Canada’s second and third Arctic and offshore patrol boats have been officially named in honor of two Canadians who served in the Navy during World War II.
The ceremony was held Sunday at the Halifax Shipyard.
HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays will be used for “sovereignty and surveillance operations” and to support other units and departments on all three coasts, according to the Canadian Navy.
HMCS Margaret Brooke, launched in November 2019, is the first Canadian warship named after a woman.
Lt.-Cmdr de la Marina. Brooke was a sister nurse in the Royal Canadian Navy during the war. She was named a member of the Order of the British Empire for her bravery after the SS Caribou ferry was torpedoed and sunk in the Cabot Strait in 1942.
He tried to save his friend and fellow nurse sister, Agnes Wilkie, as they were caught in an overturned lifeboat. Wilkie died in the icy water.
Allyson Brooke said she was grateful that her aunt, Margaret Brooke, had known the recognition during her lifetime. (Carolyn Ray / CBC)
Brooke received the news of the ship’s name on its 100th anniversary in 2015. She was the first living Canadian to receive the honor.
Cherry on the cake
Brooke’s niece, Allyson Brooke, was present for the appointment. She said that even though her aunt was not alive to see the boat, knowing that she was recognized was very important to her.
“This is kind of a icing on the cake,” Allyson Brooke said.
“What’s really important to me is that she was recognized for her heroism while she was still alive. That would have meant a lot less to me if she hadn’t been alive when she was announced.”
Chief NCO Max Bernays served as helmsman of HMCS Assiniboine during World War II.
While the ship was under fire from a German submarine, the helmsman was engulfed in flames. Bernays ordered two junior sailors to leave while he remained at the helm.
HMCS Assiniboine sank the submarine and Bernays survived. He was awarded the Medal of Conspicuous Gallantry for his courage.
Shannon Bernays, Max Bernays’ granddaughter, says she would have been honored. (Carolyn Ray / CBC)
Her granddaughter, Shannon Bernays, attended the ceremony and said it was an emotional and amazing experience.
She said that when she was told that the ship would bear her name in a video call, she was overwhelmed.
“He was a quiet man, but he was such a proud man,” Bernays said. “It would be very honorable to be here today. Seeing all this and being honored that way is really amazing.”