Royal Naval College of Canada - History

History

The King’s permission was obtained to add the prefix `Royal` to the title of the Naval College of Canada in October 1910, with the abbreviation being `R.C.N.C.` The naval college was established at Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1911. RNCC was co-commanded by Lieutenant Commander Edward Atcherley Eckersall Nixon, RN (1878–1924) and Officer-In-Charge, Commander Edward Harrington Martin (1859-1921), with the assistance of the Director of Studies. Martin was also the Senior Captain-In-Charge of HMC Dockyard and spent very little time at the college. For all intents, Nixon or "Nix", as he was affectionately referred to by the students and staff, was the ever-present person of authority and inspiration throughout the college's history. In 1915, the staff included a commander, an instructor commander, an engineer commander, two instructor lieutenant commanders, a paymaster lieutenant commander, a lieutenant, an engineer lieutenant, 3 civilian masters, a chief boatswain, a boatswain and a warrant writer.

The college facilities at Halifax consisted of workshops, drawing office, gymnasium, sick quarters, boathouse and a playing field After the 1917 Halifax Explosion, the students were sent home for Christmas until arrangements could be made to move the college. Classes were also held on HMCS Niobe, a ship used to train the cadets. This ship was also damaged in the explosion. What could be salvaged was moved to HMCS Stone Frigate at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston. Classes reconvened in the Spring of 1918.

In September 1918 the RNCC was moved to a building in the Royal Canadian Navy dockyard at Esquimalt. Classes were also held on the Dominion Government Ship Naden, commissioned as a tender for training in sail. The College was closed in 1922. In the years between 1922 to 1940, Canadian naval cadets went to the Royal Navy's Royal Naval College in Portsmouth.