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The latter half of the nineteenth century saw rapid expansion and development of the British Empire and, with it, the dependence on ocean shipping routes for its trade and defence. At the same time the German Empire was becoming increasingly aggressive, and competing step by step with Britain. Concern as to the adequacy of the Royal Navy of that day to defend the widely separated components of the Empire and their essential shipping gave rise to the formation in Britain in 1895 of a society with the primary aim of ensuring an adequate naval defence. This was the Navy League, organized with local Branches in towns and cities and drawing its support from people of all walks of life, but interested in the problem of ocean trade and naval defence. The movement expanded rapidly and before the end of that year Branches had established themselves abroad, including one in Toronto whose warrant dated 16th December 1895 now hangs in the National Office in Ottawa. From its earliest days, the Navy League has been an active organization. In October 1895 the group in Toronto in the course of forming the Branch there, had already prepared a submission to the Canadian Government on the subject of maritime defence and the need for a Naval Reserve training program. Continued efforts in support of improved naval defence, either as an imperial or national effort, helped the government when it was formulating Canada's naval policy and establishing the Canadian Naval Service, forerunner of the Royal Canadian Navy, in 1910. In these early years, the Branches in Canada supported informally a youth training programme aimed at encouraging young men towards a seafaring career, and providing basic training in citizenship and seamanship. Back to Top History of HMS Enterprise Enterprise
In the inter-war years both Emerald and Enterprise served in the Far East. In 1939 they returned to the Home Fleet. Enterprise was part of "Force H" the detachment of the Royal Navy, which had the unpleasant task of destroying the French Navy at Mers-el-Kibir in July 1940. She then went to the Far East, returning to the Home Fleet in 1944. She served with distinction at Normandy as part of the bombardment force of the Eastern Task Force. (Her Commanding Officer at Normandy was Captain Harold S Grant, Royal Canadian Navy- who would later become Canada's Chief of Naval Staff.) ENTERPRISE was sold for scrap in 1946. Back to Top History of Special Events
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