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The Crowsnest magazine was produced primarily for the serving personnel of what was then the 'Permanent' and the 'Reserve' navy. It was hoped however, that it would prove of equal interest to those who served in the Navy and Merchant Navy during the years of the Second World War.
The Crowsnest was born in 1948. It ceased publication in 1965 but as the last editorial in the last issue indicated, anyone who had left the service in 1948 and did not maintain their naval contacts would be hard pressed to recognize it as the same navy in 1965 were they to return. They illustrated that point as follows: "There are those who think the navy [of 1965] still uses depth charges. Yet just recently someone tried to find a depth charge thrower and in all Canada could locate only one, in the National War Museum."
The Crowsnest considered it a privilege to serve as chronicle of the Navy during an eventful, often exciting, 16-and-a-half years. But, like so many in that same period had already done, The Crowsnest too had to bow to change. Still, it had been a good commission - with much of the RCN's history, 1948 - 1965, preserved within its pages.
Vice-Admiral H.T.W. Grant, in 1948 Chief of the Naval Staff and Editor-in-Chief of The Crowsnest had been aiming for a magazine that would have something in it of interest to everyone in the Navy; to which everyone in the Navy could contribute ideas, information, views and stories - fictional or fact; which, by sound editing, will have dignity and life; and "which would help us to know our Service and each other better."
In reading these pages of naval history, one can only agree that the sight-line was indeed on the target.
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