The link between Craigflower and the Royal Navy was a strong one. In the beginning years when manpower was still short on the farm, McKenzie enlisted the off-duty crew of the HMS Trincomalee to assist in various tasks.

After the farm became more established, William Sampson of the University of Alberta writes that:

“Craigflower Farm, located as it was between Esquimalt and the Gorge, was ideally situated to supply the naval squadron, and in September, 1856, McKenzie reported that he had supplied the squadron with nearly 1000 pounds of meat and 400 pounds of vegetables per day… McKenzie erected mills at Craigflower to provide flour to the navy’s bakers, who frequently used McKenzie’s ovens…in 1860 he entered into a regular contract with the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Squadron, to supply 10,000 pounds of biscuits within twenty-four hours of demand and an unlimited quantity within fourteen days of demand…” [note]