Canada's Naval History

The Second World War
The Merchant Navy - The Merchant Navy

Between 1939 and 1945, Canadian and Allied merchant ships and their crews transported personnel, munitions, weapons, and food across the world's oceans as part of the Allied war effort. Enemy action sank some 70 Canadian and Newfoundland merchant vessels. Over 1,600 Canadians and Newfoundlanders, including eight women, were killed.

Artifact Record

Merchant Navy Sweetheart Brooch

This sweetheart brooch belonged to Henry Murray Varrin, who served in Canada's merchant navy during the Second World War.

The pin's diamond-shaped mother of pearl base holds a brass and enamel crest featuring "MN" for the merchant navy. A pin allows it to be fastened to clothing like a jacket or blouse. Merchant sailors gave such ?sweetheart' pins to girlfriends and wives. Other versions incorporated the words "Canada" or a maple leaf.

Sweetheart Brooch
CWM 20010171-002