Canadian Coast Guard's "Hero Class" Of Vessels

February 10, 2011

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The Government of Canada has announced that the Canadian Coast Guard’s nine new Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels will be named after heroic Canadians who put their duty ahead of their safety in service to our country.

The vessels are currently under construction in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and are expected to enter service by 2013. They will be named:

CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C., after the late Corporal Joseph Kaeble, V.C.
CCGS Private Robertson V.C., after the late Private James Peter Robertson, V.C.
CCGS Corporal Teather C.V., after Corporal Robert Gordon Teather, C.V
CCGS Constable Carrière, after Constable J.L. François Carrière
CCGS G. Peddle, after Canadian Coast Guard Chief Officer Gregory Paul Peddle, S.C
CCGS Corporal McLaren M.M.V., after Corporal Mark Robert McLaren, M.M.V.
CCGS A. LeBlanc, after Fishery Officer Agapit LeBlanc
CCGS M. Charles, after Seaman Martin Charles, M.B.
CCGS Captain Goddard M.S.M., after Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, M.S.M.

Biographical information:

CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C., after the late Corporal Joseph Kaeble, V.C., born in St. Moise, Quebec. He joined the Royal 22nd Regiment in 1916. He died near Arras on June 9, 1918, while he single-handedly repelled a strong attack with his Lewis gun.

CCGS Private Robertson V.C., after the late Private James Peter Robertson, V.C., born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. He joined the 27th Battalion in 1915. He died in battle on November 6, 1917, while rescuing two badly wounded fellow soldiers under severe fire.

CCGS Corporal Teather C.V., after Corporal Robert Gordon Teather, C.V., a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police diving team in Surrey, British Columbia. Corporal Teather rescued two fishers trapped in the hull of their capsized boat. This heroic rescue occurred in the early morning hours of September26,1981.Corporal Teather passed away November14,2004. For his actions Corporal Teather was awarded the Cross of Valour.

CCGS Constable Carrière, after Constable J.L. François Carrière, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Constable Carrière died on November 30, 1997, while conducting an underwater search of a vessel believed to be smuggling illegal drugs. Constable Carrière is listed on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Roll of Honour.

CCGS G. Peddle, after Canadian Coast Guard Chief Officer Gregory Paul Peddle, S.C., of Spaniard’s Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. Chief Officer Peddle and his colleagues, Senior Engineer Pierre Gallien and Leading Seaman Raymond C. Welcher, lost their lives on October, 15, 1989, when their fast rescue craft overturned in an attempt to rescue a diver off Middle Cove, Newfoundland. Chief Officer Peddle was awarded the Star of Courage.

CCGS Corporal McLaren M.M.V., after Corporal Mark Robert McLaren, M.M.V., of Peterborough, Ontario. Corporal McLaren was killed on December 5, 2008, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, when his Canadian-Afghan patrol was ambushed. During the attack, Corporal McLaren crawled through enemy fire to aid his team’s seriously injured interpreter. He was awarded the Medal of Military Valour.

CCGS A. LeBlanc, after Fishery Officer Agapit LeBlanc, of Bouctouche, New Brunswick. Mr. Leblanc joined the Canadian Fisheries and Marine Service in 1920. He was killed on October 20, 1926, while investigating illegal fishing vessels. His murder remains unsolved.

CCGS M. Charles, after Seaman Martin Charles, S.C., M.B., of Bamfield, British Columbia, and Hereditary Chief of the Nitinat Band. Martin Charles, now deceased, devoted his life and career to saving lives. He earned the Medal of Bravery for his instrumental role in a search and rescue incident that began with a sunken fishing vessel and ended with the crash of the helicopter assisting in the rescue efforts.

CCGS Captain Goddard M.S.M., after Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, M.S.M., who was born to Canadian and British parents in Papua New Guinea, and lived in various locations, including Black Lake and Lac la Ronge, Saskatchewan; Edmonton, Alberta; and Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Captain Goddard was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for her exemplary service in Afghanistan from January 2006, until her death in combat on May 17, 2006.