article

Imperial Munitions Board

Article by D.J. Bercuson

Published Online February 7, 2006

Last Edited March 4, 2015

Imperial Munitions Board, established November 1915 in Canada by the British Ministry of Munitions, with Canadian government approval. Headed by J.W. Flavelle, a prominent Toronto businessman, the board was responsible for letting contracts on behalf of the British government for the construction of war materials in Canada. 

J.W. Flavelle, businessman

Flavelle rose from humble origins to become one of Canada's most able and influential businessmen (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-23692).


It began to establish "national factories," which it owned outright, to produce munitions that private manufacturers were unable to turn out. Under IMB direction Canada produced a wide variety of war materiel including shells, ships, explosives and training planes. The IMB was dissolved in 1919.

External Links

Recommended

Royal Military College Cadets
Article
Royal Military College of Canada
Article
National War Labour Board
Article
Canadian Volunteers in the War of 1812

Help students and educators this school year!

The Canadian Encyclopedia is a project of Historica Canada, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization devoted to teaching Canadians more about our shared country. Last school year, over 13 million people used The Canadian Encyclopedia as a trusted resource. Nearly 5 million of those users were students and teachers. Please donate today to help even more Canadians access free, impartial, fact-checked, regularly updated information about Canada’s history and culture in both official languages. All donations above $3 will receive a tax receipt.

Donate