Phyllis Brown
“Wait for Me, Daddy” is a famous photo taken in 1940 in New Westminster, Canada. It shows a soldier, Private Jack Bernard, saying goodbye to his family before heading off to war.
In the picture, you can see Jack’s wife, Bernice, and their son, Warren “Whitey” Bernard. Warren was just five years old at the time.
The photo became well-known around the world and was used to support war efforts. Warren was in Grade 1 at General Wolfe Elementary nearby.
His dad, Jack, was part of The British Columbia Regiment. They were stationed in the city but eventually got orders to go overseas for secret duty.
‘Wait for me, Daddy’ from 1940 in New Westminster
When the soldiers marched off, a photographer named Claude P. Dettloff captured the moment. Warren ran out onto the road to reach out to his dad. It’s a touching picture that shows the bond between a father and his son.
After leaving New Westminster, the regiment went to Nanaimo for defense duty. Then, in 1942, they sailed to England for more action. They fought in France and took part in important battles.
Finally, on May 5, 1945, Victory in Europe Day was declared, marking the end of the war in Europe.
Throughout their time in battle, the regiment lost 122 officers and men, and 213 were wounded. But the photo “Wait for Me, Daddy” remains a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made during wartime.
Father and son reunited after the war
After surviving the war in Europe, Whitey’s dad returned home in October 1945. Sadly, the war took its toll on Whitey’s parents’ marriage, and they eventually divorced.
Whitey grew up and moved to Tofino, where he met and married his wife, Ruby, in 1964. Ruby had actually known Whitey for years before they got together.
She fondly remembers seeing his photo in schools all over British Columbia during the war. “I saw him years and years before we actually met,” she said.
Whitey ran a small marina that sold hardware and gas before getting involved in local politics.
He served as an alderman and then mayor for several years before becoming a councilor. Now retired, his son Steven Bernard runs the family marina.
In 2014, the City of New Westminster honored the iconic photo by commissioning a bronze statue to be placed at the bottom of 8th Street, in Hyack Square.
The statue was unveiled on October 4th of that year. Additionally, the Royal Canadian Mint issued a series of coins featuring a scene from the image, and Canada Post released a stamp commemorating the iconic moment.
