Troopship S.S. Canada

Halifax Harbour, NS

September 10, 1914

The photo was taken from Halifax looking toward Dartmouth on the far shore. The S.S. Canada is on the left. Her escort  is the HMCS Niobe, shown on the right.

The S.S. Canada was launched in 1896 and was part of the White Star Line Canadian Service. In August, 1914, she was taken over and used to transport troops to England. 

The HMCS Niobe was a Diadem class of protected cruisers and was launched into the Royal Navy in 1897 as HMS Niobe. After the Boer War, she was the second ship given to the newly created Naval Service of Canada which became the Royal Canadian Navy in 1911. During World War One, the Niobe patrolled the approaches of the St. Lawrence River and later joined a British squadron to patrol off New York City. The Niobe returned to Halifax in July of 1915 and served there as a depot ship for the rest of the war. She was severely damaged during the Halifax Explosion in 1917, and was eventually scapped in the 1920's.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  18-9 (3.2)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo postcard
Source:  Scott Isenor Postcard Collection, Halifax, NS
 

Reverse of Above Postcard
 

Troopship S.S. Caledonia

Halifax Harbour, NS

June 15, 1915

The photo was taken from Halifax looking toward Dartmouth on the far shore. 

The S.S. Caledonia was a British passenger liner built in 1904. As a part of the Anchor Line, she was requisitioned by the British government at the outbreak of war in 1914 to be used as a troop transport. In December, 1916, near Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, the Caledonia was sunk by a German u-boat.

The caption on the front of the postcard indicates that the 2nd Heavy Battery is on board and they are leaving for overseas. The 2nd Heavy Battery was organized in November, 1914, and mobilized in Halifax. It recruited men from various artillery units in the Maritimes and Quebec. They arrived in England on June 22, 1915 and arrived in France on September 16, 1915. The 2nd Heavy Battery served during the remainder of the war in Europe.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  18-9 (4.2)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo postcard
Source:  Scott Isenor Postcard Collection, Halifax, NS
 

Reverse of Above Postcard
 

Troopship R.M.S. Aquitania

Halifax Harbour, NS

Circa 1918

R.M.S. Aquitania was a British ocean liner of the Cunard Line and was in service between 1914 and 1950. Shortly after the outbreak of World War One, the Aquitania was converted into an armed cruiser and later served as a hospital ship and a troopship in the Gallipoli Campaign in Turkey. In 1918 the Aquitania began transporting troops from North America to Britain. Halifax, NS, was a common port of call.

In the above photo, Aquitania is painted in a dazzle camouflage paint scheme.

Photographer:  MacAskill
Ref. Number:  18-9 (1-17.2)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo postcard
Source:  Scott Isenor Postcard Collection, Halifax, NS
 

Reverse of Above Postcard
 

Troopship S.S. Lapland

Halifax Harbour, NS

Circa 1917-1918

S.S. Lapland was a passenger ship launched in 1908 for the Red Star Line. In 1917, she was converted to a troopship.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  18-9 (1-18.2)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo postcard
Source:  Scott Isenor Postcard Collection, Halifax, NS
 

Reverse of Above Postcard