Gunshield and Shipboard Art on Ships of the RCN
Gunshield art on ships of the RCN became prominent during the Second World War particularly on the corvettes that served in the RCN. Gunshield art varied greatly from ship to ship - incorporating crests of towns they bore the name for, cartoon characters, pin-up girls, etc. Little record was kept of these works of art and much has been lost to time. David Freeman, a retired Lieutenant Commander whose father and uncle served in the RCN throughout the Second World War, has written a book on the subject - Designs of Distinction - which helps fill in the knowledge gap on this portion of RCN heritage and history.
Heraldry on the High Seas - Crowsnest magazine article
This page is divided into three sections: Section 1 - Ships in Commission - Section 2 - Ships Commissioned Post Second World War
Section 3 - Ships Commissioned during the Second World War
If you have any photos of the gunshield art on HMC ships or artwork throughout the ship that you would like to share on For Posterity's Sake, please send me an EMAIL.
SECTION 1 - SHIPS CURRENTLY IN COMMISSION IN THE RCN
Kingston Class Mine Warfare Vessels
GUNSHIELD AND SHIPBOARD ART
on ships that were commissioned post Second World War that have since been paid off
Clicking on the artwork below will take you to the ship's page associated with the artwork
GUNSHIELD ART AND SHIP'S WARTIME BADGES (OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL)
Some of the ships had slightly different versions their artwork - depending on the artist and the CO at the time .... and on some occasions it changed completely. Other ships did not have gun mounts large enough for artwork so they had their "badges" mounted on the face or side of the bridge or on their funnel in some fashion. Not all ships displayed artwork.
The table below is alphabetical - not by class, type of ship.
Clicking on the artwork below will take you to the ship's page associated with the artwork
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