Tribute – Reg.#14681 – S/Sgt. Jim Mumford

On December 7, 2015, retired Staff Sergeant ‘Jim’ George Edward Mumford passed away in White Rock, BC at the age of 97. A Veteran of both the RCMP and the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II.

Jim was born on October 1, 1918 in Cambridge Ontario.

On August 28, 1940, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and spent time overseas as an Airframe Mechanic.

Photograph of Jim Mumford (left) and another unknown RCAF member (Source of photo – Miles Mumford).

Photograph of Jim Mumford in the Royal Canadian Air Force (Source of photo – Miles Mumford).

Photograph of Jim Mumford (left) in the Royal Canadian Air Force (Source of photo – Miles Mumford).

With the end of the war, Jim left the RCAF on August 21, 1945 and would later join the Force on April , 1946.

After the war, Jim took flying lessons in Kitchener, which each lesson was a week’s pay so he didn’t continue too far.  Jim’s instructor was Helen Marcelle Harrison-Bristol.  You can check out details on Helen here.

Photograph of Jim Mumford’s wedding photograph. Other member in the photographs was that of Sid Emmerson. (Source of photo – Miles Mumford).

Jim thought very highly of her, and he and his wife went to see her in a rest home in Blaine, Washington, which must have been close to the time of her death, as she had alzheimer’s or dementia, and they were unable to visit.

After completing his RCMP basic training, Jim was posted to Regina Beach and then Delisle Detachment.

A few years later, Jim was transferred to Ottawa where he was on security detail doing security screening clearances for a year.  They told Jim if he stayed in Ottawa, he would eventually get a Commission as nobody wanted to stay in Ottawa.

Jim heard good things about the North so he applied  and transferred to Whitehorse for 3 years.

After his term in the North, Jim was transferred to Colwood Detachment for 1 years and he outlined that their office, at the time, was at the Royal Roads complex.

Photograph of Jim Mumford (Source of photo – Miles Mumford).

His next transfer was to Lytton Detachment for 3 years then to Cloverdale Detachment in 1958.  It was at Cloverdale detachment that I (Keith Shotbolt) met Jim.  He was one of the Corporals on General Duties.

In off-time, Jim was involved in the Scouting movement  in the Hazelmere area of Surrey for several years.  In addition, he was a long standing member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

While at the Cloverdale detachment, he was promoted to Sergeant and then to Staff Sergeant.  On September 15, 1970 while performing Administrative Duties, Jim retired from the Force.

In retirement, Jim worked at Canadian Pacific Airlines for 4 to 5 months but was only doing the evening and night shifts.  So, he quite at the first opportunity of another job – the Bank of Canada Security in Vancouver where Jim worked for the next 11 years before completely retiring.

According to Jim’s son Miles Mumford, “Jim never had a sick day during his career in the Force and in retirement.”

Jim Mumford will be missed by family and friends.

Photograph of  #14681 Constable Jim Mumford (Source of photo – Miles Mumford).