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HMCS RAINBOW
Apollo Class Protected Cruiser
On 04 Aug 1910, at Portsmouth, England, Rainbow was commissioned the first unit of the infant RCN. One of a class of 20 "protected cruisers," she had served in the RN since 1893. Departing England, she arrived at Esquimalt on 07 Nov 1910, and carried out training duties, ceremonial visits, and some fishery patrols until the end of 1912. She then lay largely idle until the outbreak of the First World War, during which, apart from two submarines, she was the sole defender of Canada's western seaboard. The German threat in the Pacific ended with the defeat of Admiral Graf von Spee's squadron at the Battle of the Falkland Islands in Dec 1914, and thereafter Rainbow patrolled the Pacific coast as far south as Panama. In 1916 and early 1917 she was used in the transporting of $140 million in Russian bullion between Esquimalt and Vancouver. By 1917 her crew was needed to man patrol vessels on the east coast, and on 08 May 1917 she was paid off. Rainbow was re-commissioned on 05 July 1917 to serve as a depot ship at Esquimalt. Paid of again on 01 Jun 1920, she was sold to a Seattle ship breaker.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos
Photos and Documents
Unknown HMCS RAINBOW Sailors
FP01 - Courtesy of Fred Proctor
ES01 & 02 - Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum
If you can identify any of these sailors please send an EMAIL so I can update the captions
(VA01) HMCS RAINBOW leaving Portsmouth, England for Canada. August 1910 (VA02-VA03) HMCS RAINBOW 1910
(VA04) HMCS RAINBOW - c1912 (VA05) HMCS RAINBOW - c1914
Source: City of Vancouver Archives
Sailors of HMCS Rainbow Note that all are wearing sashes and collars of the Orange Order Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Click on the above photo to view a larger image
(ES06) HMCS RAINBOW - postcard (ES07) Pte Edward Smith (back, standing, on right) on HMCS RAINBOW (ES08) Pte Edward Smith (back, 2nd from right) with sailors of HMCS RAINBOW and HMS NEWCASTLE. Note: HMS NEWCASTLE numerous ports of call in Esquimalt for 1914 to 1916
From the collection of Pte Edward Smith, Royal Marine Light Infantry
Courtesy of Geoff Smith
(AG03) Ship's movements for HMCS RAINBOW for Jan 1916 - recorded by Bert German (AG04) Gunnery drills aboard HMCS RAINBOW (AG05) HMCS RAINBOW in the graving dock, Esquimalt, BC (AG06) Unknown Royal Marine and ratings aboard HMCS RAINBOW (AG07) RAINBOW sailors going ashore - location unknown
From the collection of Albert German, CPO, RNCVR
Photographs and Documents © / Courtesy of Peter German They are not to be reprinted, republished or sold without permission of Peter German
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
