Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

THE BEGLNNING Ol- WAR, 1939remainder of'the year, with ships of the Third Battle Squadron,augmented for a short time by four French submarines,^*carrying out ocean duties, and Canadian destroyers providinglocal A/S protection as far to seaward as their time and numberspermitted.When war was seen to be imminent there was an immediateneed to control merchant shipping. The naval control organizationwas therefore one of the firstcomponents of the NavalService to begin functioning. On August 22, when the Admiraltyinformed N.S.H.Q. that they intended to warn officersselected for Naval Control Service duties to be ready toproceed to their posts,it was decided that the Canadianofficers should receive a similar warning. Four days later anOrder in Council directed the R.C.N, to take control ofCanadian-registered ships and other merchant ships in Canadianports."During the early stages of mobilization the shortage otavailable personnel made itnecessary as a rule to combine theduties of Naval Officer in Charge and Naval Control ServiceOfficer, ^^ and on August 30 some of these officers, on the wayto their stations, stopped in Ottawa to recei\'e instructionsregarding their work. There was no time for any real training.As far as possible, officers of the R.C.N.R. with experience inshipping matters were given the appointments, and the resourcefulnesswith which they met the man\ una\'oidabledifficulties that ensued was proof that the navy's confidencehad not been misplaced. By September 10, when Canadadeclared war, the naval control organization had already begunoperating in eastern Canada at Halifax, Sydney, Saint John,N.B., Quebec, Montreal, and at St. John's, Newfoundhuul.Until June 1941, control at St. John's was exercised b> R.N.personnel attached to C. in C, A. and W.I., but since the portwas in the Ottawa Intelligence Area^« all reports were made toN.S.H.Q. as well as to the Admiralty.'"^ Casabiarica, S/ax, Jc/iille, and Pasteur." P.C. 24r2, Aug. 26, 1939. .'^''The N.O.l.C. of a port or anchorattf is responsible for the movements and safety olshipping within the limits of that port or anchorage. I'he N.C.S.O. is re.sponsible tor theroiiteing of .ships awav from the port or anchorage and the reportmg ot their movements[Copy of C.A.F.O. 33ttin N.S. 17UU-127 (1)1. When there was both an and N.C .S.C).N^O.iCin a port, the N.C.S.O.'s work came under the nominal supervision ot the N.O.l.C.'^''Ottawa was in the general Empire oryanization, an Intelligence Centre in peace time,controlling Reporting Officers in Canada and in the United States, with the exception ot thoseat Jacksonville, New Orleans, and (iaiveston, which were in the Jamaica Area. Outline,History of Trade Division" (D.N. F.I. records) ]. ,,,,,-, x^""Historical Survey of St. John's, Newtcnmdland ',NS. 144()-r-/ (1).