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Abstract

This dissertation seeks to answer whether the formation of the Royal Australian and Royal Canadian navies were a result of actions from the core of the British Empire, or from the periphery, motivated by their own actions. The dissertation seeks to use a variety of different sources and evidence to do this, by looking at a political and social angle of the way in which each nation formed as a naval power. The analysis has found that each navy formed of its own volition, and though fundamentally was still connected to the Royal Navy and could be used in emergency situations, were able to do so independent of the ‘parent’ country. This conclusion has been reached by adapting the more recent historiography that has shifted from an Anglo-centric perspective in order to look at the ideas of nation-building and identity in each nation. By using a variety of different sources taken from both the Australian, Canadian and British perspective, a narrative has been realised of earlier British reliance that has flourished into independence. Additionally, the dissertation has analysed that both the political space and wider cultural ideas pushed for a unique navy in each country which could begin to unravel the associations that Australia and Canada both had with Britain.

Course: History - BA (Hons) - C1087

Date Deposited: 2023-11-01

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14245.html