Larry Burden’s This Day In The RCMP

May 17, 2025

The achievements and contributions of the Force have been built upon the individual contributions of many past Veterans. These contributions have largely been forgotten.

Veteran Sgt. Larry Burden (#35982), who served in “E” Division for 20 years, has spent many years researching and summarizing these achievements by specific date. Nearly every day, Larry sends out an email message with a selection from his work in progress manuscript “This Day In The RCMP” to individuals interested in these historical notes.

In an effort to share his research to a large group, Larry has agreed to permit us to develop a webpage on our website. Each webpage will post Larry’s historical notations over the past week.

If you wish to contact Larry Burden or provide additional information about his research, please email him at larryburden8@gmail.com.

May 16

1911 – As a result of an Order in Council, RNWMP Corporal #4480 Charles V. Wood was granted $500 for injuries he received during a lengthy dog team patrol in the Norway House district.

Wood served from 1906 – 1910 when he was invalided out of the Force.

1914 – The Dingman oil well strike starts the oil boom in Alberta.

1961 – American President John F. Kennedy made an official visit to Ottawa where crowds of over 50,000 people lined the streets to welcome him.

1976 – #17424 Staff Sergeant Raymond “Ray” Allen Sales earned a Commissioners Commendation for Bravery for his actions in disarming an emotionally deranged man at Hines Creek Alberta.

May 15

1885 – Louis Riel 1844-1885 surrenders to General Middleton’s troops ending the North West Rebellion. The 100 days war saw a total of 80 men killed from each side and cost the fledgling Canadian government over $5 million dollars. Real was later convicted of treason and hanged.

1921 – Honour Roll Number 44.

#4995 Sgt. Arthur George Searle age 33 died when he drowned near Creston, B.C.

Sgt. Arthur Searle along with #8916 Cst. Claude Uren and #9504 Cst. John Burton was patrolling on horseback in an attempt to capture some whiskey runners.

When they arrived at Kootenay Flats near Creston BC they discovered that the approach to the bridge over the Goat River had been washed out. The members decided to try and take their horses across the flooded river and with Sgt. Searle leading, they proceeded to ride them into the water. Searle’s horse plunged into a deep spot and panicked, throwing him into the fast water and he was swept into a culvert. He desperately tried to hold onto the reins with one hand and the edge of the culvert with the other, but before the constables could save him the force of the water swept him away. His body was not found until three months later and he was buried in the community cemetery at Creston BC.

1932 – Monogram Pictures releases the movie “Mason of the Mounted” starring Bill Cody as Constable Bill Mason. The Canadian Mountie is sent into the United States in search of a horse thief. His only clue to the identity of the villain is a watch chain that was left at the scene of the crime. Along the way the Mountie makes friends with young Andy Talbot and when bad guy Calhoun hits Andy, our hero gets into a fist fight with Calhoun and in the scuffle Calhoun’s watch with the missing chain is dislodged revealing him as the criminal the Mountie is searching for. Our hero then sets out to bring in Calhoun and his gang.

1944 – Honour Roll Number 80.

#13678 Cst. Kenneth Laurence d’Albenas joined the RCMP in 1940 and two years later he volunteered for overseas service with the RCMP Provost Corps. Having survived the Battle of Ortona, Lance Corporal d’Albenas was driving a staff officer on a reconnaissance mission probing the forward zone in preparation for the battle of Monte Cassino when their jeep was destroyed by a Teller mine killing them both.

A few days later his mother Eva May d’Albenas back home in Valois Quebec received that fateful telegram advising her that her 27 year old son had been killed in action. He along with constables John F.J. Nelson and Donald G. Stackhouse (Honour Roll 82, 83) were buried in the Cassino War Cemetery below the Abbey of Monte Cassino where 855 Canadians are interred.

1957 – After a Department of Transportation employee collapsed at the bottom of a 40-foot deep well in Fort Simpson Northwest Territories. Three other men entered the well to retrieve him and were overcome with gas. #14307 Alexander Stewart descended into the well and tied a rope around each of the three would be rescuers and returned to the surface. Then they were hoisted to the surface one at a time. When one of the victims began to slip out of the rope, #17748 Constable Arthur Trace descended into the well, secured the rope and helped the victim to surface. The three coworkers recovered but the first victim succumbed to the gas.

May 14

1885 – Honour Roll Number 13.

#973 Constable Frank Orlando Elliott Killed by Indians near Battleford, N.W.T., while on scout patrol.

Two days after the battle of Cut Knife Hill, Constable Frank Elliott along with fellow patrol members #670 Sergeant John Gordon, and Constables. #544 Thomas McAllister, #619 Charles Allen, #776 Harry Storer, #865 Brenton Robertson, #969 Edmund Racey, and #983 William Spencer were conducting a patrol for signs of Chief Poundmaker’s encampment when they were surprised by an Indian war party.

While fighting a running battle back toward Battleford, Elliott’s horse began bucking frantically and he was either thrown from or fell off his horse. After his horse ran off, Elliot took cover on a nearby knoll and although he was surrounded, the former member of the United States Cavalry continued to fight despite being wounded several times. When he finally ran out of ammunition his attackers shot and killed him and left his body where he fell. The rest of the scouting party along with Constable Spencer who had received a serious gunshot wound in his mid section, managed to ride seven miles to safety.

Frank O. Elliott had only been in the Mounted Police for two years when he was killed. Father Louis Cochin, a local priest buried Elliot in a shallow grave and then the body was later re-buried with military honours at Battleford.

1944 – While serving with the Provost Corps in Italy during WWII #13826 Constable Peter Morris was seriously wounded when the Germans conducted and artillery barrage on the highway he was riding his motorcycle on. When the shell exploded near him he lost control of the bike and was thrown into the path of an oncoming truck. Morris suffered a severe concussion and a broken arm and leg. His injuries were serious enough that he was soon transported by hospital ship from Naples to England and then he was returned home to Canada.

Peter Morris joined the RCMP in 1940 and after recovering from his war injuries he returned to active duty with the Force and continued to serve in the RCMP until he retired as a Corporal in 1961.

In 1949 he received a Commissioners Commendation and $25 from the Fine Fund for his role in saving the life of a downed bush pilot near Bonneville Alberta.

1976 – Former Commissioner L.H. Nicholson, invested serving Commissioner Maurice J. Nadon as a Commander Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

May 11

1913 – In recognition of his bravery in his attempt to save the lives of four men who were overcome by natural gas fumes in Nanton, Alberta. #5100 /O.206 Constable William Moorhead was awarded a Commendation for Bravery, the Canadian Humane Society Bronze Medal and $25 from the Fine Fund. Moorhead began his career in 1910 as a member of the RNWMP and retired as an Inspector in the RCMP.

1937 – #10711 Constables Alexander Unia and #11165 Joseph Kessler lost all of the kit and personal effects when the detachment building at Forty Mile, Yukon burned to the ground. Unlia was re-reimbursed $200 and Kessler $151.70 for all of their property.

1942 – The eleventh reinforcement draft to Provost Corps during WWII included; #13537 Douglas Buchanan, #13205 James Bedlington, #13784 William Dwyer, #13901 Ivan Pickerill.

1953 – Honour Roll Number 108.

#16810 Constable Stephen Kasper age 25 was killed on duty in a plane crash at Prince Rupert harbour, BC.

Constable Kasper was returning to Prince Rupert, B.C. on a Canadian Pacific Airlines flight after completing a prisoner escort. While attempting to land on Prince Rupert harbour the floatplane bounced twice on the surface and then nose-dived into water.

Nearby fishermen who witnessed the crash immediately rushed to the scene in their boats and secured ropes to the wings preventing it from sinking. Most of the passengers managed to escape on their own but one passenger was trapped in his seat and rescuers had to cut a hole in the fuselage to free him. The body of the flight stewardess was located still strapped in her seat but the section of the plane Constable Kasper was in had broken away and had

descended 200 feet to the bottom.

Divers and search teams on shore searched for ten days but the body of Constable Kasper was never found.

Though he had only been in the RCMP for two years Kasper saw service in Rockcliffe Ontario, and Chilliwack, Agassiz and Prince Rupert BC.

1961 – While on patrol in Brooks, Alberta, #17377 Constable Christie Sirr McGinnis received a broadcast about an armed robbery in Medicine Hat. Shortly thereafter he saw the suspect car at a service station in his detachment area.

As McGinnis approached the suspect vehicle, the driver panicked and sped away. As McGinnis chased after the suspect he saw the driver point a shotgun at him so he backed off and continued to follow at a safe distance. The suspect, Reginald McCarthy made several u-turns in an attempt to ram the police car, but McGinnis managed to avoid a collision. McCarthy then stopped his vehicle and got out and aimed the shotgun at the policemen. Instead of firing he threw it in the ditch and returned to his car and sped away.

Constable McGinnis retrieved the 12-gauge shotgun and resumed his pursuit. Finally the robber stopped his vehicle and surrendered.

For his role in apprehending McCarthy, 30-year-old Constable McGinnis was awarded the Commissioners Commendation.

2005 – RCMP Vessel Murray is christened in Charlottetown PEI.

The Commissioner Class Aluminum Fast Patrol Catamaran 21.62 meters in length with a cruising speed of 25 knots was built in Meteghan NS by A.F. Theriuault & Sons. Launched January 6 2005. Retired Commissioner Philip Murray and members of his family were present for the event.

May 12

1885 – During Northwest rebellion at Batoche Saskatchewan, rebel general Gabriel Dumont 1838-1906 and his Metis warriors ran out of ammunition. They continue to fire stones and nails at the government forces before giving up the fight. During the battle #1312 Constable James Stafford is wounded in the thigh and Dumont flees to the US.

1980 – After Mr. W.P. Davidson overturned his small boat in the cold water near Albion Prince Edward Island an observer on shore called the police. The first people to respond to the emergency were Montague Detachment commander, #18138 Sergeant Winston Ogilvie “Mac” McTavish and Game Officer Walter Stewart. The pair rushed to the scene and rescued the hypothermic victim who was clinging to the side of his boat. The two rescuers were recognized with life saving awards from the Canadian Red Cross.

1983 – Shortly after a man robbed the Toronto Dominion Bank with a .45 caliber gun at a shopping mall in Surrey, BC, the robber jumped into a cab to make his getaway. The cab driver discretely signalled #28170 Corporal Dalton F. Watson who was driving towards him. Corporal Watson observed that the passenger matched the description of the bank robber and alerted other detachment members.

When the opportunity presented itself the police made their move and the suspect was arrested without incident. For his role in displaying admirable calm, which resulted in the safe arrest of a potentially dangerous offender, Corporal Watson was awarded the Commanding Officer’s Commendation.

1990 – A Commissioners Commendation was earned by #39827 Constable J.E.J. Gagnon who along with citizens, Marc Dagenais and Merlin Whyte apprehended a masked man armed with a sawed off shotgun who was attempting to rob a liquor store on Banks Street in Ottawa Ontario.

May 13

1933 – The new 65 foot RCMP Cruiser “Interceptor” was launched at Manseau Shipyards in Sorel, Quebec. Mrs. Hugh Guthrie the wife of the Minister of Justice christened the vessel.

1973 – Most East Coasters are familiar with the Dick Nowlan ballad called “Aunt Martha’s Sheep” in which the Mounties are called in to investigate the theft of an old lady’s sheep. In the song the little lamb ends up in the stew pot and the investigator partakes in the meal and the punch line ends “We may have stolen the sheep Bye, but the Mountie ate the most”.

On this day in Bristol, New Brunswick, a woman’s pet lamb was stolen and she called the police. #28034 Constable Philip Norman Drake responded to the complaint and an hour later was diverted from his search to attend a motor vehicle accident. As fate would have it, the sheep thief in his haste to flee from the scene of the crime crashed his truck. He was arrested and convicted of impaired driving and theft. The lucky lamb avoided the stewpot and was returned to its owner unharmed.

1981 – Medal of Bravery awarded to Constable John Ronald McIntyre.

After a man and a young boy had collapsed from gas fumes in a collector well directly across the street from the Detachment in Sherwood Park, Alberta someone ran over to the detachment seeking a gas mask and rope. #36211 Constable John Ronald McIntyre responded by grabbing a tear gas mask and rushed across the street not realizing his mask would not work in oxygen deprived environments.

The well had been installed by the County to collect fuel that had leaked into the ground from a nearby gas station. The six-meter deep well had a mixture of water and gasoline lying at the bottom and was filled with gas fumes. After a youth had fallen into the well and was overcome by the fumes, Mr. Leonard Komant climbed down the well and was attempting to hold the youth’s head above the water/fuel mixture when the fumes too overcame him.

Without hesitating Constable McIntyre put on his gas mask and tied a rope around his waist and descended into the well. Shortly after entering the well McIntyre became dizzy as he attempted to remove the victims and he began to lose consciousness and had to be pulled to the surface.

Shortly thereafter he recovered and despite the danger he made a second attempt to rescue the pair. After entering the well a second time McIntyre fell unconscious and had to be pulled from the well again. By the time rescuers were able to reach the two unconscious victims had died.

On December 2, 1982 Constable McIntyre was awarded the Meritorious Certificate from Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. On June 24, 1983 he was awarded the Medal of Bravery.

2000 – In recognition of the contribution to Canadian aviation the RCMP Air Division was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum.

May 9

1991 – Constables J.P. Berthelot and P.G. Muehling of Steinbach Manitoba received Commanding Officer’s Commendations after they entered burning and apprehended an armed and dangerous man.

1992 – Commendations were awarded to three members for their role in the investigation of the West Ray Mine Disaster near Plymouth Nova Scotia. #21413 Chestley Macdonald headed up the investigation to determine how 26 men working underground died. After a methane gas explosion killed the mine’s rescue crews attempted to locate survivors. The bodies of 11 men were recovered immediately but after six days of searching the rescue operation was concluded. #31121 Harry Ullock and #36283 Corporal Mick Cashen were awarded commendations for their efforts in entering the coal mine and searching for evidence.

2009 – While serving with an international operations coordination unit in Afghanistan, 55-year old #36022 Sergeant Brian S. Kelly was seriously wounded when a car bomb exploded near the entrance to the Afghan Alliance headquarters in the capital city of Kabul. After surgery to remove shrapnel from his legs he was airlifted to Germany for additional treatments. He arrived back in Ottawa on August 22nd.

Almost 100 people were injured in the heavily fortified area of the capital, killing seven Afghans. Sergeant Kelly was a 29-year member of the Force at the time and was serving on his second overseas mission having previously served in the former Yugoslavia.

Ironically although the RCMP was still on the Canada Order of Battle list, Sgt. Kelly was denied the Sacrifice Medal because he was considered to be a civilian and not military.

May 8

1933 – Honour Roll Number 54.

#O.281 Inspector Lorne James Sampson age 38, died from injuries he received during the Saskatoon Riot.

Inspector Sampson was leading a squad of men who were trying to control a mob of unemployed protestors in the Saskatoon riot. The unruly mob began throwing rocks and debris at the police, striking Inspector Sampson in the head. He fell backwards and his horse bolted but his foot was caught in a stirrup.

In an attempt to assist him, Constables #10140 Neville Cleary and #11745 Frank Spalding tried to box in Sampson’s horse to get it to stop. As the panicked horse ran between rows of posts, Inspector Sampson’s unconscious body swung in an arc and his head hit a post with such force that a stirrup strap broke and he was killed.

Born at Marksville Ontario, Sampson joined the RNWMP in September 1914. One year later he took a discharge to enlist for service overseas during WW1. He served as a Corporal with the 119th Battalion in England and was transferred to the 58th Battalion in France.

He rejoined the RNWMP in 1919 and was promoted to Sergeant the same year and was transferred to Vancouver where he served until 1932. He returned to Regina and was promoted to Sergeant Major in 1932 and was promoted to Inspector on April 22, 1932, just one month before he was killed on duty.

1943 – #16167 John J. Hogan, KPM earned the Kings Police and Fire Medal while serving with the Newfoundland Rangers.

1999 – Commendations were awarded to #36577 Constable Ed Lazurko and a civilian Mr. Sam, for rescuing a suicidal man who was going to commit man trying to jump off a 100-foot high Canadian National Railway bridge at Lytton, BC. Constable Lazurko grabbed the man and was suspending him in mid-air when he was assisted pulling the man back onto the bridge platform.

1999 – #44633 Constable Paul Harvey Zechel and Auxiliary Constable Orsted received commendations as a result of conducting a vehicle check on Bear First Nation, Saskatchewan. When they checked one of the occupants of the vehicle they discovered that there was a warrant for his arrest. The man then brandished a knife, and then retreated into a slough and threatened to commit suicide. Constable Zechel was able to talk the man into dropping the knife and then arrested him.

May 7

1946 – On this day The King’s Police and Fire Medal was awarded to #14056 Constable Roy Chester Shaw for his courage, determination and initiative for entering a burning building and attempting to save the life of an infant at Whitehorse, YT.

Shortly before noon a house fire broke out at a residence where the owners had gone shopping and left a seven-month-old child sleeping in his crib. When the mother arrived home she found the fire department fighting the blaze and hysterically announced that her child was inside. Constable Shaw arrived on the scene and upon hearing that the child was inside the blaze he attempted to force his way into the house, but was driven back by the heavy smoke. He then smashed out the bedroom window and jumped inside and rummaged around the room until he found the baby, and then leaped through the window shortly before the building collapsed. The child was rushed to the hospital, but died a few hours later from burns he received in the blaze.

Shaw served in the RCMP from 1941 to 1961 and retired as a Corporal.

1965 – Two Soviet diplomats are expelled from Canada for plotting an espionage network.

1999 – Honour Roll Number 195.

Forty year old highway patrol member #35689 Constable Joseph Ernest Jean-Guy Daniel Bourdon, was killed after being hit by a tractor trailer, fifteen kilometres south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

At approximately 3:00 pm, the nineteen-year veteran was conducting a vehicle check on Hwy. #11, when a passing tractor trailer traveling 30 kilometers over the speed limit and too close to the shoulder of the road clipped him, propelling him into the ditch. He was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries shortly afterwards.

Nathan Kletka, the truck driver was convicted of driving without due care and attention and for exceeding his driving hours for which he received a $3540 fine.

Dan Bourdon had spent his entire career in Saskatchewan, was married and had a daughter. He had earned his commercial pilots licence and was planning on retiring and pursuing a new full time career in aviation.

After a regimental funeral attended by over 600 police officers, he was buried at the Weldon Cemetery in Saskatoon.

May 4

1910 – 34 year old Sergeant #4330 John (Jock) Darling and Constables #4829 / O.300 Robert Cranford Bowen, 27 and #4230 Armand St. Laurent, 21 began their 1700-mile patrol from Athabasca Landing in Alberta to Whitehorse Yukon. The purpose of the trip was to clear the trail constructed fives years earlier by Superintendent Charles Constantine.

1910 – Parliament votes to create a Royal Canadian Navy. In 1939 during WW2 the RCMP transferred the Marine Section vessels and 155 officers and men to the Royal Canadian Navy.

1984 – Honour Roll Number 174.

#26574 Constable Robert Charles Anderson age 37 was killed in a police motor vehicle accident, at Kamloops, B.C.

The Kamloops, BC, RCMP had received a tip that two local criminals; Guy Craig and Ken Bradley, were going to rob a jewelry store somewhere in the city. After the robbery the getaway car was spotted by #30582 Constable Warren T. Forsythe and a high pursuit ensued. A police aircraft flying above was monitoring the chase and the pilot was reporting the direction of travel, which in turn was being relayed to the police cars area.

When the suspects turned into Batchelor Heights, #26574 Constable Anderson driving his car with his partner #23965 Corporal Albert “Bert” Malfair was advised to head to Westsyde Road, but the suspects changed direction and Anderson was then told to turn around and head in another direction. When he attempted to make a u-turn he was broadsided by another police car driven by #36545 Constable Stephen Wile. Constable Anderson was killed and Constable Wile and Corporal Malfair were severely injured.

Meanwhile the chase continued and finally came to an end after Constable Forsythe shot six rounds into the fleeing car, and then rammed the suspect’s vehicle. After the culprits were arrested, police recovered $20,000 in jewelry and a shotgun.

Robert Charles Anderson had been in the RCMP for 16 years. He was married and had two young children. He lies buried at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Vernon, British Columbia.

1992 – Residents of the Northwest Territories vote to divide the existing territory into two separate sections creating Canada’s new Inuit territory, Nunavut. The new territory came into existence on April 1, 1999 and encompasses an area five times the size of Alberta with a population of roughly 34,000 people. The entire Territory continues to be policed by the RCMP.

May 5

1971 – Twenty-three year old #27015 Constable Robert Charles Johannson arrived at the scene of a motor vehicle accident in Kitimat, BC and found Joseph Rinsma unconscious and not breathing. He immediately began mouth-to–mouth resuscitation and succeeded in reviving the injured man.

In recognition of his quick action in saving a life he was awarded the M.G. Griffiths Award from the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada and the Medal of Merit along with an honorary membership in the Kitimat Lions Club.

DID YOU KNOW the RCMP has its own tartan?

To help celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the RCMP in 1997 a decision was made to design and official tartan. A volunteer tartan committee was created and submissions were invited for an appropriate tartan design from across Canada.

Ultimately the design submitted by Mrs. Violet Holmes of Burnaby, British Columbia, was chosen and Burnett’s and Struth Scottish Regalia Ltd. of Barrie, Ontario and Lochcarron of Scotland woollen mills were commissioned to produce the tartan.

After Commissioner Philip Murray approved the design, the tartan was officially registered with the Scottish Tartans Society in Pitlochry, Scotland, and was formally presented to the Force by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne during her visit to Atlantic Canada in June,1998.

The colours of the Tartan are taken from the Force’s uniform and badge and are symbolic of:

– Dark blue is the colour of the traditional breeches worn by Members and is also evocative of the shabrack (or saddle blanket) used by the Musical Ride

– Scarlet is for the Red Serge tunic

– Yellow represents the cavalry stripes on the breeches of the ceremonial uniform, the band on the hat and crown, as well as the gilt letters on the badge

– Sienna Brown evokes the bison at the centre piece of the badge and symbolizes Canada’s expansive western plains and the heartland of the RCMP

– Forest Green epitomizes the maple leaf, a distinctly Canadian symbol

– White is reminiscent of the lanyard of the ceremonial uniform, it also evokes the link between the Force and Canada’s First Nation Peoples for whom white has special spiritual significance, symbolizing strength and endurance-traits embodied by the RCMP legacy

– Sky blue elicits both the background of the badge as well as the beret worn by Members when acting as United Nations Peacekeepers.

May 6

1877 – After defeating General George Custer and the United States 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little BigHorn, Sioux Chief Sitting Bull leads 1,500 of his followers into Canada to ask protection from the Queen. The Canadian government did not want or need the Sioux settling in Canada for they feared it would lead to conflict with the local natives and endanger relations with the United States.

Superintendent James Morrow Walsh, who on behalf of the Canadian Government, met Sitting Bull at Pinto Horse Butte after he went into the encampment of 5000 warriors with only six men and advised him that the Sioux must obey the law and that they must not raid the United States. Chief Sitting Bull responded that he had “buried his weapons on the American side” and that he would do no wrong in the country of the White Mother.

While he was meeting with Sitting Bull, Superintendent Walsh decided to impress upon the Sioux that he met business when it came to enforcing the law. His men had recognized a South Assiniboine warrior named White Dog was riding a stolen horse, so Walsh promptly went over to the warrior and in front of everyone arrested him and seized the horse. Expecting the natives to assist him, White Dog called for assistance, but discovered that none was coming.

James Morrow Walsh had great admiration for the natives and encouraged them to stay. This made the Sioux happy but infuriated Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald who subsequently removed him from his post and ordered him to have no further dealings with Sitting Bull.

In 1883 this noble officer resigned from the Mounted Police in protest over the government’s treatment of the Sioux. His career did not end though; in 1897 he was made the first commissioner of the Yukon District and was reinstated as a superintendent in the NWMP and given command of the NWMP in the Yukon.

In 2000 author Ian Anderson published “Sitting Bull’s Boss” and told the story of these two fascinating men.

1910 – King Edward VII dies King George V ascends to the throne.

1979 – Commanding Officers Commendation awarded to #34696 Rob Diack and Auxiliary Constable Wolfe when they responded to a complaint of a man who had taken shotgun and a knife and was threatening to commit suicide. The man was pointing the weapon at members and when A/Constable Wolfe distracted him Constable Diack jumped him and succeeded in subduing the suspect.

1992 – Commendations issued to #33259 D.R. McInnis and #40814 Constable T.W. Peter after they entered the basement of a burning building in Rapid City, Manitoba to rescue a hostage while they were confronted by an armed intoxicated suspect.

May 1

1932 – On this day the RCMP absorbs the Prince Edward Island Provincial Police Force. #4870 / O.246 James Fripps becomes the first commanding officer of the newly created “L” Division.

1941 – Honour Roll Number 68.

#10063 Constable Charles James Johnstone age 38 was lost at sea on the only troopship to lose Canadian troops en route to England during WW2.

The 5000-ton SS Nerissa had crossed the North Atlantic alone and was approximately 35 miles off the coast of Scotland when at 00.27 hours she was hit by the first of three torpedoes fired from the German submarine U-552 commanded by Erich Topp. Constable Johnstone was last seen on the deck of the ship at one of the lifeboat stations but never made it off the ship alive. The ship sank within four minutes of the first attack, taking all but 84 of the ship’s complement of 290 souls to the bottom. The survivors spent 8 ½ hours in a lifeboat and were later rescued by the HMS Veteran and later transferred to the HMS Kingcup.

Among the passengers were six other members of the R.C.M.P. Provost Company en route to England as reinforcements to the Provost Corps. They included Acting Corporal #9512 Lewis Archer Denton and Constable #12797 John Hugh Francis Mara both of whom sustained leg injuries. Constables #12502 Raymond Victor Currie and #13298 Alfred R. Nicholas had to be treated for exposure while Constables #13015 G.F. Keeland and #13760 John E. MacPhee was unharmed.

Constable Charlie Johnstone had served in the RCMP for 13 years in Ottawa before he was accepted into the reinforcement draft, his wife Helene survived him.

1947 – #11358 / O.396 Staff Sergeant Cecil Herbert Bayfield is awarded a Commissioners Commendation for “selfless devotion to duty and outstanding work” for his role in an espionage investigation.

1951 – Leonard Hanson Nicholson, M.B.E. becomes the ninth permanent Commissioner and serves until March 31, 1959.

1972 – The Supreme Court of Canada rules that compulsory breath tests do not constitute a breach of the Canadian Bill of Rights.

May 2

1670 – The Hudson’s Bay Company comes into existence when King Charles II of England grants a Royal charter for his cousin Prince Rupert and a group of investors called “The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson’s Bay”

The charter gives the company the exclusive rights of commerce on all lands flowing into Hudson Bay, and charges them to find a route to the South Seas belt. For 200 years the Hudson Bay Company has had a virtual monopoly on all trade in “Rupert’s Land” which covers an area of 3.9 million square kilometers (1.5 million sq, mi).

The land controlled by the Hudson Bay Company was expanded even further when it merged with the North West Company of Montreal in 1821, and the combined territory was extended by a license to include lands comprising the watershed of the Arctic Ocean on the north and to the Pacific Ocean on the west.

The British and Canadian governments had been concerned about American expansionism for some time and therefore had been negotiating the transfer of Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company to Canada. In 1868 the Rupert’s Land Act was passed authorizing the transfer, and purchase by Canada but the Red River Rebellion in Manitoba delayed the matter until 1870.

On May 7, 1870 the Hudson Bay Company formally sold most of Rupert’s Land to Canada for £300,000. The Company kept over 2.8 million hectares of land around their numerous trading posts and Canada assumed control of what is now much of the Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, northern Ontario, northwestern Quebec and portions of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The new land is renamed as the Northwest Territories.

1885 – Honour Roll Numbers 10, 11 and 12.

#565 Cpl. Ralph Bateman Sleigh age 27, #907 Corporal William Hay Talbot Lowry age 28 and #402 Constable Patrick Burke age 33 died as a result of the battle between the Government forces and Indians at Cut Knife Hill, N.W.T.

On May 1, 1885 during the Northwest Rebellion Colonel William Dillon Otter led 319 men including 74 members of the NWMP contingent commanded by #O.37 William Herchmer the brother of the Commissioner to Cut Knife Hill, 38 miles from Battleford.

In the six-hour fight with Cree and Stoney Indians led by Chief Poundmaker, surrounded Otter’s forces and soundly routed them. As a result three members of the NWMP and five members of the militia were killed.

Constable Sleigh was killed in action after being shot in the mouth and #36 Sergeant John Ward was wounded but survived. Constable Burke and Corporal Lowry were mortally wounded and died the following day. #762 Constable Richard Routledge was cited for his bravery in battle.

All of the dead were buried at Battleford on May 4th. Cpl. Ralph Bateman Sleigh a native of Matlock England, had no relatives in Canada and his North West Canada Medal was never claimed. It is now on display in the RCMP Museum in Regina. Corporal William Lowry and Constable Paddy Burke had both come from Ireland to join the Mounted Police. All five of Burke’s sons later joined the Mounted police and his daughter married a Mountie.

April 29

1903 – #3495 Constable Robert Leard was one of the lucky survivors when a 90 million ton wedge of limestone slid off Turtle Mountain onto the coal-mining village of Frank at 4:10 am. The slide buried the mine entrance and killed at least 70 people in only 100 seconds. The slab of limestone was 1,300 ft high, 4,000 ft wide, 500 ft thick. Seventeen men who were trapped in the mine managed to dig themselves out a day later. The town of Frank near Crowsnest Pass Alberta was permanently evacuated.

1966 – A man escaped from the Riverview Mental Hospital in Kamloops after being admitted on April 8, 1966 and showed up a few days later at the home of David Terry on the Bridgewater Indian Reserve.

While Terry was sitting at his kitchen table a shot rang out of the dark grazing his chest and arm and smashed into his table lamp. As the prowler rushed into his house Terry grabbed his rifle and shot back at the gunman and then ran out of the house and fled to a friend’s house, two miles away. When they returned the following day they discovered that the prowler had stolen two rifles and some ammunition. After reporting the matter to the police and that Terry had recognized the voice of the gunman as the man who had been committed to the institution the police spent the next six days searching for him in the back country between Ashcroft and Clinton BC.

On April 29th the search team consisting of Conservation Officer J.A. McCabe, #15885 Corporal Robert M. Crookshank and Constable #18962 Norman R. Harvey-McKean heard from Billy Spoonemore, a cowhand on the Reynolds Ranch that the suspect was seen walking towards the Big Bar Ferry on the Fraser River.

McCabe rushed on ahead to intercept the suspect at the ferry while the policemen and Billy Spoonemore tracked him on foot. When the men spotted the gunman Constable Harvey-McKean borrowed the cowboy’s horse and outer clothes and rode up to the suspect and pretended to water his horse. He then began a conversation with the gunman but the suspect became suspicious and when he grabbed for his rifle the constable leaped from his horse, and knocked him to the ground and wrestled him for the rifle.

In the struggle the rifle discharged and the shot passed under Harvey-McKean ‘s arm. He was successfully subdued and taken into custody and returned to the hospital.

For his bravery and great presence of mind the eleven-year veteran Constable Harvey-McKean was awarded a Commissioners Commendation.

2000 – Medal of Bravery earned in Kosovo

While serving in Kosovo on a United Nations mission, #43027 Konrad Lionel Shourie along with S/Sgt. Jones, and Cst. Nagy found themselves in the middle of civil unrest in the community of Mitrovica. A fellow UN police officer had his vehicle attacked by a mob and he was dragged from his vehicle and assaulted. Seriously injured, the officer managed to flee and had taken refuge inside a building and radioed his position to the area police station.

S/Sgt. Jones, Cpl. Shourie and Cst. Nagy, and other members of the international contingent, formed a rescue team and armed with shields, rushed to the scene to rescue their comrade and eleven other people who were also trapped in the building. Despite sporadic gunfire and exploding grenades, the team advanced into the mob, as the rioters pelted them with debris, rocks and bottles. The team succeeded in pushing their way to the building and then barricaded themselves in the stairwell. After the team located their colleague, French military armoured vehicles arrived at the scene and were able to provide medical care to the wounded victim and transported the group back to the safety of their police station. For his actions in the rescue, Cpl. Konrad Lionel Shourie was awarded the Medal of Bravery.

2003 – Constables #33996 Mike O’Brien and #41852 Jason Derry were awarded The Lifesaving Society Certificate of Appreciation for rescuing a young girl trapped on bridge footing, PEI. (now ‘L’)

April 30

1938 – Commendation issued to #11297 Sergeant John (Jack) Fossum for his investigative work at Wynyard, Saskatchewan.

Born November 19, 1905 at Rennebu, Norway, Fossum had a very interesting career from when he joined the RCMP on March 10, 1932 and served until September 5th 1953, having served in ‘F’ ‘K’ & ‘E’ Divisions. His varied career included being in the Musical Ride working undercover, conducting surveillance during the Doukhobor protests and a detachment commander

He was named Kitimat BC’s Citizen of the Year in 1966 and in 1981 he authored his first book about his exploits “Cop in the Closet” and followed up with a second “Mancatcher” in 1990.

He died December 7th 2004 at Black Creek, B.C his proudest achievement being the fact that he had drawn a RCMP pension for 41 years!

1942 – Republic Pictures releases the feature length movie “The Yukon Patrol” starring Allan Lane as Sgt. Dave King. The movie is a shortened version of the 12 part serial “King of The Royal Mounted” released two years earlier. (See September 20, 1940)

1943 – Honour Roll Number 74.

#13205 Constable James Harvard Delamere Bedlington age 28 was killed in a motorcycle accident while training with the Provost Company in Scotland.

Constable Jim Bedlington joined the RCMP in 1939 and prior to volunteering for the reinforcement draft to the Number 1 Provost Company he served in detachments in Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In May 1942 he was transferred overseas and began his motorcycle training as a military policeman. A year later his unit assigned to the 1st Canadian Infantry Division was moved to Scotland in preparation for the assault on Sicily. While there he was traveling in a convoy and crashed his motorcycle and was killed.

He was buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, England.

1981 – Corporal #26716 R. Marcel Jacques was in the Royal Bank at La Salle, Quebec in plain clothes when two masked men robbed the bank of $25,000 and shot and wounded a customer.

As they attempted to flee from the scene he drew his revolver and ordered them to stop. When they attempted to escape on motorcycle, Jacques shot out the rear tire and the chased the pair as they fled on foot. As they ran away, they split up and one of the men began shooting at the Corporal as he took refuge in an apartment building.

When the local police converged on the scene the suspect shot himself instead of surrendering. The Montreal Urban Police captured his partner later. On August 25 1981 Corporal Jacques was awarded the Canadian Bankers’ Association Gold Medal for his bravery in the apprehension of the bank robbers.

1987 – In recognition for noticeable initiative, enthusiasm and teamwork #22791 Sergeant Fred J. Erler of the Lethbridge, Alberta Commercial Crime Section and #24802 Constable Ray D. Cameron of Lethbridge Detachment were awarded Commanding Officers Commendations. The pair spent over a year investigating crude oil thefts across southern Alberta and succeeded in prosecuting the suspects.

April 28

1964 – After the RCMP provided enough evidence to show that Ottawa based Vasily Vasilievich Tarasov, a correspondent for Soviet newspaper Izvestia was actually spying for the Soviet Union, he was ordered expelled from Canada.

1988 – Four year old Matthew Fedor died on this day. He was the first Canadian to receive a bone-marrow transplant from the newly created Red Cross pilot program, the Unrelated Bone Marrow Registry.

In November 1987 Powell River BC Constable Bruce Denniston was diagnosed with chronic myelocytic leukemia as well, but none of his family members were a suitable match for a transplant. At the time the registry only had 1500 names recorded and none were matches for Bruce.

With the support of friends and co-workers the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society was created with the sole purpose of providing financial assistance to the Registry so that it could expand and give Bruce and all patients like him a second chance at life. Unfortunately by the time a suitable match was found, cancer had ravaged Bruce’s body too much and he died in 1989. Bruce may have passed on but the society that bears his name continues to raise funds to support the work of the Canadian Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry and has saved numerous lives since.

You can help by contacting:

The Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society
P.O. Box 157
Powell River, BC
V8A 4Z6
phone 604-485-8488
toll free 1-877-485-8488
fax (604) 485-0052
email bdmarrow@prcn.org