Reasons for joining the Navy

It sounds foolish now when I think back on it, but I was afraid the war was going to be over before I could be in it. I really was. But it was made clear to me that I had to finish out my schooling before I joined up. It was a chance to go to sea and I thought that would be the greatest thing. I'd been in the cadets and it was a natural outcome of that that I should go in the navy. My mother had died when I was in grade ten and we never really had much of a family life after that. And so I finished off grade 11. I didn't clear all my subjects. I went to work in a gold mine for six months and then I came out and joined up. One of the earliest photographs that I have of myself, I guess it's the first one outside my mother's arms, I was in a sailor's suit. And then with the time spent in the Sea Cadets, there was no question. I wanted to be in the navy.

Mr. Brown shares his story about the desire to join the navy and his chance to go to sea.

Robert Brown

Mr. Brown was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 5, 1924. He was the oldest in his family, having only one younger sister. His father worked as a carpenter with the Canadian National Railway. His mother died when he was in Grade 10. Mr. Brown continued his education before joining the Winnipeg Sea Cadets. In February 1943, he joined the navy and was given the choice to go directly to sea or take a trade. He requested an opportunity to take a diver’s course training. As the Canadian Navy did not offer this course at the time, he received training as a torpedo man instead. During this time, the Canadian government arranged with Britain to take over the British cruiser, HMS Belfast. Mr. Brown was put aboard the cruiser and served as crane operator and torpedo man under British command. After the war, Mr. Brown returned to Canada and held a 35 year career in the field of fire fighting.