Wren to be honored at Royal Roads

It was a pivotal time during World War II when women were called to enlist in Canada’s military in response to a demand for resources that was not being met. One woman who answered that call will be commemorated for her service at Royal Roads Military College during that time.

Eileen Maurice (pictured bottom row, second to right) was a cook between 1943 and 1946 when the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS or “Wrens”) served at Royal Roads and will be honored with a bench in the garden.

Eileen’s nephew Claude Maurice says he was only six years old when he and his sister Grace, then four, visited their aunt at Hatley Castle. He says his memory of the visit is foggy, but he does remember climbing up a wonderful set of stairs in the castle with her. He says he and his sister were inspired to honor their aunt with the bench because of the importance of her service during the war to his family’s history.

“Our Aunt Eileen worked at Royal Roads at a critical time and valued every aspect of the experience. She was an exceptionally kind, generous and modest person; to us, a bit of a St. Francis figure.”

Royal Roads University’s Manager of Archives Jenny Seeman says the WRCNS were highly regarded on campus.

“The cadet yearbook, The Log, from 1944 states: ‘Their cheerfulness and efficiency added much to college life.’ It wasn’t just through good food and competent administrative work – the WRCNS also took over public announcements like the morning wakey-wakey call. Cadets reported it was better to have a woman’s voice counting them through their daily calisthenics routines than a gruff PT instructor barking at them.”

Seeman says records suggest there may have been around 50 WRCNS on campus working in the roles of quartermaster, cooks, wardroom attendants and writers. The archival records on the impact they left at the college were shared with Eileen’s family, who say learning more about their aunt’s time at Royal Roads was a bonus to being able to memorialize her in this way.

“About learning from your archives, we greatly appreciate the Wrens data. Specifically, regarding Eileen’s service, and especially the photos,” says Claude who adds, “that was more than we’d have dared hope.”

Eileen Maurice’s commemorative bench will be installed on campus as part of Royal Roads’ A Vision in Bloom campaign, raising funds to revitalize the beauty of Royal Roads gardens and buildings. The WRCNS are also honored elsewhere in the garden – a red rose bush, the “Rosa Navy Lady” which can be found on the right hand side as you enter the Rose Garden.

If you would like more information on commemorative benches at Royal Roads, please contact our Advancement team at 1-866-207-0080.