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Welcome
to the Wardroom - an integral part of CFB Halifax Officers’ Mess complex.
Prior to the stand-up of the Royal Canadian Navy, Her
Majesty's Dockyard was occupied by the Royal Navy (RN). The
social life for all these officers was to be found in the
Wardroom of each respective ships (a naval custom that had
existed for nearly 250 years). On 4 May 1910, the Canadian Navy
had a humble birth with a single ship being stationed in
Halifax. As the number of serving officers outnumbered the total
requirement to man HMCS NIOBE, there was a requirement for a
Wardroom ashore. The first Wardroom was located in the
Victualling Yard or North Dockyard in the former Gate Warder's
House, conveniently located across from the Royal Naval College
of Canada (now D 14). This building soon became the social
centre for all naval officers and remained so for nearly fifteen
years (for photos of all the Wardrooms, please use Historical
Photo tab at the top of this page).
The Admiral of the North American
Station, who lived in a large Georgian home (built in 1815)
on Gottingen Street known as Admiralty House, was a leader
in society and was known for his social gatherings, dinners,
soirees, and regattas during the summer season especially
when the Fleet returned to Halifax from their winter berth
in Bermuda. Admiralty House had been used as the naval
hospital during the First World War and following repairs to
the damage suffered during the Halifax Explosion (6
December, 1917), was reopened as the Halifax Massachusetts
Health Centre Number One. In 1924, the RCN asked to have the
house returned in order that the Wardroom could be relocated
to this, a more spacious and elegant quarters. Thus,
Admiralty House became the second Wardroom and remained so
for the next three decades. Today, Admiralty House shelters
the Maritime Command Museum.
During the 1930s, the naval cadets from the Royal Military
College in Kingston slept in the sun porch of Admiralty
during their summer training period. The Second World War
was a particularly busy time for the Wardroom as 900 meals
per day were served in its dining room and officers relaxed
in the lounge and bar. In fact, some very junior officers
were housed on the third floor. Admiralty House served in
this capacity until the early 1950s.
In 1953, during Canada's largest peacetime expansion, a new
Wardroom was built on Lorne Terrance near the MacDonald
Bridge. For fifty years this building saw countless official
functions as well as casual parties that raised the morale
of all naval officers.
Co-located with the C&POs’ Mess and a new 160
suite accommodations tower, the Wardroom will also include
a huge outdoor deck, an informal dining area, and a shared
[with the C&POs] 12th floor roof top suite that oversees
all of Halifax.
Inside there are many beautiful pieces of artwork that
call the Wardroom their home. Wylie’s Trafalgar,
depicting the greatest naval battle ever, will
continue to be seen in the Ballroom. In addition to
this magnificent mural, a new sixteen-foot painting
was unveiled in May 2005 . This large mural depicts the famous Second World War naval engagement
of HMCS Assiniboine attacking U210. Local and
world-renowned artist Tom Forrestall has painted this
splendid mural for us.
The Wardroom opened officially on 28 April 05 and is the rival of any club or military mess in the World.
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