Ceremony on the Quarterdeck, HMCS Niobe
Officers and some of the ship's crew gather on HMCS Niobe's quarterdeck at sea.
Ships' crews assembled in open spaces on deck for a variety of purposes, including inspections and religious services. In the foreground, a band clusters around two of Niobe's 6-inch guns. Bands were a standard component on larger ships, performing ceremonial duties and helping to maintain morale. This assembly represents only a small proportion of the more than 600 crew necessary to operate Niobe at sea.
George Metcalf Archival Collection