Sailors ashore : a comparative analysis of wartime recreation and leisure in Halifax and St. John's

Abstract

The Second World War was a time of great upheaval in Canada, with thousands of people relocated, soldiers going overseas and the nation mobilizing for the war effort. For the people of Halifax and St. John's the impact of the war created many challenges. One of the wartime challenges for Halifax and St. John's was providing activities and entertainment for sailors coming ashore. The focus of this study is on the Atlantic coast, comparing and contrasting the participation of Halifax and St. John's in the war and analysing the onshore life of sailors from 1939 to 1945. This research will provide an analysis of Halifax and St. John's during the war years and assess how each city sought to provide recreation opportunities for naval personnel. Studying sailors ashore is one way of describing how each community responded to the naval presence and whether the attitudes of the community were reciprocated by visiting sailors.