1915Who was the first Canadian woman to be decorated for gallantry during the Second World War and was the first living Canadian to have a ship named after her?
Lieutenant Commander Margaret Martha Brooke, born in Ardath, Saskatchewan, became the first Canadian woman to be decorated for gallantry during the Second World War. Her courageous attempt to save a fellow Nursing Sister after the sinking of the SS Caribou off the coast of Newfoundland in 1942 earned her the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire. In a historic tribute, HMCS Margaret Brooke was launched in 2019, making her the first living Canadian to have a naval ship named in her honour. Brooke’s legacy combines both extraordinary wartime heroism and remarkable academic achievement, as she also received a Ph.D. in biostratigraphy following her naval service.
