The Arts of War: From "The Crow's Nest" (1)

'News of Canada's Navy' with Poetry and Cartoons

Photo Credit - As found in The Crow's Nest, August 1945

Caption for above photo:

Introduction:

Members of the Canadian Navy produced an informative, entertaining and creative newspaper entitled "The Crow's Nest" for many years, including during World War II, and a few ("Okay, more than a few!") pieces of poetry and art work (a few in the form of cartoons) will be shared below from issues made available by CFB Esquimalt Naval Military Museum in Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, British Columbia (B.C.), Canada. 

Readers will find many resources available, including 17,000 images, at the Naval Military Museum on Canada's west coast and are encouraged to visit and to explore at their leisure.

Please find below some "informative, entertaining and creative" items from the June to August 1945 issues of "The Crow's Nest" newspaper that was, for many years, mailed to privileged readers by subscription at the outlandish cost of $1.00 per annum. (!!) : )

From June 1945:

I think the artwork in the above advert is excellent!

 

Help Wanted: The poem below has an author, but what does OA (O) 3 stand for??

The artwork below by Norm Laws may have lead to a cartooning or graphic design career after the war.  What will Google have to say about that?

Google lead me to Norm Laws' obituary and a line or two that informs us a bit more about his artistic talent:

NORMAN ROBERT WILLIAM LAWS Surrounded by his family who loved him so dearly, Norman passed away at the age of 88 at the Sunnybrook Veterans' Residence on March 22, 2008... Norman served overseas in the Navy during WWII. He raised his family on his special talents as an artist. He shared his passions for family, art, history, creating, and nature's beauty through his art; his vast collection of books; family canoe trips, road trips and adventures; and his extensive list of building projects...

[Editor's Note - If I can find more information about Norm Laws I will share it here as well.]

Early members in RCNVR who volunteered for Combined Operations - say in 1941, including the Effingham Division - did not train at the "Empire's Largest Naval Training Base" as illustrated below. If I can locate a similar drawing of HMCS Stadacona I will share it here as well!

From July 1945:

The poem below contains a line that reminds me of what my father said about his service at Canada's Combined Operations training ground (1944 - 1945, up to discharge), HMCS Givenchy III, on 'The Spit' at Comox, British Columbia: "It was heaven."

Editor's Note - I thought my time spent at The Spit (3 trips) was heavenly as well! 

From August 1945:

Politically correct today? One would need good binoculars to look back to 1945!

Please link to The Arts of War: Brad's Poetry to Recite (2b)

Unattributed Photos GH