hopefully, could be acted upon later by a new or more competent force. In regard to said war plans and the current navy, Kingsmill found himself in a rather annoying predicament. If any kind of war were declared, the only 2 capable warships, Niobe and Rainbow, would be almost certainly placed in the hands of the Admiralty under section 23 of the Naval Service Act. This would mean that Canada would be left without any actual warships in its direct command and would have to adjust the war plans accordingly. In order to rectify this, the Navy would take over all Fisheries Protection ships and other suitable government vessels for port examination and other services. CGS Petrel, Constance and Gulnare were earmarked for minesweeping duties while CGS Canada, Curlew and Vigilant were put aside for patrol duties in and around vital ports. Once a state of war would be anticipated, Ottawa would put into action their war plan. This consisted of but was not limited to placing examination services at defended ports like Esquimalt and Halifax, defending key wireless stations, implementing media blackouts, garrisoning various port towns with Militia forces, locating neutral and enemy ships and collecting intelligence. The Fisheries department would be placed in a partial role of assisting the examination service but as one can tell by the depth of this scheme, Canada’s naval plans were not much more than babysitting of its own coast. Halifax in particular as the main port on the East Coast required the setting up of a heavy submarine net, buoys, blocking of various excess passages into the harbor and general patrolling of internal/external traffic. The main role of the examination service was to identify enemy ships (specifically not vessels of war) and deny them access to the harbors. With the state of the ships potentially at their disposal though, it is unlikely the ships themselves could stop any enemy forces.
The examination service’s role was described as “In effecting this object [the examination service is] to avoid unnecessary restrictions on vessels using this port, such as would interfere with its full use, or would tend to deter shipping from using it. The passage through the defenses of vessels which are recognized as friendly should therefore be expedited as far as possible. Incoming merchant vessels will be admitted to the examination anchorage at all times of the day and night, but when the port is closed no merchant vessels, except fleet auxiliaries and army transports, will be permitted to leave the anchorage for the purposes of entering the port. Incoming merchant vessels will, in the absence of the previous instructions from the examining steamer, proceed to the examination anchorage and there anchor.”
Halifax was the most heavily defended port, being one of the primary Royal Navy ports in the Atlantic for many years. It’s naturally narrowing harbor and multi-sided defenses provided it protection against anything up to and perhaps even including older capital ships. The following map and chart showcases the layout of the port defenses.
Note that the Eastern Passage was blocked during wartime conditions, forcing any ships down the well protected main harbor channel. Connaught Battery is listed above however, other sources do not list the weapons stationed there. As this map is clearly labeled 1917-1918, the 'not manned' batteries are because of lowered readiness standards and were manned at the beginning to middle of the war.
Esquimalt on the other hand, was not so lucky in any aspect. Lacking the long coordinator like harbor of its east coast counterpart and a fair fewer examination ships to take over, Esquimalt, Vancouver and Victoria were all rather vulnerable. The following map shows the layout of their defenses.
It should be noted that the 9.2" guns were not initially fitted and were left rusting in a ditch when the Royal Navy departed, overall ammunition stocks were rather limited. The 6" guns are also in disappearing mounts which lowers their overall effectiveness.
In the end, this choice to rather quickly draw up even the limited defensive scheme proved to be extremely fortunate. The various civilian and naval personnel involved worked extremely diligently to finish the preparations quickly as it seemed Europe was falling apart, especially Lieutenant R.M.T. Stephens. The sections of the government war book pertaining to the navy was completed at the end of July 29 and just as they were coming across the desk of Minister Desbarats to be signed, a telephone call warning of an impending vital telegram came through from London. Said telegram read as such,
Secret and Immediate.
From Ottawa, 29 July 1914.
Honorable Minister Desberats, I have the honor to inform you that His Royal Highness the Governor General has received this afternoon the following secret cipher telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This such telegram states, "See Preface Defense Scheme. Adopt precautionary stage. Names of Powers will be communicated later if necessary." The meaning of this warning telegram is that relations with (the powers whose names are to be communicated later if necessary) have become so strained that, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government it is expedient to adopt such precautions against possible surprise attack and such limited preparations in anticipation of war as are laid down for the precautionary stage of defense schemes.
Signed Joseph Pope.
Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs.
The Deputy Minister, Department of Militia and Defense, Ottawa.
Upon the receiving of this telegram and a flick of a pen, the naval war plan was signed and thereby underway. Prime Minister Borden was initially caught off guard and had to urgently travel back to Ottawa from a summer holiday in Ontario. Upon his return on August 1, an urgent Cabinet meeting was held and the following message was conveyed to London.
“The firm assistance that if any unhappily war should ensue, the Canadian people will be united in a common resolve to put fourth every effort and to make every sacrifice necessary to ensure the integrity and maintain the honor of our Empire. We welcome any suggestions and advice which the imperial naval and military authorities may deem it expedient to offer Canada on the most effective form of the nation’s military contribution.”
It seems that Laurier's old adage of "when Britain is at war, Canada is at war" rung true to all non-Quebec politicians all across Canada. The response from Borden was quick and expected as on August 4, he signed an order in council releasing Niobe and Rainbow into RN service.
"The committee of the privy council have had before them a report, dated 4th August, 1914, from the Minister of the Naval Service, submitting that section 23 of the Naval Service Act, Chapter 43 of the statutes of 1910 provides that:
In case of an emergency, the Governor in council may place at the disposal of his majesty, for general service in the Royal Navy, the Naval Service or any part thereof, any ships or vessels of the Naval Service, and officers and seamen serving in such ships or vessels, or any officers or seamen belonging to the Naval Service.
An emergency having arisen, the Minister recommends that HMCS Niobe and HMCS Rainbow, together with the officers and seamen serving in such vessels, be placed at the disposal of His Majesty for general service in the Royal Navy. The committee concur in the foregoing recommendation and submit the same for approval."
Even as Niobe was placed in the service of the Royal Navy, her previous years of decay and inaction would require significant time to remedy should the ship be put to sea once again. This left the plucky Rainbow as the only warship present in the Royal Canadian Navy which was ready for immediate duty, even though 'ready' was somewhat of an optimistic evaluation. Regardless, Canada always made do and make do once again they would.
One of the highest quality and most well known photos of HMCS Rainbow during her service with the Royal Canadian Navy.
“Although at the present stage of naval defense, it does not seem to be an important matter, it would be as well to lay down now what would happen should we in the future inaugurate a naval service which would be able to carry out its responsibilities.”
Even though the current service was languishing in disrepair, Kingsmill saw it important to update the war plans of the Naval Service in the event that they would be needed and hopefully, could be acted upon later by a new or more competent force. In regard to said war plans and the current navy, Kingsmill found himself in a rather annoying predicament. If any kind of war were declared, the only 2 capable warships, Niobe and Rainbow, would be almost certainly placed in the hands of the Admiralty under section 23 of the Naval Service Act. This would mean that Canada would be left without any actual warships in its direct command and would have to adjust the war plans accordingly. In order to rectify this, the Navy would take over all Fisheries Protection ships and other suitable government vessels for port examination and other services. CGS Petrel, Constance and Gulnare were earmarked for minesweeping duties while CGS Canada, Curlew and Vigilant were put aside for patrol duties in and around vital ports. Once a state of war would be anticipated, Ottawa would put into action their war plan. This consisted of but was not limited to placing examination services at defended ports like Esquimalt and Halifax, defending key wireless stations, implementing media blackouts, garrisoning various port towns with Militia forces, locating neutral and enemy ships and collecting intelligence. The Fisheries department would be placed in a partial role of assisting the examination service but as one can tell by the depth of this scheme, Canada’s naval plans were not much more than babysitting of its own coast. Halifax in particular as the main port on the East Coast required the setting up of a heavy submarine net, buoys, blocking of various excess passages into the harbor and general patrolling of internal/external traffic. The main role of the examination service was to identify enemy ships (specifically not vessels of war) and deny them access to the harbors. With the state of the ships potentially at their disposal though, it is unlikely the ships themselves could stop any enemy forces.
The examination service’s role was described as “In effecting this object [the examination service is] to avoid unnecessary restrictions on vessels using this port, such as would interfere with its full use, or would tend to deter shipping from using it. The passage through the defenses of vessels which are recognized as friendly should therefore be expedited as far as possible. Incoming merchant vessels will be admitted to the examination anchorage at all times of the day and night, but when the port is closed no merchant vessels, except fleet auxiliaries and army transports, will be permitted to leave the anchorage for the purposes of entering the port. Incoming merchant vessels will, in the absence of the previous instructions from the examining steamer, proceed to the examination anchorage and there anchor.”
Halifax was the most heavily defended port, being one of the primary Royal Navy ports in the Atlantic for many years. It’s naturally narrowing harbor and multi-sided defenses provided it protection against anything up to and perhaps even including older capital ships. The following map and chart showcases the layout of the port defenses.
Note that the Eastern Passage was blocked during wartime conditions, forcing any ships down the well protected main harbor channel. Connaught Battery is listed above however, other sources do not list the weapons stationed there. As this map is clearly labeled 1917-1918, the 'not manned' batteries are because of lowered readiness standards and were manned at the beginning to middle of the war.
Esquimalt on the other hand, was not so lucky in any aspect. Lacking the long coordinator like harbor of its east coast counterpart and a fair fewer examination ships to take over, Esquimalt, Vancouver and Victoria were all rather vulnerable. The following map shows the layout of their defenses.
It should be noted that the 9.2" guns were not initially fitted and were left rusting in a ditch when the Royal Navy departed, overall ammunition stocks were rather limited. The 6" guns are also in disappearing mounts which lowers their overall effectiveness.
In the end, this choice to rather quickly draw up even the limited defensive scheme proved to be extremely fortunate. The various civilian and naval personnel involved worked extremely diligently to finish the preparations quickly as it seemed Europe was falling apart, especially Lieutenant R.M.T. Stephens. The sections of the government war book pertaining to the navy was completed at the end of July 29 and just as they were coming across the desk of Minister Desbarats to be signed, a telephone call warning of an impending vital telegram came through from London. Said telegram read as such,
Secret and Immediate.
From Ottawa, 29 July 1914.
Honorable Minister Desberats, I have the honor to inform you that His Royal Highness the Governor General has received this afternoon the following secret cipher telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This such telegram states, "See Preface Defense Scheme. Adopt precautionary stage. Names of Powers will be communicated later if necessary." The meaning of this warning telegram is that relations with (the powers whose names are to be communicated later if necessary) have become so strained that, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government it is expedient to adopt such precautions against possible surprise attack and such limited preparations in anticipation of war as are laid down for the precautionary stage of defense schemes.
Signed Joseph Pope.
Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs.
The Deputy Minister, Department of Militia and Defense, Ottawa.
Upon the receiving of this telegram and a flick of a pen, the naval war plan was signed and thereby underway. Prime Minister Borden was initially caught off guard and had to urgently travel back to Ottawa from a summer holiday in Ontario. Upon his return on August 1, an urgent Cabinet meeting was held and the following message was conveyed to London.
“The firm assistance that if any unhappily war should ensue, the Canadian people will be united in a common resolve to put fourth every effort and to make every sacrifice necessary to ensure the integrity and maintain the honor of our Empire. We welcome any suggestions and advice which the imperial naval and military authorities may deem it expedient to offer Canada on the most effective form of the nation’s military contribution.”
It seems that Laurier's old adage of "when Britain is at war, Canada is at war" rung true to all non-Quebec politicians all across Canada. The response from Borden was quick and expected as on August 4, he signed an order in council releasing Niobe and Rainbow into RN service.
"The committee of the privy council have had before them a report, dated 4th August, 1914, from the Minister of the Naval Service, submitting that section 23 of the Naval Service Act, Chapter 43 of the statutes of 1910 provides that:
In case of an emergency, the Governor in council may place at the disposal of his majesty, for general service in the Royal Navy, the Naval Service or any part thereof, any ships or vessels of the Naval Service, and officers and seamen serving in such ships or vessels, or any officers or seamen belonging to the Naval Service.
An emergency having arisen, the Minister recommends that HMCS Niobe and HMCS Rainbow, together with the officers and seamen serving in such vessels, be placed at the disposal of His Majesty for general service in the Royal Navy. The committee concur in the foregoing recommendation and submit the same for approval."
Even as Niobe was placed in the service of the Royal Navy, her previous years of decay and inaction would require significant time to remedy should the ship be put to sea once again. This left the plucky Rainbow as the only warship present in the Royal Canadian Navy which was ready for immediate duty, even though 'ready' was somewhat of an optimistic evaluation. Regardless, Canada always made do and make do once again they would.
One of the highest quality and most well known photos of HMCS Rainbow during her service with the Royal Canadian Navy.
- RelativeGalaxy7
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