WARWAR at at SEASEA & in the & in the AIRAIR

People tend to think of People tend to think of the WWI just taking the WWI just taking

place in Europe on land, place in Europe on land, however much was however much was

happening at sea and in happening at sea and in the airthe air

WAR AT SEAWAR AT SEA

• At the beginning of WWI, Canada had 2 At the beginning of WWI, Canada had 2 midsized warships midsized warships

1) the Niobe 1) the Niobe 2) the Rainbow2) the Rainbow

HMCS HMCS NIOBENIOBE

• Armed with guns to fight other ships and covering the Armed with guns to fight other ships and covering the small boats alongside the HMCS small boats alongside the HMCS NiobeNiobe was part of was part of Canada's response to Britain's request for naval support. Canada's response to Britain's request for naval support.

• NiobeNiobe transfer from Britain as a training ship for transfer from Britain as a training ship for Canada's new navyCanada's new navy

• Sir Wilfrid Laurier's had plans for a fleet of locally-built Sir Wilfrid Laurier's had plans for a fleet of locally-built cruisers and destroyers under Canadian control. cruisers and destroyers under Canadian control.

• The Liberals (Laurier) in 1910 established a distinct Naval The Liberals (Laurier) in 1910 established a distinct Naval Service of Canada (Naval service bill)Service of Canada (Naval service bill)

• The Conservatives (Robert Borden) preferred direct The Conservatives (Robert Borden) preferred direct financial support to Britain.financial support to Britain.

HMCS HMCS RainbowRainbow

•When war was declared on 4 August, 1914, HMCS Rainbow was already on its way to Mexico with orders to seek and destroy a pair of armed and aggressive German cruisers.

•Despite her lack of guns and armour, Rainbow was expected to outface the heavier ships and big guns of the enemy and escort the vulnerable British vessels safe back to their base.

Canada’s RoleCanada’s Role

• By the end of the war, Canada had By the end of the war, Canada had 112 warships (in many cases they 112 warships (in many cases they refitted yachts and other vessels)refitted yachts and other vessels)

• Canada’s main role –shipping troops Canada’s main role –shipping troops and supplies to Europeand supplies to Europe– Merchant MarineMerchant Marine carried weapons, carried weapons,

munitions, food, troopsmunitions, food, troops

Clarification on Mustard vs Clarification on Mustard vs ChlorineChlorine• Chlorine and Mustard gas are gaseous chemical

compounds that are highly toxic to humans. • They were both used as weapons during the First

World War. • Chlorine gas was the first chemical weapon used in the

war at the Battle of Ypres. It was released from large tanks and allowed to drift towards Allied positions. Chlorine is heavier than air and thus stays close to ground level, making it very effective in trench warfare.

• Mustard gas was not commonly used in such a massive release and was most often deployed via artillery bombardment. Mustard gas blisters the lungs and other exposed areas and is generally more lethal than chlorine.

Britain vs. GermanyBritain vs. Germany

• Main naval rivalry was between Main naval rivalry was between Germany and BritainGermany and Britain

• Germans used submarines (Germans used submarines (U-BoatsU-Boats) ) to attack any ships heading to Britainto attack any ships heading to Britain

• Britain developed Britain developed Q-shipsQ-ships to find and to find and destroy U-Boats (Unterseeboot) destroy U-Boats (Unterseeboot) ~undersea~undersea

• BlockadeBlockade of Germany meant of Germany meant Germans were starving by 1915Germans were starving by 1915

Q ship- BritishQ ship- British

U boat- German

Germany’s retaliationGermany’s retaliation

• Germany introduced “Germany introduced “unrestricted unrestricted submarine warfaresubmarine warfare” which meant ” which meant they attacked ANY ship heading for they attacked ANY ship heading for BritainBritain– German U-Boat sank a passenger ship German U-Boat sank a passenger ship

called the called the LusitaniaLusitania , a British luxury liner , a British luxury liner killing over 1000 peoplekilling over 1000 people

• Ships started to travel in groups called Ships started to travel in groups called convoysconvoys to protect themselves to protect themselves

ConvoysConvoys

• Sailing in Sailing in fleets/convoyfleets/convoys meant that:s meant that:

• Supply ships Supply ships sailed with sailed with escorts of escorts of armed armed Destroyers Destroyers that kept that kept constant constant watch.watch.

Discussion Questions Discussion Questions

• Was it fair that the German’s Was it fair that the German’s torpedoed the Lusitania? torpedoed the Lusitania?

WAR in the AIRWAR in the AIR• Fokker planeFokker plane

• Designed by a Designed by a Dutch airplane Dutch airplane builder Anthony builder Anthony Herman Gerard Herman Gerard FokkerFokker

• Used by the Used by the Germans in WWIGermans in WWI

• An An air aceair ace, a flying ace or fighter ace is a , a flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator/pilot credited with military aviator/pilot credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. during aerial combat.

• The actual number of air victories required The actual number of air victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or but is usually considered to be five or more more

• Canada had a group of Canadian Canada had a group of Canadian flyers/fighter pilots called theflyers/fighter pilots called the Black FlightBlack Flight

• Average life expectancy of an air fighter Average life expectancy of an air fighter was 11 days.was 11 days.

• Battles between air fighters were called Battles between air fighters were called dogfightsdogfights..

Canada’s Air AcesCanada’s Air Aces

Above a picture of the Triplane that Collishaw would have used – painted jet black. The members of the Naval Squadron 10 also named their planes, Black Maria, Black Roger, Black Death, Black sheep and Black Prince.

Ray Collishaw

Billy Bishop

BILLY BISHOPBILLY BISHOP• Left Royal Military College in Kingston, ON when Left Royal Military College in Kingston, ON when

the war broke out in 1914 and joined Mississauga the war broke out in 1914 and joined Mississauga Horse Calvary Unit, and the Mounted Infantry Unit Horse Calvary Unit, and the Mounted Infantry Unit in London, ON.in London, ON.

• He showed natural ability with a gun and excelled He showed natural ability with a gun and excelled on the firing range. Some said he had “super-on the firing range. Some said he had “super-human” eyesight – able to hit targets so far away human” eyesight – able to hit targets so far away that others only saw a dot. that others only saw a dot.

• Bishop quickly became frustrated with the mud of Bishop quickly became frustrated with the mud of the trenches and the lack of action. the trenches and the lack of action.

• In July 1915, after watching an Royal Flying Corps In July 1915, after watching an Royal Flying Corps (RFC) aircraft return from a mission, Bishop said, (RFC) aircraft return from a mission, Bishop said, "...it's clean up there! I'll bet you don't get any "...it's clean up there! I'll bet you don't get any mud or horsesh*t on you up there. If you die, at mud or horsesh*t on you up there. If you die, at least it would be a clean death." least it would be a clean death."

Billy BishopBilly Bishop• Shot down 5 enemies in a month from March 17–Shot down 5 enemies in a month from March 17–

April 8,1917.April 8,1917.• Painted the nose of his aircraft blue (the mark of an Painted the nose of his aircraft blue (the mark of an

ace) to celebrateace) to celebrate• Became known to the Germans as “Hell’s Became known to the Germans as “Hell’s

Handmaiden” Handmaiden” • Bounty was placed on his headBounty was placed on his head• Won a Military Cross for claiming 12 enemies in the Won a Military Cross for claiming 12 enemies in the

month of April alonemonth of April alone• Mechanic counted 210 bullet holes in his plane after Mechanic counted 210 bullet holes in his plane after

one of his patrolsone of his patrols• Won a Distinguished Service Order for shooting Won a Distinguished Service Order for shooting

down two enemy aircraft while being attacked by down two enemy aircraft while being attacked by four othersfour others

• Also won a Victory Cross for his attack on the Also won a Victory Cross for his attack on the German aerodrome in June 1917German aerodrome in June 1917

Germany’s Red BaronGermany’s Red Baron

Manfred von Richthofen

•He was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during WWI.

•considered the ace-of-aces of that war as he was officially credited with 80 air combat victories victories, more than any other pilot.

•There are many stories and theories about the red baron’s death, but Canadian novice pilot Wilfrid “Wop” May and Roy Brown essentially took him down together.