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The Maple Leaf on Ships of the RCN
A Canadian Tradition
During the Second World War, ships of the RCN displayed various funnel marking to show their identity. Some were for Escort Groups or Minesweeping Groups, other were more individual to the ship such as a Griffon on HMCS OTTAWA H30. But as the war progressed, green maple leaves started appearing on the ships funnels - some had a single maple leaf while other had a set of three - some had numbers of their EG in the maple leaf, etc. All were added in some way to show their unique Canadian identity.
On 23 Sep 1944, following a recommendation by the Canadian Naval Mission Overseas dated 15 Jun 1944, Naval Service Headquarters issued an order directing all ships of the RCN display as single green maple leaf on their funnels. On 09 Dec 1949 the RCN adopted the practice of a single red maple leaf on the funnel of each ship.
But that's not all to the story ..... two First World War naval veterans of the RNCVR have made claims to being the 1st sailors to paint a maple leaf on the funnel of their ships. They are PO Arthur John Avery Bell, RCNVR who served in CD-75 and AB Joseph Stephenson, RNCVR who served in CD-2
PO Bell claims he painted the maple leaf on the funnel of his ship but it was not authorized and was painted over the next day. AB Stephenson got permission to from his commanding officer to add a green maple leaf to his ship's funnel.
Below are their stories as published in the Crowsnest Magazine.
LCI(L)-135 painted a maple leaf along with "Lonesome Polecat" on their bridge face
HMCS IROQUOIS' Maple Leaf on her funnel gets a fresh coat of paint in 1944
The funnel Maple Leaf of HMCS Orkney when she was part of the 25th Escort Group
HMCS MARGAREE 230 sporting her red maple leaf - Jul 1977
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