In addition to the sixth and final Arctic patrol ship bearing his name, Robert Hampton Gray has a mountain in British Columbia’s Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park named after him and a memorial erected to him at Onagawa Bay, the only memorial dedicated to a foreign service member on Japanese soil. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Canadian Navy)
Canadian Navy’s final Arctic patrol ship to be named after WWII naval hero
“Lt Gray was known to his fellow military members as a courageous leader with a brilliant flying spirit”
The Royal Canadian Navy’s sixth Arctic and offshore patrol ship will be named after Robert Hampton Gray, a Canadian Second World War hero.
During an attack on Japanese naval vessels in Onagawa Bay on Aug. 9, 1945, Gray, with his aircraft on fire, managed to sink the HIJMS Amakusa before crashing into the sea.
His body was never recovered.
For those actions, Gray was awarded the Victoria Cross, the British Empire’s highest award for bravery, making him the only member of the Royal Canadian Navy to receive the honour during the Second World War.
“Lt Gray was known to his fellow military members as a courageous leader with a brilliant flying spirit, who continued to inspire and motivate his crew after his unfortunate passing,” said Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, in a news release.
“We honour him as a Canadian naval hero, and celebrate his outstanding leadership and heroism.”
In addition to the Arctic patrol ship bearing his name, Gray has a mountain in British Columbia’s Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park named after him and a memorial erected to him at Onagawa Bay, the only memorial dedicated to a foreign service member on Japanese soil.
The Robert Hampton Gray is the last of the Harry DeWolf class of Arctic patrol ships to receive a name.
The Harry DeWolf class, and ship, bears the name of a prominent Canadian naval figure, as do all of the new Arctic patrol ships.
“For the first time in its 110-year history, the RCN has named a class of ships after prominent Canadian naval figures, proudly honouring their leadership, achievements and heroism while serving Canadian interests at sea,” said the news release.
Aside from the Gray and the DeWolf, the other four patrol ships are named after Margaret Brooke, who was a naval nursing sister decorated for gallantry during WWII; Max Bernays, who was a naval officer during the Second World War and was also decorated for gallantry; William Hall, who was the first Black person, the first Nova Scotian and the third Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross; and Frédérick Rolette, who was a hero of the War of 1812.
The Margaret Brooke is slated to be delivered next year, while construction on the Frédérick Rolette is scheduled to begin in 2021.
Too bad the name could not be from the North, emphasis on Northern Sovereignty and embracing its people. Another lost opportunity, perhaps time for a change!
We have had some hero’s here in the arctic, people who helped starving people while travelling on dog-teams and often risking their own lives. I want to see their names too.
I would agree. What are their names?
What are the events you are talking about?
All the people these craft are named after had notable military careers.
These northern residents you mention, while no doubt laudable, are civilians.
Perhaps the next series of RCN ships will be named after notable civilians.
Did you put these names forward during the call for naming suggestions?
the military protocol for naming naval ships precludes the use of civilians no matter how deserving. Even the use of the names of actual people is relatively new to the Canadian navy who in the past preferred geographic names and cities for their ships.
I propose that Nunavut form it’s own squadron of naval umiaks and take the naming process into its own hands!