Larry Burden’s This Day In The RCMP

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.

July 6

1874 – The March West began from Camp Dufferin (Emerson) Manitoba. The two mile long cavalcade for the 800 miles march, west to foothills of the Rocky Mountains consist of 275 members of the NWMP, 20 civilian employees, 310 horses, 142 oxen, 187 wagons and carts, 93 head of cattle, forges, mowers. When marching in a close file group it stretched 2.5 kms but usually stretched out over 5 to 8 kms. This was the longest self-supporting march of troops and personnel in British military history.

1977 – Solicitor General Francis Fox announces the creation of a Royal Commission to investigate allegations of illegal RCMP activities. The commission is headed by David C. McDonald and known as the “McDonald Commission” leads to splitting the RCMP Security Section away from the Force and creating a new intelligence body known as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

July 5

1900 – #3058 Sgt. Arthur Herbert Lindsay Richardson V.C. earns the Victoria Cross at Wolwespruit, near Standerton, Transvaal, South Africa. 

Like many other members of the NWMP, Sgt. Richardson was granted leave without pay so he could serve in the Boer War as a member of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse. 

The Boers regularly attacked the British lines of communication whenever an opportunity offered and during one of these skirmishes 38 men of Lord Strathcona’s Horse encountered a larger Boer force.

The official citation for his gallantry stated: “On the 5th July, 1900, at Wolve Spruit, about 15 miles north of Standerton, a party of Lord Strathcona’s Corps, only 38 in number, came into contact, and was engaged at close quarters, with a force of 80 of the enemy. When the order to retire had been given, Sergeant Richardson rode back under a very heavy cross-fire and picked up a trooper whose horse had been shot and who was wounded in two places and rode with him out of fire. At the time when this act of gallantry was performed, Sergeant Richardson was within 300 yards of the enemy, and was himself riding a wounded horse.

Sgt.Richardson returned to his duties in the Mounted Police after the war ended in 1902 and achieved the rank of sergeant-major. In 1907 his declining health forced him to purchase his discharge and, eventually returned to his home town of Liverpool, England, where he became a bit of a recluse. 

While absent from the public view, another man named Arthur Richardson, who was a corporal in The Gordon Highlanders of the British Army, began passing himself off as the recipient of the Victoria Cross. He attended official functions as Victoria Cross recipient and was even buried with military honours. 

Ironically, the real Arthur Richardson, VC was discovered marching in the funeral cortège of his imposter. As a result, Richardson rose to a certain prominence in his late middle age. 

Sergeant Major Arthur Herbert Lindsay Richardson of the NWMP died on December 15, 1932 and was buried in The Cathedral Church of Christ Cemetery, Liverpool, England.

1905 – Honour Roll Number 28

#4152 Cst. Joseph Russell age 24 drowned in an inland lake near Cape Fullerton, Hudson Bay.

Constable Russell and #4173 Cst Andrew Strothhert decided to go canoeing among ice floes at Cape Fullerton NWT. While paddling Constable Russell stood up and upset the canoe plunging both members into the frigid water. Both men were poor swimmers attempting to swim to shore using their paddles for buoyancy. Local native boys on shore witnessed Constable Russell struggling and then slip below the surface. Constable Strothhert managed to make it to shore alive and went for assistance. Russell’s body was retrieved three hours later by the detachment commander #869 Sgt Murray Hayne.

1932 – Honour Roll Number 52.

#6177 Corporal Leonard Victor Ralls age 44 was killed by escaping thieves, whom he was trying to intercept, near Foam Lake, Saskatchewan.

Corporal Ralls was stationed at the Foam Lake Detachment in Saskatchewan when he was advised that police from a neighboring detachment were pursuing a car of theft suspects. As Corporal Ralls attempted to intercept the suspect vehicle, he was shot multiple times. He was rushed to the local doctor’s office but died from his wounds.

Two of the three suspects were later captured and the third took his own life in a shootout with police after he had been wounded. One of the captured criminals was later found guilty and hanged for the murder of Corporal Ralls. The accomplice was sentenced to a 15-year term for manslaughter.

Leonard Victor Ralls joined the RCMP on September 9, 1914 and served for 18 years until his death. He was buried at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Prince Albert Saskatchewan.

1975 – Former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker presents #17711 Sergeant Warren K. Hoover of the Nipawin, Saskatchewan Detachment with his long service medal.

1996 – Honour Roll Number 241

#43040 Constable Leo Tyler Francis, age 32 died as a result of complications that arose out of an accident at the Pioneer Days Festival in Oromocto, New Brunswick.

He was getting items out of the trunk of his police car when a motorhome struck him and crushed him between the vehicles.

A member of the Tobique First Nation he was buried with full honours at Saint Ann Catholic Cemetery in Tobique, NB.

 In his memory the Crime Prevention Association of New Brunswick and the Department of Public Safety created the Tyler Francis Leadership Award. The award is given annually to students in New Brunswick who best demonstrate leadership and promote healthy lifestyles.

July 4

1966 – Constables #21675 Larry Robert Ivison and #21756 H. Barry McCombe were dispatched to a complaint of shots fired in an apartment in Prince Rupert, BC. When the members entered the building a man pointing a .303 rifle at them confronted them. Constable Ivison calmly talked to the gunman and convinced him to put down the rifle. When they examined the gun they found a live round in the chamber, two more bullets in the clip. After they took the man into custody they discovered that he had murdered a man shortly before their arrival. For his actions Constable Ivison was awarded the Commissioners Commendation.

1973 – Queen Elizabeth II the Honorary Commissioner of the RCMP visits Depot Division in honour of the RCMP 100th anniversary and presents the Force with a new Guidon. The first RCMP Guidon was presented to #O.240 Commissioner Sir James MacBrien by Lord Bessborough at a special ceremony at Depot where it was consecrated on April 13, 1935.

A guidon is a military standard or flag known as regimental colours. Historically, regimental colours were a rallying point of a unit in battle and served to express regimental honour, pride and identity.

Different segments of the military have Regimental flags which are referred to under different names and have different shapes depending on the type of military unit. In the infantry flags are rectangular and are called infantry colours, whereas regiments of horse (heavy cavalry) are square and called standards. Dragoon units use the term guidons and are smaller in size and are swallow tailed.

The word guidon comes from Old French “guyd homme”, a leader of horse, who carried the regiment’s flag. The names of battles and military campaigns that the regiment participated in are emblazoned upon it and is a testimonial to the deeds of that regiment.

In the world of military regiments the RCMP is unique in that it is a police agency not a military regiment. But because of its origin, history, customs and traditions, King George V designated the RCMP a dragoon and authorized its regimental colour, the guidon. The customs and traditions of regimental colours are unique in that it is not accorded the distinction of a colour nor carried or displayed on parade until it has been consecrated in a religious service. When the colour is replaced or retired, it is then “laid up”, in a church or chapel, after a special religious service.

When the Guidon is paraded it is only paraded by itself or with other military colours. The Gudion may not be paraded with other flags or ensigns.

The limited occasions when the Guidon may be paraded include:

• the Sovereign’s birthday;
• at the funeral of a dignitary entitled to a 100 member guard of honour;
• at a change of command ceremony for a new commissioner;
• at a ceremonial commissioner’s inspection parade
• at an RCMP memorial church service and parade honouring members            who have died in the line of duty
• at other mounted/dismounted ceremonial parades as approved by the            Commissioner.

The Guidon’s Design

The Guidon is a “dove tailed” red flag, trimmed in gold fringe. The current badge of the RCMP is emblazoned upon its centre. In the upper left hand corner is the Royal Cipher and the other three corners have the initials (RCMP) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and its predecessor organizations the (NWMP) North-West Mounted Police and the (RNWMP) Royal Northwest Mounted Police.

Placed on either side of and below the badge are the honours for the five theatres of military operations in which Mounted Police members have served and died in battle. They include; The Northwest Canada Rebellion in 1885, the Boer War in South Africa 1900-2, France and Flanders in WW1, the Russian Revolution in Siberia 1918-19, and Europe in WW2, 1939-45.

1982 – At 8:30 am #30691 Constable Bruce Lyle Barkley MB responded to a house fire at Clairmont Alberta. There he learned that all of the occupants of the house had escaped except for 17-year-old Karla Aasen who was trapped and unconscious in her second floor bedroom. When the fire occurred her brother John and neighbour Donald Lloyd had put a ladder up to her room and smashed out the window and sprayed the room with a garden hose in an attempt to fight the flames. Both men had managed to pull Karla to the window but were overcome with smoke inhalation themselves and were calling for help. Complicating the situation was the fact that the fire had been caused by an electric fan that had melted and the electrical current was passing through the hose water and electrically charging the ladder.

Despite the risk Constable Barkley climbed the ladder while constantly being shocked by the electrical current and succeeded in grabbing hold of Karla’s badly burned body and carrying her down to safety. She was rushed to hospital with third degree burns to 80% of her body and she survived but her left hand had to be amputated. Constable Barkley, John Aasen and Donald Lloyd were recognized for saving the life of Karla Aasen by being awarded the Bronze Medal for Bravery from the Royal Canadian Humane Society and on September 20, 1985 they were awarded the Medal of Bravery.

July 3

1977 – The M.G. Griffiths Certificate of The Royal Life Saving Society was awarded to #23839 Corporal Peter Howes. While sick in bed Peter Howes was alerted by a neighbour requesting help in rescuing a child who had drowned in a swimming pool at their home in Regina Saskatchewan. He rushed to the scene and located the youth on the bottom of the pool and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for nearly ten minutes reviving him. Unfortunately for Howes the effort resulted in him getting pneumonia.

1991 – In recognition of over 20 years of exemplary work in the field of arson investigation, The Insurance Crime Prevention Bureau awarded #23001 Staff Sergeant Jim W. Somers with the Douglas W. Hiron Memorial Award. Somers was the first member of the RCMP to receive this award.

1998 – Canada Post releases two new 45-cent stamps in honour of the 125th Anniversary of the RCMP. One stamp features a male member wearing the uniform of the NWMP while the second features a female in the present day uniform with a Force with helicopter and computer operator.

July 2

1885 – Big Bear “Mistahimaskwa” accompanied by his son, “Horse Child,” and a councillor, “All And a Half,” surrender to the North-West Mounted Police at Fort Carlton and is taken into custody by #773 Sergeant William Smart, #1119 Frederick Nicholls, #766 Daniel Sullivan and #887 Warren Kerr. Mistahimaskwa was born around 1825 near Jackfish Lake, north of present-day North Battleford.

In the late 1870’s he became the leading chief of the Prairie River People and headed a camp of 65 lodges (approximately 520 people). His influence rose steadily in the following years, reaching its height in the early 1880s. He was the first major chief on the prairies to refuse to sign a treaty with the government until destitution and starvation in 1882 compels him to finally sign on to Treaty Six. Throughout the 1870s he attempted to create a political confederation of Indian bands capable of forcing concessions from the government. But the government’s refusal to negotiate with him caused him to lose influence over the band’s warrior society during the winter of 1884. The loss of influence led to his son Ayimisis and the war chief, Kapapamahchakwew (Wandering Spirit) attacking a NWMP patrol at Duck Lake and killing nine people. On April 14,1885 Kapapamahchakwew moved to attack Fort Pitt and Mistahimaskwa ever the peacemaker successfully negotiated the surrender of the fort’s 44 civilian inhabitants and the police evacuation. After surrendering to police at Fort Carlton he was brought to trial on the charge of treason-felony in Regina on 11 September 1885.

After a 15-minute deliberation he was found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Stony Mountain Penitentiary. He was released in February 1887 because of poor health, and settled on the Poundmaker reserve where he died on 17 January 1888.

1890 – #O.68 Inspector Joseph V. Begin and a squad of men arrive in York Factory District of Keewatin to establish a detachment. Shortly thereafter the Inspector dispatches men on the first NWMP patrol into the far north and Hudson Bay. Inspector Begin and his men had traveled to York Factory from Winnipeg and patrolled the shores of Lake Winnipeg aboard the first NWMP vessel “Keewatin” during which they established a detachment at Norway House. The “Keewatin” later capsized in a storm killing two members. (See September 8, 1890).

July 1

1881 – Inspector Francis Dickens, the son of the famous author Charles Dickens made a name for himself when, accompanied by #21 Sergeant Frank Spicer and #323 Constable George Callaghan went to the Blackfoot Reserve and in the presence of a large hostile force of Indians recovered fourteen stolen horses.

1929 – RCMP members greet aviator “Punch” Dickins as he becomes the first to fly into Aklavik NWT. Flying in his Fokker Super Universal he starts the first regular flight service into the north. G-CASK was Dickens aircraft that he flew into Aklavik in 1929 where dad photographed it. It was also flown in later years by Walter Gilbert who assisted Lindbergh on his flight to the orient in 1931 by taxiing ‘SK in front the Sirius to make waves to assist his take off from Aklavik.

1935 – The Regina City Police and members of the RCMP are ordered by Ottawa to arrest leaders of the “On To Ottawa Trek” They wade into the large crowd at a rally at the Regina Exhibition Grounds and a riot breaks out In the melee one policeman killed, and several police officers and rioters are injured. Among the injured police officers is #11860 Constable Walter MacDonald who was hit in the face leaving him with permanent injuries and disfigurement thereby ending his career in the Mounted Police.

1954 – Meritorious Certificates from the Most Venerable Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem are awarded to Constables #18014/ O.818 Mike Dwernichuk and #17686 F.C. Rankine for saving the lives of two participants of a parade in Merritt, BC. During the parade Mr. Tessier and William Pooley’s costumes caught fire and the two officers acted quickly to put the flames out.

1960 – Treaty and registered aboriginal Canadians are given the right to vote.

1972 – The Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) was created. CPIC is a computerized police information system designed to provide police forces throughout Canada with immediate information on crimes and criminals. It was credited with being the most important innovation in combating crime since the introduction of fingerprinting.

2000 – On this day the RCMP vessel “Nadon” renamed St. Roch II, captained by #37336/ O.2623 Sergeant Kenneth Burton sets out on a historic voyage to circumnavigate North America. The expedition is part of the RCMP 125th anniversary celebrations and is in honour of the historic voyages of the RCMP vessel “St. Roch”.

The original vessel skippered by famous arctic explorer Inspector Henry Larsen made history between 1928 and 1944, when it became the first ship to travel both directions through the Northwest Passage and the first to circumnavigate North America. Making several stops along the way to spread good will and raise funds for the restoration of the original “St. Roch” at the Maritime Museum in Vancouver. The Nadon’s journey was completed on December 15, 2000, after only six months and 14 days having travelled 24,000 nautical miles.

June 30

1912 – A tornado roars through the downtown core of Regina Saskatchewan. The five-minute rampage kills 28 people, damaging or destroying several buildings including three churches, the new Carnegie Library. Over 2,500 people are left homeless.

1992 – As part of Canada’s 125th anniversary celebrations, Queen Elizabeth II unveils a new statue on Parliament Hill depicting Her Majesty riding on the horse “Centennial” that was presented to Her Majesty on her visit to Depot Division on July 4, 1973 as a gift from the RCMP by then Commissioner W. L. Higgitt. The statue was created by British Columbia sculptor Jack Harman and took two years to complete and is the only equestrian monument to the Queen in the entire Commonwealth. “Centennial” was the grandson of the famous racing horse “Man O’ War”. “Centennial” was actually chosen by the Queen during a visit to the stables at “N” Division.

1993 – Canada Post releases a new series of 43¢ Postage Stamps commemorating famous Canadian Parks. Included in the series are two stamps that have a significant historical connection to the RCMP; Herschel Island Park, in Yukon and Cypress Hills Park in Saskatchewan. American whalers initially used Herschel Island as a wintering station from 1890. Over concerns of national sovereignty the RNWMP established a detachment on the island and maintained a presence there until the detachment was closed in 1964. The Cypress Hills is and area steeped in history, and once was the hunting grounds of Cree and Metis. The massacre of local Indians by American whisky traders led to the creation of the North West Mounted Police and was the location of the NWMP’s Fort’s Whoop-up and Walsh.

June 29

1935 – After Doukhobor protesters threw rocks at the policemen who were attempting to prevent members of the radical Russian sect from disrobing during their celebration of their exile from Russia in 1895. #12034 Constable Jack Love had to be transported to hospital in Prince Albert Saskatchewan by aircraft after he was severely injured when hit in the head with a large rock.

1972 – The Supreme Court of Canada rules that motorists can seek legal counsel before taking breath tests in impaired driving investigations.

1986 – Honour Roll Number 184.

#36152 Constable Scott Gordon Berry age 27 was killed when he came in contact with a live power line near Clandonald, Alberta.

At 4:40 am Constable Berry was dispatched to a serious motor vehicle accident three miles south of Clandonald, Alberta. Upon his arrival he discovered that a pick-up truck had smashed into a power pole and a 14,400-volt power line was lying on top of the truck and was suspended waist high across the highway.

He noted that a young woman, Christine Yaceko, had been electrocuted after she tried to assist the three injured individuals in the vehicle. Yaceko was lying in the ditch beyond the crashed vehicle and was still alive but was injured and in shock. Constable Berry decided to try and to assist her, so he crouched down to go under the hydro wire hanging across the road, but he accidentally brushed against the live power line.

The first electrical jolt hit him so hard that he was thrown back against the live wire and set off a series of electrical shocks to his body that left him stunned and barely breathing. He was rushed to the Vermilion Health Centre by ambulance but died enroute.

Constable Berry joined the RCMP on July 21,1980 and was married. He was buried at the Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens in his hometown of Nanaimo, British Columbia.

1992 – Commendation is awarded to #40241 Cst. Brian Arcand for saving the life of a two-year-old child caught in the mechanism of a security gate at Ottawa air show.

June 28

1915 – #5098 Constable George Akrigg is awarded $25 from the Fine Fund because of his good work and ability to interpret German, during enemy alien investigations.

1925 – #4125 / O.199 Inspector George Fletcher lost all his personal effects when the detachment at Fort Smith, NWT burned to the ground.

1925 – Honour Roll Number 47.

#9818 Cst Leo Francis Cox age 33 drowned when his canoe struck a log near La Sarre, Quebec.

After completing his investigation in Abitibi Quebec, Constable Cox was invited to travel back to La Sarre aboard a large motor launch owned by the Abitibi Pulp and Paper Company. When the vessel was one mile from La Sarre it was forced to stop because the boat was unable to pass under a bridge because the water level in the river had risen too high. All of the passengers got off the vessel and began to walk the rest of the way to the town. Instead of walking, Cox decided to join three others in a canoe that had been tied to the larger vessel and paddle the rest of the way. As they were paddling the canoe they struck a sunken log with such force that all four of them were thrown into water. Only one person made it to shore alive. When Constable Cox saw that Mrs. Gauthier was in trouble he swam over to assist her but the two of them were pulled under water and they drowned. The following day RCMP members conducted a dragging operation in the area and recovered the bodies’ of the three drowning victims. His remains were transported to Ottawa where his wife and three children attended his regimental funeral.

1933 – Commissioner MacBrien established the RCMP Museum at Depot Division.

1958 – #19474 Kenneth Coburn receives a Commendation for disarming a Doukhobor bomb that is left in a hotel at Vernon, BC.

1963 – Responding to a burglar alarm at 03:15 am at the St Joseph Co-op in Altona, Manitoba, #15970 Cpl. John Ewashko and #20777 Constable Ralph Wride called the neighboring detachment for backup as they raced to the scene. Upon their arrival at the scene they saw a man standing in the shadow of the nearby ice rink and ordered him to stay where he was.

Instead the man yelled at them, ordering them to stay back and then he shot at them with a small caliber handgun. The policemen returned fire and during the gun battle the officers made their way back to their patrol car and radioed for help. Then the suspect fled the scene in a dark colored car and the policemen followed in pursuit while the suspects continued to shoot at them. The chase continued towards the town of Letellier where the criminals encountered a roadblock and were ordered out of the vehicle at gunpoint. The two American criminals; William Haldane and Ed Welsh were arrested and Welsh was treated for a bullet wound he received in the gun battle.

When the policemen searched the suspect vehicle they found several loaded guns, explosives, extra license plates and survival gear. When they returned to the scene of the crime they discovered that the criminals had moved a 400-pound safe to the rear of the building and had drilled a hole in it so they could blast it open.

The two accused were charged with 19 criminal offences and received sentences of seven years for shooting at the police and five years for the break, enter and theft. On November 30, 1963 Cpl. John Ewashko and Constable Ralph Wride bravery and perseverance was recognized when they were awarded Commissioners Commendations.

1985 – Canada Post releases two new 34-cent postage stamps depicting two historical NWMP forts; Fort Whoopup and Fort Walsh.

1996 – The new Commissioner Class high-speed catamaran Patrol Vessel “Inkster” is commissioned. The 72-foot/19.75 meter 36 knot aluminum vessel has a full time crew of four, and is a floating detachment posted out of Prince Rupert BC. The new vessel (hull number 256) was built by Allied Shipbuilders of North Vancouver, BC and named in honour of former Commissioner Norman Inkster.

2005 – The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announces that the first twenty-two regular members and one civilian member will be invested into the recently created “Order of Merit of Police Forces”. This Order within the Canadian Honour System is equivalent to the Order of Military Merit.

June 27

1915 – #5098 Constable George Akrigg is awarded $25 from the Fine Fund because of his good work and ability to interpret German, during enemy alien investigations.

1925 – #4125 / O.199 Inspector George Fletcher lost all his personal effects when the detachment at Fort Smith, NWT burned to the ground.

1990 – History was made in the NorthWest Territories when #36497 Corporal Patrica Anne Harrish assumed command of Arviat Detachment, thereby becoming the first woman to become a Detachment commander in the NWT.

1995 – After over 120 years of businesses using the image, likeness and symbols of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for commercial purposes without paying royalties an exclusive marketing license is contracted to the Walt Disney Canada Company for five years.

From then on copyright infringement issues are enforced and royalties are paid to the RCMP and used for charitable purposes. At the end of the contract the RCMP established its own Intellectual Property Office to manage the RCMPs commercial image, and deal with issues related to copyright, trademarks and patents related to RCMP technology.

June 26

1939 – The Commissioners Commendation was awarded to #12179/ O.473 Robert C. Butt as master of the RCMP Patrol Vessel “Acadian” for rescuing two men from their broken down boat during a storm. The Acadian was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1939 and renamed HMCS Interceptor and was decommissioned after WW2.

Robert Butt joined the RCMP in 1932 and was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy On October 1st, 1939. During his service in the Navy he received a Naval Commendation for a rescue at sea. At the end of WWII he transferred back to the RCMP on September 27th, 1945 and served until he retired as an Inspector in 1970.

1970 – Parliament revises Canada Elections Act and lowers the voting age in federal elections from 21 to 18. Now young Mounties who sign up at age 18 and have been serving their country and enforcing the law can vote.

1988 – Sixty years after he transferred out of Old Crow, the Yukon Territories most northerly posting, retired Mountie #8716 Arthur B. Thornthwaite returned for a visit. He first enlisted in the RNWMP on September 4, 1919 having immigrated to Canada in 1911.

He helped build the original detachment barracks in 1926 when the community moved there from Rampart House because of an outbreak of smallpox. Thornthwaite’s career in the far north took him on many adventures spending most of his time on snowshoes and traveling by dog sled investigating illegal trapping, smuggling and the occasional murder. In 1932 he participated in the manhunt for the Mad Trapper of Rat River. (See January 1932) On his visit to Old Crow he actually found people who remembered him!

1990 – Justice Minister Kim Campbell introduces gun control legislation banning automatic assault weapons. The new legislation imposes a five-year jail term to anyone convicted of converting a weapon to automatic fire.

June 25

1938 – Commendation issued to #11037 Alfred Chad for his excellent investigation of a motor vehicle accident in Manitoba.

1982 – The Medal of Bravery was awarded to #34920 Constable Mark Frederick Oliver for his role in saving two lives on this day in 1982.

Constable Oliver and BC residents; Norman James Lesage, Norman Stanley Walker, Peter Marochi and Peter Robinson of the Manning Park Emergency Services participated in a four hour ordeal rescuing a man and a woman in danger of drowning in the Similkameen River near Princeton BC.

The driver of a motorized camper lost control of his vehicle and rolled down the embankment and landed on its wheels in the raging river near Manning Park. Though injured, the driver and his wife managed to pull themselves up onto the roof of the vehicle and wait for help. Cst. Oliver was the first to arrive on the scene followed by Park Rangers Marochi and Robinson who secured a rope from shore to the vehicle, and then waded chest-deep through the icy, swift-flowing waters, to render immediate assistance to the stricken couple. Cst. Oliver tried to use a rubber raft to make two separate rescue attempts, but the force of the current overturned the raft throwing him into the treacherous river. After the failed attempt with the life raft the rescuers convinced the driver to try and pull himself to shore using the secured line. As he attempted to do so, Peter Marochi entered the water to assist the man, but the current and the cold water had sapped the driver’s strength, so he returned to the roof of the vehicle.

Peter Robinson then entered the water and after reaching the vehicle assisted the man in a second attempt to make it to shore. As they pulled their way along the rope, the force of the water pulled Robinson under the surface several times, nearly causing him to lose his grip each time. When they were near shore Cst. Oliver helped both men to safety. Then Robinson returned to the camper to assist the woman but by then was in a state of shock and couldn’t be rescued in the same manner.

Shortly thereafter a Mr. Norman James Lesage, who had landed his helicopter nearby volunteered to try and airlift the woman from the river even though he was untrained in canyon rescue techniques. Mr. Norman Stanley Walker, an onlooker in the crowd who was experienced in helicopter rescue operations, came forward and volunteered to assist the pilot.

After surveying the scene from the air, Walker then took a position on the ground and guided the helicopter approach into the ravine. Then Rangers Marochi and Robinson secured a rescue collar on the woman while the helicopter hovered above. Relying on hand signals from Walker, the helicopter lifted her from the roof of the vehicle and carried her to a waiting ambulance, and then returned to recover the two park staff rescuers.

1982 – Former Soviet Embassy cipher clerk Igor Gouzenko died this day having lived out his life under a new identity in the witness protection program. On Sept. 5, 1945 Gouzenko defected to Canada taking with him documents and proof concerning Soviet espionage activities in Canada. His cooperation and testimony lead to several arrests and criminal convictions for espionage.

1989 – #29816 Sergeant R.J. Vardy responded to a disturbance complaint at a local church vicarage in Wabasca, Alberta. When he arrived he found an intoxicated man wielding a gun and at great risk to himself successfully disarmed the gunman and took him into custody.  In recognition of his actions he was awarded the Commissioners Commendation for Bravery.

1995 – The United States Army Meritorious Achievement Medal was awarded to #31553 Sergeant Robert LeMay for his participation in the Haitian election process. His dedication to duty was also recognized by the United Nations, which awarded UNMIH Certificate and Medal. He joined the RCMP in 1971 and died while serving in 1997.

1995 – Joseph Philip Robert Murray becomes the eighteenth Commissioner replacing Norman D. Inkster. During his term in office he implemented many community oriented programs and policies such as establishing town hall meetings to improve communication between the RCMP and local communities. In 1997 he ended the RCMPs responsibility for airport security, thereby requiring local police agencies and private security to provide it. He adopted and instituted the Forces Mission, Vision, and Values Statement, which became a pillar in the management structure of the RCMP. He served until his retirement on September 1 2000, and was followed as Commissioner by Giuliano (Zack) Zaccardelli.

1997 – Queen Elizabeth II admitted #26090 Sergeant Robert Humes into The Royal Victorian Order by presenting him with the Royal Victorian Medal in recognition for his coordination of the Royal visit to Newfoundland in 1997.

The Royal Victorian Order was established by Queen Victoria on April 21, 1896, as a reward for extraordinary, important or personal services performed for the Sovereign or the Royal Family. Robert Humes joined the RCMP in 1967 and retired as a Sergeant in 2003.

June 24

1904 – King Edward VII confers the right to use the prefix ‘Royal’ on the North-West Mounted Police, in recognition of 30 years of loyal service. The first member hired as a member of the RNWMP was #4232 Constable Horace Wakefield who was engaged on July 2, 1904.

1927 – The Province of Quebec awarded a Bravery Medal to #7809 Constable Stanley Wiseman for his actions in stopping a runaway horse team during the Confederation Jubilee parade in Montreal, thereby preventing serious injury to the crowd who were watching the parade.

1967 – Constables #20898 Donald Baskier and # 23055 John Higgins received commendations for the arrest of an armed man in Vanderhoof, BC.

Earlier in the evening they had arrested a woman for being intoxicated. Shortly thereafter her common-law husband Joe Haggarty, armed with a rifle stormed into the detachment demanding her release. While Cst. Higgins distracted him, Baskier rushed the subject and the two members were successful in disarming him and promptly placed him in cells where he could be near his wife.

1973 – Dedication ceremonies were conducted for a newly donated stained glass window for the RCMP Chapel at Depot Division in Regina. The widow based on a biblical theme was donated by retired Assistant Commissioner D.O. Forrest, in memory of his wife, Mrs. Ethel Louise Forrest and was dedicated to the wives of all members of the Force. The Honorary Chaplain to the Force, the Most Reverend G.F.C. Jackson, Archbishop of Qu’Appelle, performed the dedication ceremony. 

The window design was taken from the Book of Ruth, Chapter 1, verses 16 and 17.