Built by Polson Iron Works at Toronto, "Festubert", named for the Battle of Festubert, was launched on 2 August 1917. Intended for use during the 1917 shipping season, the construction of the vessels was delayed by the entry of the United States into the war. With higher wages found south of the border, a shortage of skilled labour developed in the shipyards, coupled with a shortage of construction material. The trawler was commissioned on 13 November 1917. "Festubert" sailed to Halifax following her commissioning for defence of the Atlantic coast of Canada. For the defence of shipping in Canadian waters in 1918, the entire Battle class was assigned to work out of Sydney, Nova Scotia. Following the sinking of the merchant vessel "Luz Blanca" off Halifax, "Festubert" was among the vessels tasked with hunting for the German submarine , which had been operating off the coast of Nova Scotia.