HMS Phaeton, The Pacific 1900

In September 1900 Harold joined HMS Phaeton (below) as Lieutenant of Marines

Phaeton was based at headquarters of the Royal Navy Pacific Fleet in Esquimault British Columbia, on the West coast of Canada 

Arethusa, sister ship of Phaeton in the dock at Esquimault 1904

Phaeton in Esquimault 1903

note the extra wide stern accommodation for the officers

The British Pacific fleet had been based in Valparaiso Chile but aound 1850 moved to a newly created base in Esquimault to be in a better position to defend Vancouver from the United States. The fleet patrol down the West cost of North and South America visiting places such as Lima and Panama, and across to Hawaii.