t:mm MILITARY
MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES
197
THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE 1873-1987
209
D\\IJ) ROSS
ROBI:\: .\l.\Y
RIUL\RD 11001\:.
EDITOR: MARTIN WINDROW
Emm MIUTA"Y
MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES
197
THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE 1873-1987 Text by DAVID ROSS MILITARY CURATOR, PARKS CANADA
and ROBIN MAY Colour plates by RICHARD HOOK
s
Published in 19S5 b) Osprey Publishing Ltd 59 Grosvenor StrCCI, London W I X gD.\ _ Copyright 1988 O"pre) Publishin~ Ltd Reprinted 1988, 1992 .\11 righLS rcsc.... ed. T\parl rrom an)' rair dealing ror lhe
purpose of pri\ate study, research. criticism or rc.ic\\, as permillcd under thc CoP) righl Designs and I~a(ents .\ct, 1988, 110 part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a rctrie\al sy~telll, or lransmiued in any fonn or by any means, electronic, elcctrical, chemical, lIlechanical, optical, pholocopyin~, rc<:ording orOlhc....\·isc. wilhout Ihe prior permission or lhe copyright O\\l1er. Enquirit'1i should be addressed (0 the Publishers.
Bnltjn Library Cataloguing
In
Dedication This book is dedicated to the memory or all the ~Iembcrs ofthc Force \\ho ha\c died in the performance of their duty in peace and \\ar.
PublitatlOn Data
Ross, David Royal Canadian ~Iount(.-d Police. I Men-at-arms series; 1971. I. Royal Canadian ~IOllntcd Polict> I. Title 11. May, Rahill III. Series
363.2'0971
AcknowledgeDl.ents This book relics heavily on the research and published work of the RC~IP Historian, Dr. S. W. HOTTaIl, to \\hOlll sincere thanks are due. The assislance or the DirectOr of the RC~1 P Centennial ~Iuseum, Mr. ~Ialcom Wake has been im-aluabl(' over many years. The help and support or Parks Canada; the Glenbo\\ ,\luseum; Hrig.Gen. J. L. Summers. C\I.\l. \Ie, co Rel'd, ~Ir. H. ~l. Garrett and Slaff Sgl. David Church is gratefully acknowlcd'J:ed, as is our debl to the authors of all the books listed in the bibliogrnph).
HVSl57
Filmsct in Creat Ilritain Primed through llookbuildcrs Lid, lIong Kong
Artist's Note Readers may care to note th,u the original pailllings rrom which lhe colour plates in this book \\ere prepared arc availablc for pri\-atc sale. All reproduction cop}right \\ hatsocvcr is retainL'(1 by the publisher. All enquiries should be addrcssed to: Scorpio Gallery 50 High Street, Battlc, Sussex TN33 ol~N The publishers regret that they can enlC!" illlo no correspondence upon this nlaller.
Tile Royal Canadian Mot/flted Polite 1873-1987
111f rod"eti01/ The Royal Canadian ;\IOllllled Police is the national police force ofeanada; Canada is a federal Slate, howc\"cr, and certain police powers are comrolled by the provinces and the municipalities. Canada is divided into two territories under ,h..,. direct jurisdiction of the federal gon'rnmcnt, and ten provinces each with its own separate elected legislature, premier and cabinet. Law enforcement in each province is the responsibility of the provincial AtlOnlC) GeJleral. :\tOSt provinces at one time or another have had their own provincial police forces; today ani) the largest. Quebec and Ontario, recruit and administer their 0\\ n forces. The other provinces contraci with the RC:\IP (0 provide police services, under the direction of their Auorney Generals. I n addition, all major cities and many smaller to\\ ns have their own municipal police forces. The twO territories the Yukon and the Nonh.Wesl Territories arc policed by the RC:-'IP under federal jurisdiction. This is a simplified explanation ofa very complex web of relationships and legal responsibilities. There arc numerous exceptions, anomalies and variations within this general picture, but it does illustrate the strong Canadian desire to have localised ralber than cClllral control of law enforcement. I t is obvious that this apparently cumbersome sptem would not work without a great measure of goodwill and close co·operation between law enforcement agencies throughout the country, nor would it be accepted without nUlllcrous legislated checks on the arbitrary uS(' of police powers by indi\'idual policemen or their political masters. The Commissioner of the RC~1 P, who is always a career officer of the Force, might be thought to hold a po!>ition of great po\\er as the head of the national police force. Howe\'er, he is a completely
Capt. (tocat LI.Cot.) Geo~e ArChur French, CMG, Royal Anillery, Conun.ililiioner or Ihe Norlh Welil Mounted Police .87] J6, wearin! rull dre.. IRl,",rial Army SCaff cunic.•'rench had sen'ed in Canada l86:r 66 wilh Lhe BriLilih garrison, and a5 Inlipt!clor or Arlill .. ry, Canadian Mititia, ,870 73. His adRlini... lraliv.. and logisticatlikill. were. n".jor raCIOr in th .. liUCCI"U or Lhe 'March West' in ,8704; but dashell with hill poliLica) n,alil ..rIi in Onawa led 10 hill enrorced re,.i"nation in .8']6. He reliuml'd hili mititary career, serving in Enlltand, Au"trali.a and India bc!rore r ..tiring in 190:1 . . l\taj.Gen. Sir Arlhur French. (ReMI')
non·poli tical figure, hig-hly respected prof('ssionally, reporting- to the fedcral Solicitor General, a rdatively junior cabinct miniSH'r. For a number of years no\\! the term of appointment of Ihe CommissiOlwr has be('n 5<'1 OIL three years. Although the :-'101111led Police has many mililary-slyle traditions and until 19oo even possessed <;()mc ralher inadC
3
counter-intelligence agency, a CUllction it originally known as ;J\.Icmbcrs', and many specialist support took over in 1920. services arc pmvided by 'Civilian l\lembers' and Founded in 1873 as the North West ~IOLlnted Cederal public servants. Today the RCl\IP has Poljce (2"W~IP, the Force became Ihe Royal 18,000 members and a budget oC more (han $1 North West ~Iountcd Police R~W~IP) in 1904 billion with which to enCorce Cederal laws covering and lhe Ro)al Canadian ~ lounted Police RCj\1 p) such areas as drug enCorcement, the criminal code, in 1920. In keeping wilh lhe bilingual nature oC economic crime tax evasion, counterCeiting, comCanada's Cederal government services it is today the puter crime etc. , import and export regulations, RO)'al Canadian ~lou1Hed Police, Gendarmerie illegal immigralion, and evcn the migratory birds Royale du Canada RC~IP CRC . cOIl\'cntion, in addition to a strong emphasis on All ranks Crom conunis:.ioner to constable are prcventivc policing through communit) cooperation, electronic data processing security, and Earli"". Imo..·.. pholosraph oCth.. Nor.h Wetit Moun.ed PoLic"'_ protection oC government and Coreign embassy pro....bl)· la"",,, i.. 1814. All ran"~ ...,...r t.b", Karl",. Norfolk jad''''1 .. upplied Crom Milili....10..,... Officerll had a ~old personnel and propen). The RC~I P also operates Aunria.. knol on th.. allT.nd, in <:om moo ...il.h HD;Or l'iCOs,. «old ba.od onl.h.. pilU>Oll cap; olh,... ...rdui had ..·hit'" cap-bands. Corensic laboratories, the national fingerprint T......-rs had doubl .......il.. .,..m I'lrip"''' n", P"«prft', ri~ht., in\"Cntof) and the C.'Uladian I)olice College. Thc ...... _ .. disc:arditd. Sealed i. Sub.lnsp. John Fft'ncll, brother oC.h", COmrn;l'l'io r, .. ilIitd.1 &uoeh", in .fl8S; ""'hind hi..... Force has more than 6,000 transport vchicles. ..-it.h 5id"'...·hill.."' ill Sub-Ins-p. franci.. Dic.."...., ~ .. or t.b.. no.·.. list Ch.arles Dic....... (RC.\lP) including 29 aircraft, a large ,-ariel) oC boatS and
I
over 50 horses for the ~Iusical Ride and ceremonial escorts. The Force operates its own training facility at the Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan, which trains near!) 300 recruits a )"ar as well as providing ad\'anced career courses, and one of the best specialised muscums in Canada, the RC~I P Centennial ~Iuscum. Competition for employment in the RC~I P is intense, and the Force is able to pick and choose from the best of those seeking a law enforcement career.
The Begillllillgs
Sllppr"~io.. of t..he iIlesal _h,skey lnode W1IlO a principat d"ly of I. he NWMP on il" arrival in doe W"I. '1"" If.sbJ·Spi~,'" _ler-colo"r ~kefch by A""i,.I... 1 S""K_D Richard BarrialllO" Newiu, libo_ Ibe dKlnu:l;oD of confisaued liq"or, ('.• 174Now in Ihe Gt.. nbow M"~,,m., Calpry, t..his pice...... from. N.. ~·ilt·s ~ .... Ichboo.. ;~ doe ... rli....1 reaord of Ih.. colour of l'ro~tp wtifonn., ..birt. lOre "udu of~h.e,b........::hes ea.., ru.. ~ Or lI ....y.
Since 1670, when Charl('S II granted a charter to the Governor and Compan) of Ad\"enturers of England trading into Hudson's Bay, western :"orth America including \\ hat arc no\\ the states of Washington and Oregon was ruled b) this Go\-emment ofRuperfs L.-wd and Ihe :\"orth·WCSI, commercial compan), better kno\\ n today as the and sought to negotiate with the federal governHudson's Ba) Company. The company's staple ment. The government, howen-r, treated the business was trading in furs obtain<..-d from the movement as rebellion, and dispatched the Red native people, so it \\ as naturally in the 'adven- River Expedition under the command of Col. turers" interests to retain the coumry as a great Garnet \\'olscle) to TC-establi~h Canadian comrol. game preserve. Attempts at settlement were large!) The expedition, \\ hich was a logistical masterpiece, discouraged, though the Red River colony grew up consisted of two specially raised militia baualions, on the site of the present city of Winnipeg, and the Qucbec and Ontario Rifles, and the 2nd Upper and Lower Fort Garry were constructed as Battalion of the 60th King's Royal Rifle Corps. The HBC headquarters and entrepOt facilities. rebellion collapsed almost without bloodshed, and With the establishment of the Dominion of Riel fled into exile in the United StatL'S. A Canada in 1867 the comrol of more than half the provisional battalion of mililia was left at Red River country by a commercial company became an to maintain order. A number of future Mounted awkward anomaly, and steps were taken to transfer Police officers (including James ~Iadeod, Sam to the Crown Rupert's Land, (named after Prince Steele, A. C. Irvine and Chark.'S Constantine) Rupert, cOllsin of Charles II). The transfer was served on the expedition and ill the provisional ineptly handkd by the government, who failed batwlion. To restore order in the districts surrounding Fort adequately to consult with the Indians, the tHe/is mixed bloods), the white traders and the hlllllers of Carry, a small mounted police force was organised the area, all of whom felt with much from the men of the provisional battalion and justification that their traditional and partly placed under command of Capt. Villiers of Ihe nomadic way oflife was being threatened. The lack Quebec Battalion of Rifles. This small group was of insight and srmp:Hhy shown by the federal the first police force to be organised in western ·go\'ernmcll1 formed al Confederation created Canada. No sooner had the ~Ianitoba crisis subsided general mistrust amon&"St the local inhabitants, and considerable unTCSt developed. \\hen, in 1871 and 1872, alarming reports of Louis Riel callle forward as the leader of the restlessness among the Indians of the North-West dissident -ltdiJ: he ('Stablished a Provisional came to the attelltion of the Canadian Parliament. 5
I-laving scen the uch'ance of S('tllcment in the sovereignty in the arca to forestall the possibility of weslern United States, the Indians were conccrned American expansion. By the international canabout tll(' fate oftlleir tl'aditionallancls in Canada. vClllions of the day, land could be claimed by An influx of Irad('1"i dealing in cheap whiskey was symbolically planting the flag, but thc claim had to also creating problems. There were reports of be made good by establishing a govcrnment baltles be{\\ccn ri\'al tribes of Indians, and between presence to administer juslicc, postal services, land Indians and traders. Indian fears ,... ere greally registry and customs pOSlS, ctc. increased by the cold-bloocled ma~sacre ofa band of The ~Iounted Police, partly by accident and Assiniboinc-s by white traders in the Cy press Hills in partly by dt'sign, ,.,.ere an ideal instrumelll to 18 73. consolidate Canada's claims. By forcing the retreat Peace and order wcre vilal if senlers were 10 be of the ,\ hiske} Irackrs and by prosecuting the atlracted to open up the \,'cstern Plains. II was also perpetrators of the Cypress I-fills )'Iass.'\cre, they of paramount importanc(' 10 cstablish Canadian e(fcctin..ly demonslrau.'d that Canadian la\\1> were to be observed and obeyed. Before long the )'Iountoo Policecollcclcd customs dutil-'S, ran a mail service and carried out ('conomically the duties of olher departments a boon to a government chronically short of rcvcnue. In e(fcct, lhe Police became the gO\'crnmclll of much of the Prairies. The dangers inherent in combining the roles of police,jud~e,juryand gaolcr wcre largely amided due to the pragmatic and palernalistic outlook of Ihe officers in command and the de
rimc l\linister, Sir John A. ),Iacdonald, backed up by two on-the-spot reporlS al his disposal. In lhe autumn of 1870 Lt. W. F. Buder (Ialer Gen. Sir William), an officer of the Brilish Army, had been commissioned to journey through lhe North Saskatchewan River area to determine the Situalion among the Indians and scttlers. Butlcrcotllpletcd a trip of more than 1,000 mik-s in the dead ofwintcl". Amongothcr thinb'S, he recommended the establishment of a 'well· equipped force from 100 10 150 men, one-lhird to be mounted', for the purpose of policing thc North'Vest. J.. m~
.'arquh.. rllO.. M .. cI..od, OIG, lit!cond Comn,i,",;oo..r of .he N~tp, ... undru. uniform, 1\.t.rch .8", d .. rk blue pillbo", ..carle' tunic ....d blue breeche... A ha ..dsome of considerabl.. ch.. rm, Madeod was widely ,rusted by ,be lodians, whO>le plighl in ,he f.. c.. ofadV1l..ci"g whi,e _,tle.-nen, he ,ried 10 a!leviale. A I.. wyer, hejoined ,he Mil;,ia in .856, ....d .....n·ed." Brigade Major on WolllCley'. Red Ri'-ervrpedi.ion of .870. Appoi...ed A. is'a..t Co.-n.-ninioner i... 874, h ....uccccded Fre..ch a. Cotn.-nission.. r in .8']6. lie rKigned in .880 due '0" cla..h with Ihe Prime Mini"t..r o'-er .he risin,g ......", of the Force, and hec:»..-ne SliJKndiary Ma,gislra,e of .be North WCfO' Terrilori..... (Topley pholOV1'Ph, Glenbow Mu_...n)
.-n....
6
[n 1872 Lt.CoI. P. Robcnson.Ross, Adjutant- Gunnery at Kingston, was appointed CommisGeneral ofdlC Canadian fl.'lilitia, was dispatched by sioner of the Force, and made his way WCSI to join the Canadian Govcrnmcnt illlo the Nonh.Wcst on his command at Lo\\'er Fon Garry. It was his view a fact-finding journey. I-Ie rt"Commcndcd thc that the most eflcctive \\ ay to achieve control was to posting of one regimclH of mount<.'d riflemen, 550 move the bulk of his command directly to the strong, in thc North-West. junction of the Bow and Belly Ri"t':rs, reportedly the On 3 ~Iay 1873 Sir John A. ?<.Iacdonald location of 'Fort Whoop-Up', the base of the illlroduced a bill respecting the administration of \\ hiskey traders. It was also apparent that the size of justice and for the establishment of a police force in the force must be increased if it was to succeed. the l\"orth-West Territories. On 23 ?\Iay the bill was Authority was granted to recruit the Force up to passed, and, on Royal Assent, the North·\\'est ilS aUlhorised strength of 300, and the remainjng ~dounted Police came into being. 150 men were recruited and assembled at Stanley The original intelHion was to pro,;de a force Barracks, Toronto. A great many of the ne", men organised on military lines, not to exceed 300 men. had seen previous military service and the three new under the command ofa commissioner and assisted di,·isions shaped up rapidl). except in cquitation~ by a number of superintendents. In September which was a question of ulHrained men learning to 1873, il was decided to mobilise thrcc di,;sions of50 ride untrained horses with too liule time for either. men each al Fort Carry, ~Ianitoba. Pcnding the I>ermission was sought, and grallled, to move the appointment of a commissioner, the men reported three new divisions by rail through the United 10 LI.CoI. O~borne Smith, Deputy AdjutantStates 10 the ~Ianitob.'l. border bY' way of Chicago, Ceneral of the .\Iilitia, at Fort Garry, where Senior NCO. al fon Wal~'" .871, weari_1I: llo1d-laCfld .8';6 training and organisation proceeded throughout pall"", I""';CS .ad !old_baaded dark blu" pWboll caps, browa the winter. lc"uh"r pouch ~11_ ....d _liDS_ ror '853 pall"", lillbl ca ry ""'om s..aled Cftf.n, wilh Crimea medals, SJt...Maj.J. f ncis, In October Lt.CoI. George French, Royal who >no_ r"puled 10 ba"" riddta iD II." Chars" or th" Ullbl Artillery, late Commandant of the School of Brisade,. (GI.... bow M..-um)
~
.........-
7
S1. Paul and Fargo. They lcft Toronto on 6Julle Fort Ellice and the general line of the North 1874 complete with horses and equipmcnt, and Saskatchewan River to Edmonton. arrived in Fargo on 12 June to begin the task of The Force hcad(.'(1 \\'cst on 8J uly, 1874. The heat assembling wagons and harness, and loading storcs. of the summer and f('t.'Ciing on rough prairie grass, By the afternoon of the 14th the last division moved when it was to be found, soon began to take a loll on into camp some six miles from Fargo wherc the the horses and oxen: hardl) a cia} passed without column assembled to march to ~lanitoba. On the some beast dying on the trail. But the column evening of 19June the Commissioner and his force moved steadil) forward along the well·cstablishcd arrived at Dufferin, :\Ianitoba now Emerson" rry Poet., 5011 of a Scol. falher alld a Blood 11ldia.a mOlh..r, where the) werejoin(.'(1 by 'A', 'B' and 'C' Divisions J.. ......" born ill (','140; he rv~ all a S",d., and illierpr."..r for Lb., from Fort Garr). The entire Forcc was now N\\'MP from 18,... wh h.. t~ 11,., For.... 10 '-Fort Whoop-Up', until hi d_tlo ill 18g6. EapSed al fon Bentoll loy A!i!!'t.Coouo. together for the first time. and went into camp to Macleod, 10........ ;11""I..abl.. in ;ntO"'OducillS Lbe force 10 110.. ....ay" of Lbe froolie.r. Thill pholosraph lihow.. him ill bead~ prepare for the march \\ cst. buc:k"kin, with hill ' " WiDeh., I.,r. POll....... Ih., finil of many The nc.xt four weeks were busy ones for all ranks. ci.......... me-mbe... of the fore.., (ReMP) Issues of clothing, arms and personal cquipmem were completed, and the divisions adjusted to equal strength. Prior to departure the emire Force, with the exception of the few men detailed to the Stone Fort Lower Fort Garry' and Fort Ellice, was assembled for a full-
Tile lIffirdl pHs! The preparations and ceremonies over, the Force readied itself for the long trek. The total strength stood at 318 all ranks. Detachments to Fon Ellice, Fon Garry, and the real' party at Duflerin left '275 officers and men for the march westward. \Vith thcm wcnt 114 Red River cans, 73 wagons, two 9· pdf. field guns, two brass mortars, and several reapers, mobile forges and kitchens. The beef ration was herded along on the hoof at the tail of the column. Col. French's plan was to movc as directly as possible to the forks of the Belly and Bow Rivers, to establish a post and leave a sufficicnt garrison to police the area, and to return to Fort Ellice with the balance of the Force to cstablish headquarters. Before leaving Dufferin Col. French received instructions to send part of his command to Edmonton. and Insp. Jarvis with 'A' Division was given this assignment. He was to leave the main column at Roche PercCc and to proceed by way of
8
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lIIWMP Band.' fort Battl..ford, .lIllt:;in front,s,;t. fred Ba~ley '8SJ pall..ra " ....ord. Ba5ley, • I"een .m.t r -muski.a, ...." in..trum",nt.1 in for-mi"5 • band ....hi"h " • popubr f"'lu~ofloca.1~ial pth..rinS" .pan from its marti.aJ duLi~ '""" m ....i"'.n" ..·... r th", f..11 dru. _rl"'t tuni" and th" dark hrown fur win,er eap with yellow han5in5 ba5' (Glenbow M..-... j
wi""
boundary trail, a\'eraging about 16 miles a day. The daily routine was to mo\e out early in the morning, sometimes at 3 a.m., to hah for several hours during the intense heat of midday to rcst the animals, and then to march until early evening, halting at some spot \\ here grass, water and wood were readily available. By the time the head of the column reached camp, carts, wagons, guns and cattle were strung out for mik'S. Each day Assistant Commissioner i\laclcod brought lip the rear, shepherding the weakened horses and broken carts, sometimcs reaching camp well after midnight. I n this fashion the column n:ached Roche Percee on 24.July having covered a distance of 270 miles. The Force camped on tbe banks oftbe Souris River and rested while 'A' Division left the main body and turned north for Edmonton. On 31 July the column swung nonh of the Boundary Commission's main trail and headed into the unknown expanse of the prairies. The .\Ietis guides were unfamiliar with the eoulllry beyond this point, SO it was a matter of navigating with the aid ofcompass and Palliser's map of the West. After traversing a difficult stretch of country with little grass or water the column reached the Cypress Hills on 25 August, having covered 582 milcs. They halted for scveral days in preparation for the last phase of thejourne) into the heart of the Blackfoot country.
dr~lili. The SOn of a RoyaJ N.,'Y o(fi""r, 5,,,,,,1,,•• m.n of ;mmeDR "''''''~ and ..-t:aD1;na, ..... s .:ommis..-ioned in the Culadian l\twlia in .866 :a.led 'So bul lat",r ~n·itd a. a carpo,,1 d .. ri"5 ,he f.,.,ia..n Raid.. and Wol_l"y. vrJ>'"-dition. II" promotitd _q;......., major NWMP i... 1r.J, and iaJifH'Ctor i 178; no.ised 5t.,.,)",'11 Sco.. t,. d ..rin!! ,h", ,liS ~ben;o....... promotitd ""p"'rUt,o:nd.,.,t th", followin5 y... r; and comm.ndt:d the NWMP in 110" Yukon durin5 th" ,¥ 9!1 !old rush. La 110", So...... Africa .. War he raised and comm.nditd Lord 5tralhca....'.lIonle (mad" ~ and "no); and .,.,lon",1 i.. Ih", SouI1o Afric:an CO tabul.ry '9'" 06, co a ..d; ..! Transvaal D;'''...ion. n" majo .... ~"n ..ral, com adia! 2nd Canadian Divi..-io.., i.. '9'5 (mad", IlCMG) before his d ...,h ,n 19'9.. Iii. ,. ...tob;05.... phy Forty 1'Nn'ill CtlMldu pn':S'"-.... a" "'''S.Si..S pict.. re or. ,'ery rormidabl"' ....... who pra"tJ...,d many of ,he bKl Vi"toria" '''n.. etI in • hi!!h1y p""lI:mati" f...h'on. (Alt...na ProviacialM .._ .. rn)
Supt. Sam..",1 Bt:nfi",k1 5'e..1",....... in fwl
,I,.
On I September the column moved west in cold, wet weather. Buffalo were encountered in increas· ing numbers \\ hich solved the meat supply problem; however, the great beasts ruined all good pasture, and the horses and oxen weakened as the going became more difficult. The ForCt: pressed on but by 10 September the horses were III poor condition and dying in increasing numbers. The Commissioner calculated that they had reached a position very close to the lorks of the Bow and Belly Rivers, the location of Ihe whiskey traders' Fort Whoop-Up. For the next IWO days scouting partics fanned out from the main body, but found no sign of traders or of the fOri. I fthe column remained in the present inhospitable location for long, all of the horscs would be lost; pasture had to be found quickly. The Commissioner dt:cided to march to the Sweet Grass Hills, some 60 miles to the south-west. This destination was reached on 18 September, and the long march" est was ended. The Force was 97 days out of Fargo and had travelled a distance of I ,009 miles.
Having reached a suitablc site for winter horses and supplies, Jerry POliS, son of a Scottish quartcrs, it was ckcidcd to leavc '13', 'C' and 'F' father and a~l Indian mother, who became the Divisions under tile command ofAssistant Commis- guide and ilHerprcter for the Force, sioner ~Iadeod. The Commissioner would rcturn On 9 October r..laclcod"s command reached Fort cast wilh '0' and 'E' Divisions to establish Whoop-Up, which was deserted except for the headquaners. caretaker and an assistant: word of their coming With colder weather fast approaching, and a had preceded the column, and the traders had left IOIl.~ trip ahead, the return pany did not prolong "..-ith their goods for winter quarters south of the their stay, but sct out on the eastward journey on '21 boundary. September. The Commissioner and Assistant ~Iack-od and his men moved out of Fort WhoopCommissioner ~Iadcod went south to Fon Benton Up in a north-westerly direction, and after in the United States to pick up mail, horses and tra\'elling for thrtt da)'s caOle lIpon a broad loop of supplics for wimer, and to communicate with the Old r..lan's River \\hich Olet all lhe requireOnawa, After sc\'eral daY5 the Commissioner left ments for a permanent camp. On this site, dose to Benton to rejoin the small column moving lhc present cit) ofLcthbridge, ~Iaclcod constructed eastward, \\ hill' ~Iack-od remained to complete his winter quarters, thll'~ establishing Fort ~Iacleod, business before returning to the main camp. and the permanent presence of the North-Wcst While in Fon Bemon, ~laclood learned the true ~Iounted Police in the Canadian West. location of Fort Whoop-Up: it lay at the forks of the In the meantime, Commissioner French with his Belly and 51. Mary's Ri\'ers some 70 milcs to the small column mo\'ed steadily eastwards, reaching west of its fl.-ported position. ~laclood decided to Swan River, the proposed site of the headquarters mo\"C imo the foothills at once to cstablish wimer ofthe Force, on '21 October. This localion pro\'ed to quarters. On '2 October he rejoined his slender be quitc unsuitable for an) sizeable number of men force, brin1Png back from Benton, in addition to and animals. French left 'E' Division at Swan Rivcr, and returned to Duffcrin \'ia Winnipeg wlth Full dretl" pand", .1 th", Drpol, R'"&i.... r .• 888, Offie"' _r the remaining men. This completed a round trip of .SIMi pan.,rn uDiform....ith bra..... I"alh",r full d...,." isl .nd I ,959mi1cs for the Commissioner and the men of'D' pouc:h bell... 1ft", band'" h",lm"" ptumetl "n _rl"" hoO"S'"-bair; talu, in Ib", ,a,o., 110", band "dopled a h",lm"" plal"'. 1ft", Division, bandsmen her'" ....,IIr" brown t",,,,h,,,r pouch belt, pr_umably liUpporliO!;: " mu~ic ClIse. (RCMP) Insp,Jarvis and the men of ' A' Division, who left
the main body at Rochc Pcrc{'(' on 24July, toiled north and \\est along th(' reaches of the North Saskatchewan River. They encountcred conditions equally formidable to those of thc main column and, in a state ofn('ar collapse, arri\'cd at the H BC Post at Fort Edmonton on I No\'cmber after travelling almost 900 miles from Roche Percec. With the arrival ofJar\'is in Edmonton, the Force was in a position to bring the :\onh-\\'est within reach of th<.' 101\\. Further posts werc set up, the major oncs being Fort \\'alsh in 1875 and Fon Battleford in 1875-76, with others at Fon G."llgary, Swan River, Fon Saskatchewan and Shoal Lake. Once they were established in the Nonh-\\'t:st the demands on the Force escalated; additional duties included the ~upen'ision of treat) p."lyments, ensuring fair tradjng practices, providing limited relief and medical services to the Indians much restricted by inadequate poliee resourccs as well as carrying Ollt a network of patrols throughout the area. The arrival of thc N\\'~lP had considerable economic and cultural impact on the small communities in the spar<;ely populated region of Western Canada. The most immediate effect was economic: the payroll and the purchase of supplies injected comparatively large amounts of moncy into the local economy wherever their posts were set up. Total expenditure for the 0rce was $335,000 in 1874 75. ~Iore importantly, the collectivc social and cultural valucs of the members of the Force became the dominant standards of the communities, and to a considerablc cxtent influenced the style of development of Western Canada. The members of the Force, recruitcd in Eastcm Canada, in pal'licular in Omal'io, brought with them the mid- Victorian values typical of the society they left behind. These might be summed up as a belief in the superiority of British institutions such as law and order, parliamelltary democracy and paternalistic imperialism. The lauer had not yet been debased by jingoism and commercial necessitics, and was favourably, ifsomewIJat condescendingl), COlllrasted with the rough and ready 'Wild West' development of the \Vcstern United States, with its murdcrous Indian wars and municipal anarchy. The officers as a group were predominantly men born in the United Kingdom and English-speaking
'7
Canadians from Ontario and Quebec, largely Church of England and well educated with some experience in the Militia. They werc essentially from families with a military or professional background. NCOs and constables were ncarly all British- or Ontario-born Protestants from eommcrcial, industrial and agricultural backgrounds. They were young: tht· avera~e age in 1877 was 25, and that of the officers was 31. Of the 55 officers commis..~ioned betwcen 1873 and 1880 only 19 were married during: any ponion of their sen.·icc, an illustration of the contemporary pre\'alcncc of late marriage as \\ell as the difficulties of combining family life with Ihe career of an N\\'~lP officer. On leaving th<.' Force man) men settled in the \\'est, thanks in pan to the land grants gi\'cn to those \\ ho complctl-d their tcrms of sen'ice. These men in turn influcnced the dnelopmem of their communities. Thus, in addition to providing economic stimulus and establishing rcspcrt for the rulc of law, the ~\\'~IP contribuu..-d what \\ould today be called a '\\'ASP' set of values, \\hich has been dominant to this day. Mounu,d C:O"lilabh, phOIO«",phed al Resi.... I~ w~~ yellow-ba....ed btue pmbo.. ..,.rl.. t "'~.. .....dre5" hlnie, y..lIow_"lriped dark blu., brfl!Ch.,., a ..d black boots. Th.. pililol laoyard iii worn around lhe ~y. o..taib of Ib .. Calif"orn;" .;Iock ...ddl.. ar.. dnor, IhouJl;h Ih.. fo........ rd orlbe IWO cinebu is laraely hidden by the rider's les. Wooden St..irrupli ..."'.... "'om nry 10nJl;. (CI",nbow MUli",um)
"
Ti,e Tfd'of tile MOllllteti Polire The Indian Ix-oplcs faced a period of harsh transition at this time. The buffalo, \\ hich was the staple of their existence and the faiso1l ti'itrt for their nomadic life, was fast disappearing and it was gon~rnmcnt policy 10 enforce a sy:.lcm ofreserves on which it was hoped that the Indians would become peaceful farmers, thus making way for while settlement. This situation \\as complicated by the ad,"ance of sculemcl1I belo\\ the border and the Indian Wars in the United Statcs. In 1876 the defeat arCo!. George A. Cusler at the BaHIe orthe Little Bighorn by the Sioux and Cheyenne resulted in strong CS Arm) counter· measures. The Sioux, under their leader Sitting Bull, retreated illlo Canada. This influx of a warlike nation, hostile to many'orlhe Indian tribes on the Canadian side, and the risk of damage to relations with the United States led the :":\\":"11' into negotiations with the Sioux and the Americans. These culminated in face-to--face meetings at the N\\'~IP post at Fort \\'alsh, which resulted in a peaceful solution, but hardly scratched the surface of the problem of the future of thc Indians. I The NWi\IP did what the) could to relieve distress and starvation amongst the Indian people, and constantl) reportlxl their desperatc plight to Ottawa \,ith, unfortunately, scant response. The coming of the railway multiplied the tasks of the Force. Settlement inCI'cased: between 1881 and 1885 the white population expanded from 7,000 to 23,000. In addition the construction crews on the line had to bc controlled and protcctcd. Scventy men under SUPl. Steele werc scnt to the junction of the Kootenay River and Wild Horse Creek, where they constructcd tbe first NW~IP POSt in British C.olumbia.
The North-West Rebellion, t88S As early asJuly 1884 the N\\'~IP \\ere warning of Indian unrest due to the threat ofstarvation caused by the dis."1ppcarance of the buflalo. Discontent was also reported among the .\lttIS who had moved to Saskatchewan after the suppression of the Pro-visional Government in 1870. They again felt
"
threatened by the spread of settlemcnt, and feared that the)" would lose their lands under the newly proposed government sur\<:). It was not the government's intention to dispossess the .\lttis or ignore their needs; but, as in 1870, consultation did not take place and loc."11 sensitivities \\ere ignored. The ,\lttis \\ere a unique people, of mixed Indian and French·G."1nadian blood, \\ hose distinct culture left them separate from both their forebears. The)' were lillIe understood in Eastern Canada and lacked a spokesman in On3\\a. On their invitation Louis Rid returned from exile to be their leader in what was hoped would be peaceful negotiations. However, their historical experience of the burralo hunt had given them a commando--style organisation adaptable to guerrilla \\arfare. The ~IOUlltl-d Police, \\ ho \\ere spread out across the prairies in small detachments, were not organised or armed to suppress all uprising. The infonnation they p~ to Ottawa about local conditions and the concerns of the inhabitants ofall races was ignored; and the rebellion broke out in ~Iarch 1885, when the rebels seized the trading post at Duck Lake and demanded that Supt. Crozier at Fort Carleton surrender his poSt. Crozier's reaction was to march at once with 56 police and 43 men of the Prince Alben Volunteers to arrest the rebels. He walked into an unexpeclcd ambush in which the NWMI' '1un cre_~ al drill, I'orl M .. c1 ..od, Albf:rta, '894. This 9pdr. RML _ ... on.. of the IWO brought out on th .. 'March W.... t' in .874, and may h.. v.. been the one fired in th.. engagem.. nt at Frenchn,.. n'.. 8uue in .88,5.; its mor.. uliual rol.. wa~ firing ceremonial " ..lut..".The bra•• mortar, right, wall atllo part of th .. original armament or Ih.. t'orce in ,874' (IlCMP)
A".'.lalll SlIl'Jfl)1I Charles s",lby Mallll....... r .• 8gs, ..-carlas the mK.......(0 ..... o( .886 palle....' Karle' jacket with dark hili.. .,..Uar and cuff...... rk hille ~_t.nd 1....1I_rs. Note l'o'\\' Ca......... Medal '88s,.nd nonk bIodS" sliIl WOrn lin tlte coUar at ,iliA .... Ie. (RC.\tP)
.\letis, under their able leader Gabriel Dumont, inflicted casualties of I ~ dead and 1 I wounded. forcing him 10 rCtreaL Police detachmcllls and local ci,-ilians were blockaded in thc posts at Fort Battleford and Fort Pilt by Indians under their chief, Big Bear. Insp. Francis Dickens and his ~5 men n:trcated from Pitt, leaving the civilians prisoner. Battleford was relieved by the arrival of a column of the North West Field Force, whilst another column defeated the rebels and captured Riel at Batoche on 9 ;\hy. i\'!Ollnted Police detachments were in action at Cut Knife Hill, Batoche, Frenchman's Butte and during the pursuit of Big Bear. Supt. Sam Steele raised Steele's SCOlllS; former inspectorJohn French rai~ed French's ScoutS, and was killed at Baloche. In all the Force lost eight dead: at Duck Lake, Consts. T. J. Gibson, C. I>. Arnold and G. K. Garrcll; at FOri Pitt, CorlSl. D. L. Cowan; at Cut Knife Hill, Cpls. R. B. Sleigh and W. 1-1. T. Lowry and Const. P. Burke; at Fort Ballieford Canst. F. O. Elliott. Wounded at Duck L"lke were Supt. L. N. F. Crozier, Insp.J. Howe, Cpl. T. H. Gilchrist, ConslS. A. ;\Iillar, S. F. Cordon, J. J. Wood and A. ).,Ianners·\\'ood; at Fon Pitt, Const. C. Loasby; at Cut Knife Hill, Sgt.J. H. Ward. At Loon Lake, Sgt.
~.Maj. FlinlofT (Iert) a ...d Slip'. A. H. Gnesblodr. ., Fort Sa.... tc:h.......n, ('.I!I9-t. flintofT ......" the ,886 pallern 1'C05' (lin d~.. and 1Jl.. billoaolar pallc:h <:all be ......... Th.. offi.,.,r ......" .886 palle", full dre S; flole double A"slri.... 00' 001 c:ufT,.nd plaiD lelulter bre'.c:h.. tillSs. Gnuhac:h, a ~-ete"'l1 of the .~th IIl1n.rs d Cape Mounted RiOes,joined in ,873 ....d h..ld R.,.imenl.1 Number I; he .1I0..-ed himself eertain non'"l:wat;oo Houn.hes, slIc:h •• 'lte bl.ck ••ddl.. Heec:e ....d tlte c:a~.,.lry pa"ern ....ddle. (Albert. PrllviJociaIMII-.m)
w. Fury; and at Frenchman·s Butte, Const. D. ~IcRae.
As a result of the rebellion any talk ofdisbanding the Force died away and the authorised. strength rose to 1,000. The Depot Division was established on I November 1885 to train recruits at Rcgina, the headquanel'S orthe Force since 1882. The budget was raised to $1 million, much of which went to crect new buildings in place of the old log buildings put lip by the constables themselves at detachments lhroughout the West. Needless to say, the combined Headquaners/Depot Division received more lhan a fair share of new buildings including the first riding school, completed in cady 1886, where the Riding Masler, I nsp. \V. G. ~Iathews, formerly 3rd Hussars, produced the fil'St ~!usical Ride in 1887. The position of Senior NCO of the Force was revived in 1886, to oversee the training programme, and was given to Sgt. ~laj. Robert Belcher, who had joined in 1873 after scT\-ice with the 9th Lancers. Belcher ,\as in efleet regimental sergeant major, and the predecessor of lhe present Corps Sergeant ~Iajor.
'3
The Patrol System
In 1886 Lawrencc William Ilcrchmer was appointcd Commissioner. Through the friendship of his family with the Prime ~Iinister Sir John A. ~Iacdonald, to which he owed his appointmeOl, he obtained the political suppon needed to thoroughly re-organise the Force. This he accomplished, though at the cost of considerable internal friction. The patronage invoked in appointments to thc Forcc, and in the award of contracts for supplies, made it ine\-itable that political influence played a part in these matters: fe\\ applications for the Force were unaccompanied by recommendations from ~IPs_ scnators or other political figures. Howc\·cr, political interfcrence in the conduct of actual police duties \\as minimal. Herchmer. \\ho had ~ ....'ed in }-1.~1. 46th Regimelll for four years, and for eight ycars as an Indian A~ent in ~Ianitoba, was a disciplinarian with an abrasi\'c personality, but an able administrator. Standing Regulations and Orders were published in 1 SSg. recruiting standards werc raised, training was greatly impro\-cd, and a pension plan for :\COs and constables introducro. His most imponant work \\ as to adjust the ser\'iccs prm'idcd by the Force to mc<:t the needs of crime pre\'ention in the v~1 and sparsely populat<-'ln;<: (no•., hiSh proporlion of s,en;or
Th.,
IKarl.,1 NCOs, indiClued by sold-braided "0"....), .rmNl w;lb Ihe '76 Win"hc:5l.,r. Th., light 61 ofluni<: .nd breech.,,, and Ihe 10... <:lI1 of Ibe boot" ...ere fe.lu~1I of Ihis uniform, ...orn "';!h Ibe St.,,,,,on for Ihe ac:lual parade. (Glen""w MUIi.,um)
control. The military format was retained, but duties beeamc almost entirely civil. The patrol system was introduct'
The Yukon Territory has a common border with Alaska, which was purchased from the Russians by the United Statcs in 1867. The presence of gold in the area had been fairly well known since at least ,886, whcn the first major strike occured. The
l
I NWMP poll' .11.... S.. mm;' o(th.. Cbilkool P."".n the roul", 10 0.. ........ 0 clly, V"ko.. T.,rrilorydunnSlh"sold rush .r.8g8 99The ..·ork ....li reuAb and hard, "ad thl! ...._th.. r cold-a.. call H - . . rrnm th.. dOlhinswort> h.,re; lunart.Den and ronnalily cam.. lal
NWl\IP ~rsea.." C"gooo, prob.bly ., Wltilehof"M', V.. ko.. T"rrilory. H" ...·..ani Ih" dack bl.." pal_jack", o~·er 'be 5CIlriet d~li ' .... iC; rur cap, dark bl.... liloc:kinlll" aod hid" sc"1i:e _"",b ee pan or official _inler do'hiDIIl Ui....e. (Ern...", Bro..... Coil., yu.ltOD Ardlh·n)
Canadian Government was faced with the problem of establishing control, and hence sovereignt)', in this remote region, fixing the so far ill-defined border with Alaska, and avoiding the type ofsocial chaos \\ hich had occurred during the California gold nlsh. The first COlllact of tile N\\'~II) with the Yukon was in I~I when Insp. Charles Constanline was sent to invcsligaLC the ~itualion. He reported that the tasks to be accomplished were the control of liquor and gambling, the collection of customs duties and the establishmenl of a police prescnce to enforce Canadian laws, prcvcl1ling the development of an American frontier-style community, which the Canadian authorities fcared would result in lawless anarchy. Constantine rewrned in 1895 with '20 men to set up Fon Constantine, from which he exercised a benevolent despotism. This was firmly in place by the time oftbe Bonanza Creek find and the start of the Klondike Cold Rush in 18g6. From the beginning the NW~IP carried out nearly all the administrative functions of government, acting as customs collectors, land agents, magistrates, police, gaolers, and mail carriers, promulgating local ordinances regulating everything from Sabbath observance to gambling and prostitution, and issuing liquor licences.
The local headquarters of Ihe Force was transferred in 1897 to Daw.')Qn City, \\hich was the major centre of population acljacellt to Ihe gold fields. At the height of Ihe gold rush Dawson had a population of ':w,ooo and in 18gB an estimated S6 million worth of gold was taken OUI. The miners were accompanied by all the people needed to provide services in this rich, busiling community. Storekeepers, outfitters, lawyers, hotelkeepers, construction workers and prostitutes Rocked to Dawson. Hotels, Slores, a theatre and a growing police barracks sprang up. This influx greatly increased the work of the NW;\IP, whose Ilumbers grew to 285 by t898; the desire of both merchants and miners for a stable, rcgulall'd society in which to carry 011 their busine!>s mcant that tile majority of lhe citizens supported the activities of the Force. Sup\. Sam Steele took over from Constantine in ,8gB, ruling the area with a patl'mal mixture of pragmatic common S('IlS(' and Victorian moralily. Liquor licences wcr(' restricled; gambling was regulated; law breakers, aClual or potential, were set to work 011 the police wood pile, or abruptly told to get OUI of lown; prostitution was toleraled, but confined to Ihe red light district and medicall) supervised to a certain extent; and the carrying of guns was forbidden. The detachment al the Chilkoot Pass refusro entry to the goldfields 10 an)
'5
•
«"..
The rdians of lhe Empire dr""'lf~ for din.ner in th .. Klondike a" ...",11 all in lh" junll.., NWMP officers and pron,;n"nl cici""",, of(bwsoll Cil)' pose .... frool ofLh"offic:.. ~' mfiil' in th.. !'o"W:'>lP barnck..,.goo. Rank bad~"...", till wo.... On th" collar of th" ..carl". m" jad...". All wear II... I'idd Sf,rvice ClIp in dark hi .... Wilh .. yeUow lOp. (Public: Arc:hiveti of
Commissioner L. \V. Herchmer and in Lord Strathcona's Horse raised and commanded bl Supt. S. B. Stcele, both with the rank OrJiclltcnant· colonel. FOllr men were killed: Sgt. H. R. Skirving. Cpl. J. R. Taylor, ConslS. Z. R. E. Lewis, and r Davidson; and three died of enteric fever, Cpl. G. ?\1. O'Kelly, Consts. R. Leu and H. H. Clements. The !\,\\'~I P had a diSlinguished rccord in South Africa; honours included the Victoria Cross to Sgt. A. H. Richardson; the DSO to Supt. G. E. Sanders. Insp. A. C. i\lacdonell and Insp. F. L. Cart\\Tight; the cn and MVO 10Supt. S. B. Steele; the CMG to Insp. R. Belcher and Insp. A. ~I.Jarvis; the DC~I to Sgt. G. H yncs, Sgt. J\laj. Richards and Consl. A. S. Waite. The NWi\1 P cOlllributed to the build-up of the Soutb Art'ican Constabulary during and ancr the war, four officet'S and 38 ~COs and constables served with the SAC, usually on leave of absence, including SUpl. Sam Stede who was aplXlinted to command the Trans\'aal Di\'ision wjth the rank of colonel.
Canada Pholo C..f"77S)
miner withollt a }'('ar"s supply of provisions. The Sabbalh was slrictly observed: busincssC'Sshut down and all work SlOpped. As on the Prairies. the community accepted the N"':\I P role as police,
judge and gaoler as a reasonable price for stable conditions, the more so "iller the Force met local \\ ishcs halfway and because the outlook and training of the officers prevented the de\e1opment of any son of police tyranny. By 1899. \,hen the peak of the rush had passed, civil servants had arrived to relieH' the Force of man) administrati\'c duties; and a militia unit, the Yukon Field Force, had arri\'ed in t\la) 18gB, remaining ulllil June 19oo to assist the police and to reinforce Canada's claim to sowreignty over the Territory. Dawson City e\'elllually bccamt" almost a ghost town, but has revived in the last 20 yeal'S as a considerable tOUlist attraction, with many of the original buildings restored b) Parks Canada.
The South African War, IBgg In addition to man) fonncr membct'S of the Force who served in the Boer War, 2~5 serving policemen saw service on !t'aw of absence, mainly in the 2nd Canadian ?\lounted RiOC'S. commanded by
,6
The First World War The government decided in t91,~ that no leaves of absence would be granted tosen'ing membct'Softhe Force, because of the need lO maintain police services at home; but man) former members served overseas in all anns of the servict:s. In the spring of 1918 there was a need for cavalry re-inforcemcnts, and permission was given to release men for ovct'Scas. T wclvc officers and 23 I othcr ra nks of the Forcc plus 495 new recruits were enlisted. In England the older membet'S were formed into ',,",' Squadron RN\\'l\IP and saw activc service in France and Belgium. under the command ofSupt. G. L. Jennings. The otlu:t'S \\ ent as reinforcements to cxisting units of llle CEF, in panicular lhe Fon Garry Horse, the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the newly fonned Tank Corps. I nJ lily J 918 'B' Sqn. RN\\'i\1 P ofsix officct'S and 18.. men was rcrruited to join the Allied Expeditionary Force intervcning to Suppal'l the While Russians ill eaStern Siberia. The squadron remained for a fe\\ months in \'Iadivostock without seeing any action, before being withdrawn in resJXlnse to public pressure at home. Both squadrons wore R;\W?\l P badges see Plate F).
>rd
b,
,,'g, F.
G. IS.
,h ~t.
",., o ,I
e e
,
)
r
Tlte FOrl/lftfioll of ti,e RCfllP
changed to monitoring the hostile activities of the Fcnians-Irish Americans who hoped to obtain independencc for Ireland by invading Canada, and so disrupting British-American relations that the British would grant major conc<.."SSions. Plans were In 1918 thc governmcnt divided federal policing evcn made to hold pan of Canada 'hostage' for this between the RNW~IP and thc Dominion Police, purpose. This agitation resulted in the Fenian raids the latter being responsible for Eastern Canada and of 1866 and 1870, and culminated in the the RNW~IP for the West and the Arctic. The assassination of D'Arcy ~lcGce, a prominent strength of the RN\\'~IP had been seriously Canadian politician. Success in combating Fenian depleted by the departure of goo men to serve actlvltlcs was principally due to intelligence overseas in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, gathcred by the Constabulary, which was transleaving only 300 men to cover all Ri\'W~IP duties. formed in 1868 into thc Dominion Police Force, The Dominion Police had iLS origins in the \\;th ~1c~licken as Commissioner. Between 18;0 Western Frontier Constabulary, formed in 1864 at and 1914- the Dominion I)olice also became the height of thc American Civil War to protect responsible for guarding go\"Crnment buildings and Canadian neutrality, which had been compromised VIPs and, more importantJ), for compiling by the Confedcratc raid on St. Albans, \'ennOnl criminal and fingerprint records. from across the border in Quebec. This body was Under Sir Anhur Percy Shef\\'ocxt, Commismainly an intelligence-gathering agency, com- siOller 1885-1919, security and intelligence duties manded by Gilbert ~lc~licken. With the \;Ctory of during World War I grc\\ into a major pan of the the nion forces, thc role of the Constabulary work. At the same time the RN\\'~I P was assigned lasp. Scarth, Supt. Wood, Ins.... Rovtledlle aad Sc.a.... es, ...d AniJnaDl S,,",!~n Thomp!JOn .t DawllO" City in '9""- Th", affi"",... w,..r d,,,, .886 pall"'.... dark bl..e ....drflill runic, all mod.i:6..d in .¥ witb lIq... re-aol eoll.r; Ih", recenll)·..ppnn·ed bro..... Su.....heona bool" .nd SteiIlODIi. ThompllOD ...ea..... d,,,, _rlet Fi",ld s,.rvice PauoIJ.d Note ........ bad!ellllti1Iworo 00 collar. (P.. blic Archi"",", of d.a Pholo c-1276s)
c.
NWMP Surseon., l'•• ~ in Khaki Fi,.)d s",rvic:e uniform, inlroduc:ed .s ....hc....tive 10 Ihe bt..", or IlCArl"'l f.....,... aad identical to Milll" in..",. B..lto........... badll'" ..... 'NWMP' IIhouJd",r tid... we.... bro..z..d. Medic:a.1 office... 0.. Ihe IIr.odquarte... Staff wor", c:h",rry !ors"'t palcbes ...ilh a Line of black braid. and • cherry baad On th", peaked forall'" c:a.p.
(RCMP)
,7
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security duties in the West, in particular the control of enemy aliens, In 1918 economic and social prcssures from labour and returning soldiers, couplcd with the pervasivc fear of Bolshevism, high unemployment and lo\\! wagcs, produced considerable unrest. This peaked in the Winnipeg General Strikc of ~Iay 1919: one man was killed and 30 injured whcn the RNW~I P atlempted to break up a banned parade, This was a traumatic experience both for the Force-who san their role as the pre\'cntion of violenc and for the governmcnt, which was horrified at ci\;1 bloodshed. As a result it was decided that the whole question of safeguarding internal security should be overhauled. The R:\'\\'~l P absorbed the Dominion Police Force, becoming the national police agency responsible for intelligence and security duties as well as normal police and crimc prevention work. The strength of thc Force was raised to 2,500 and StaJT~ A. II. Richardsoa, \'C{Raced riSh,)a' Fon Satdeford, Su....ccke........ '9050 H......" a""1Irded lh.. "C ror _,in,; th.. lif.. or a r..llow m ..mber or Lord Sl.... thc:o...·" HOrR a, Woh-e Sprui" South Afri.,. on ) July .goo. Backsround, th.. co'" lIou~
ptat.. D. n .. 7-J>dr. bren".. .,.nnO" .....ll acquired by
th.. Force ;n .876, haoinA ori~i...lIy acc:ompa..aied Wolsel.. y's Rood Ri.-u El
Hcadquarters was moved from Regina to Otlawa, leaving behind the Depot Division which was henceforth concerned entirely with training. This change of focus was marked by a new title, 'Royal Canadian t>.lountcd Police'. Training
From its inception in 188'2 Dcpot Division had been primarily concerned with recruit training. In these early days recruits came mainly from the farms of Eastern Canada; they were used to hard manual labour, and capable of being quickl) trained in horse management and care. Training was military in style with emphasis on striCt obedience to orders and regimemalloyalty. Over the years, as criminals became more sophisticated, so did the policemen. Though performance standards were continuaJJy raised, conditions of employment and work remained rigorous; physical hardihood was essential in the days before the automobile and air travel, and until the 19505 marriage was not permitted during the firsl five years of service. Today the RC~IP Academy trains many speciaJist personnel including Native Special Constables, as well as providing advanced training courses. Members are sent to outside institutions, in particular the universities, where, for example, law and commerce degrees equip them for commercial crime duties, Rccruits are given a thorough introduction to the law, especially in the area ofcivil rights. Intelligence and Security Operations During the 1920S and 30S the chief target of intelligence activity was the Communist Party, at a time whcn the export of .'cvolulion by Soviet Russia was seen as a major threat. Nazi and fascist sympathisers were also kept under surveillance, and quickly rounded up on lhe outbreak of war in 1939. This work was carried out operationally by the criminal investigation branch; but the revelations of the Soviet defector Igor Gouxenko in 1945 of the nature and extent of Russian espionage highlighted the need for much greater attention to security. Between 1950 and 1956 many changes were made and the Directorate of Security and Intelligence came into being, reporting directly to the Commissioner. The combination ofpolice and intelligence duties
.8
I
I.£FT
RIGIIT
RNW!\,1Peo..st. 8.J.O.Stro"llat R.,gioa, Ig'o,in wint.,rdr.,....' fu.. ClIOp a ..d millll;, buffalo eoat o~·.. r bro...." d.-ill fatigu.. lu..ie, o:he"l'"ki.. <:hap. ov.. r br....eh..., .nd f..II.Lined boot... (RCMP)
Two RNWMP eo.nilabl oOI.id.. Ih .. suardroom al .'ort Sao:kaleb.. _n i.n '904> w nll I.h.. yellow_pipc:d dark blu.. field Servi.... "'p w;thoul badK_ol" ehi"lIlrap. Th .. bugl.,r w ....... th., brown eOllon duek Field Jaek ..t inlrodu<:fll in '90', ...-lth bra.. bullon.. and lIilv..r eoUar badS"fI.j .,..1 lik.. a lunic:, thi. _ . uliled fnr fadgu..., Ilabl.. duti... a ..d palrols, and if p ..operly filled eould be IIn,art a. w ..11 . . practic:al. (Alberta P ..ovincial MUI..um)
CENTRE Supt. Gilberl S...de III .'orl Calgary, 190:). H """n Ihe n ..wly inlrodueed ked fo...g.. <:lip, dark blu lIh a )·.. l1ow band; Ih.. blaek.braided dark blu.. u ..dr.... lunic:, ....d yello...._ " ..iped dark blu.. b ......eh.... Probably Ih .. only m ..mbe.. of th .. Fore.. ,,~· .. r 10 w .. a .. a monocl .., Sand.,rll r ..e..ived th.. oso for allemllting 10 lIav.. lh.. lif.. of II fdlow offie.... in South Af..;ca. (CI.,..bow Mu ...,um)
has nOI always been a happy one. For the police, trained to uphold lhe law and prevent crime, operating ai, or even beyond lhe edge of the law in the security field was difficult. Perhaps more importantly, accusations that legilimate democratic dissent was being confused with subversion by the police could undermine the reputation for impartiality on which the Force relied to secure the co--opcration of the average citizen in carrying out its law enforcement and crime pre"ention duties.
Thus in several stages the Security Service was reorganised. In 1970 it was given a civilian chief, and in 1984 its funClions were assumed by a new civilian agency the Canadian Security 111telligence Service. The Mounted Police and the Arctic The ]\'Iiddle North and Arctic regions oCthe North American continent have been claimed by Canada at least since the early days of the Hudson's Bay Company, but the cost and difficulty of access meant that little was done to substantiate this claim until after 1900. Fortunately, the same conditions
'9
inhibited any other claimants. By 1890 the region had been penetrated by traders and whaling ships, and Arctic exploration activity by nationals ofother countries intensified. The Mounted Police, with its experience in the Yukon and its long record of adaptability, was the natural agent for the government to usc to establish control and Canadian sovereignty. A patrol to York Factory on Hudson Bay was made in IBgo, but a sustained thruSI did not stan unLiI 1903, when a force under Supt. Constantine and Sgt. Fitzgerald established a post at Fon McPherson, ncar the mOll!h of the Mackenzie River. Fitzgerald visited the whaling seu..lemeIH on Hershel Island in the same year. Jn the Eastern Cpt Bowleroll pairoillur du, ",olnh ofthe l.iU..Ie Sla.-., Ri.·er, '9"+ A eeruo'" iaIorrnalily prevailed 0.. I.he uti!, tholl!h apan (rom lhe j;!.oll.,h .... t the atrporal'. dothi..! i. all official issue: acarlel H.-.:e 11Ulie, I... cord breoKb~ hla.,,, boo... ....t hro..... lIlalllldeu,. NOle the wa..l..leuallac:bed 10 Ihe saddle Ito..... _d the binoc:u..laralM! haft&i.ll& (rom. ils rftlr. (Be Proviocial An:hi.-_)
Arctic Supt. Moodie set up a POSt at Fullcnon Oil thc west coast of Hudson Bay. Gradually a patrol network was set up using dog teams. The advent of aeroplanes in the 1920s & 1930S greatly extended the scope and cased the burden of this work, bll! the usc of dog teams was not finally discontinued until
1969. The perils of Arctic travel were vividly emphasised by the trabric episode of the 'Lost Patrol' in 1910. Insp. Francis Fitzgerald, a vcry experienced officer' \\ hose wife was an Inuit!, with a guide, Sam Caner, and Consts. Kinne) and Taylor, left Fort ~lcPherson for Dawson, but died of starvation m route. InH~tigations rcvcaled that the guide was inexperienced and lost his way, and that to increase speed Fitzgerald had lightened their sled loads by taking insufficient food. This tragedy was, however, the excepLion: thousands of miles were covered each year without mishap. T
In 1939, in accordance with prevIous arrangements, 155 RCMP marine service personnel volunteered to transfer to the Navy and Air Force, along with 33 ships and boats which were badly needed for coastal defcnce and air·sea rescuc. It was decided that the best way for the RCM P to contribute its expertise to the Anny, withoUl disrupting its police obligations at home, was through forming a provost unit for traffic control, police and security duLies. From the many volunteers, I 12 men were selected 10 fill the ranks of No. I Provost Company (RCMP) which sailed for England in December 1939 as part of the 1St Canadian Infantry Division. Faced Wilh increasing responsibilities at home the RCMP was unable to provide reinforcements from its own ranks after 1942, and the gaps were filled through normal Provost Corps recruitment. This mixed unit saw active service in Italy, France and Germany. ReMP personnel wore RC~IP badges and shoulder flashes on their battledrcss (see Plate F). Pan of the attrition of No. I Company was through promotion of 58 experienced RCMP members to staff positions in the Canadian Pro\'ost 20
Corps, to officer No. 2 Provost Company, 2nd the previous service in lhe Canadian Militia and the Canadian Division, and to fill many ofthc gradcs of British Armyofmany ofits original members. These Provost t\larshal throughout the Canadian Army. military traditions were nowhere more apparent RCt\1 P officers and other ranks rctained lhe right to than in the style of the uniforms ofthe Forcc, which continue wearing RCM P badges and shoulder dosely followed the patterns of the British Army. "ashes in their new positions, whenever possible. Any study of the early uniforms relies heavily on .\ltogcther '2 13 members of the Force served in the the evidence of actual uniforms surviving in Canadian ProvOSt Corps, ofwhom t '2 died on active museum collections, and on contemporary photoservice and '3 were wound<.'d. graphs. Fortunately the Mounted Police appear to have been avid customers both of itinerant photographers who visited their posts, and of the professional studios of William Notman in )'1ontreal and W. J. Topley in Ottawa. Documentary The 'Norfolk jacket', 1873,6 material such as letters, diaries, orders, dress ~lany of the traditions established in the early days regulations and other written sources usually of the NW~I P were of military origin, in keeping assume the contemporary reader's familiariry with with the quasi-military role of the Forcc, and with
UIIiflrl7ls
eo....I. Gears'" Ra ..dotph P_rk.... (laler Maj.Wa., "c, cc, ca, MC), at "''bi.ellol'M, \',.],;0" Terrhory in "9')- Th", bro ... fur ClIp with _r Hap" and Ih", dark bl..... "lockin5~ on.,.....0.... ...ith mocca i .. ~ were .c.a..... rd w"n",r "'ear. Nou, DliHllod ..r ..·.... ri .. ~ pislotlaayard ....der bolh IIho.. lder IIcraps.. On", ofiM IDGSI disLia~"'ed al .. m ..i or th.. For.,.... which II.. t...n in 'gl" P_rk.... w .... lIi§ "C at PI' seh"'......,I'" i.. 19'7 ...ith iM 5th c......adia. Mo.....m Rift...... H", was GOC Ill' c......adia.A Division in '!H0 Mini I...r or Nalio,..] Dd.....""" in '957 60; ..... d Lieul t Go"e.r..or or 8riti§h Columbia ill 1960 68. (RC-\1P) DSO,
Consl. Ma~ha.l.I o ...side tAe lI.abl., al Writin~.......ston., P .... t, 'g'~ Thill PAoI05",ph IIAOWII IAe reaJiti" or til'e at a ..m.a.l.I RN~1P f'Ol" 0" d.e pra..iries: "''''5A 105 bu.ildin~~ alld .. 'hlrdy. ,ba~ted Aonle wilh rra)"ed baraelll... The .,.,..stabte'll clodli.., is m .. ch the Ome a~ a cirilia..'., St.,I_... dark bl..e pea_jackel. t_ther chap~ .....d brown teather p ....de.». Th", oddte i' a modifim ..inr;te-ciAcb CaliforDia "tock pan ...ru. (RCMP)
vital aspects, which are thus len unmentioned, to the subsequelll confusion of today's readers. But documents do cstablish dates when patterns of uniforms were modified, and they do specify colours-an important supplemelll to black and white photographs, which, before the invention of panchromatic film in I goo, reproduced scarlet, dark blue and )'e1low in almost identical shades of grey. In keeping with Sir John A. 1'lacdonald's demand that the uniforms of the new police force be kept Mmple and practical, the Norfolk jacket was initially adopted as the tunic for all ranks. Similar to the well-known civilian jacket but buttoned to the neck and with a stand-up collar, il was issued to the HJUt Echnnt, Prince of Wain DO a ",,.il ,A Re:Jina ia '9'9 ...... c.h,
c...non. Aylesworth Bow", Pu-ry, 010 (.,....-23}.la .gao p...u.a. becam", th.. 6 ...1 1I000nry COmmi...';o....r of do", ReMP. Pu-ryjoi..ed Ih.. fore..... • 882. ..... i.oupector,_~
riflhl, do",
ia .h.. 1~ R ......llioo and ;". ~.. rio.. ~ commaad~ h .. presided with kill o.'",r th.. I..... fonnalioo of the fo,...,.. i.tlo a modCTII natio 1 polic.. as..ocy. H ..r .. h" ......... th.. dark bl..", Servi"", Ord..r ;form. NOI.. I ¥ ca...I..,. ,.word carried by offi""'r oa I"fl.
,rea' ..
Canadian Militia in the I 860s. Contemporary photos support the complaints of its untidy and unsoldierly appearance, but fOI' all Ihat, it was a good choice for the uniform of the newly formed :'lonh Wesl Mourlled Police in 1873-4: made of heavy scarlet serge with a wool lining, it was warm, and had plellly oflargc pockets. The fact that il only fitted where it touched meant that it was al least comfortable. Issued from 1'lilitia stores with a dark blue collar Platc All, it was soon provided with brass 'NW1'IP' buttons. The cloth belt was usually replaced with a brown leather snake-clasp bell with 'i\lP' in raised letlers. Dark blue cavalry pattern o\'eralls with a double white seam Stripe, or Ian or grey cord breeches, black boalS, and a pillbox cap or white helmel completed the unifonn. The contingent which joined the Force at Dufferin were clothed in the standard Canadian ~Iilitia infantry lunic, the 'che\'ron cuff' pattern firsl issued in 1870, or the frock. Wear and tear due to Ihe rigours of the march WCSI wore the uniforms to rags, and no authenticated examplcs of the original uniforms have survi\'ed-although a Norfolk jacket of later issuc, belonging to Supt. L. N. F. Crozier is now preserved in the Bruce County )l'Iuscum, Southamplon, Ontario. Considerable hardship mUSI have been caused by the slowness of supplies of c101hing. 1'11' John A. 1'lartin, a fonner constable and a tailor in civilian life, recalled in an article in the 1933 issue of Ihe ReAlP fbarterly that hides were purchased from Ihe J ndians and that he made up sui IS of buckskin for everyone at Fort Mcleod in the fall of 1875. Due to the lack of surviving records it is difficult to determine the exact details of clothing worn between 1874 and the arrival of new pattern uniforms in late 1876. It is probable that the Norfolk jackel, cord breeches and bools or moccasins were the principal items of dress. A listing of the items carried on the march in April 1876 is contained in a notebook of Sgt. Robert H. Civeen, now in the Clenbow ~Iuscum Archives. It is a copy of orders issued by Assistant Commissioner Macleod, as follows: 'Heavy marching order to be carried on saddle, In blanket rolled behind, I towel, piece of soap, comb, and I pl'. overalls in rear wallct. I shoe, 30 rounds ball ammunition, oil rags and sponge in oOSide wallel, I shoe, 10 rounds ball ammunition,
curry comb and brushes, I pr. socks. Coat and cape rolled over wallet. Nosebag and picket-rope on ncar side, D hobbles on otT. On man Norfolk Jacket, breeches, boots and spurs, helmet; 20 rounds ammunition in pouch. NCOs to wear glasses, men to carry butchers knife in leg of boot (not on belt). By order James F. Macleod, Assl. Commissioner. April '/76. Cloaks rolled 40 in.} Buckles on tOP Capes " 34 in. Buckles on top poinLS 30 in. Blanket " to rear In tht Valut:
,
",Ytar Sidt
Off Sid,
pair drawers , shirt Plume case & plume 1 pair socks 1 flannel \-esl , pair gloves Clothes brush Holdall complete Hair & brass brushes on top of the roll.
, pair overalls I shin 1 pair socks Two towels & soap Two shoe brushes on top of the roll.
I
1
I
In 1M Flap: NtaT Sidt I bolt spur
Off Sid,
, high low [ankle boot] Tin of blacking Curry comb Horse rubber Stable sponge Oil Can
I
bolt spur high low [ankle boot] Button stick Tin of paste Horse brush Pipe clay & sponge Stable bag. I
'Cloaks to be rolled in length 40 inches. Cape to be folded separately length 34 inch(."S, to be placed on top of the cloak and buckled on by the outside straps.'
Weapons and Saddlery The original weapons were the .577 Snider-Enfield carbine, Mk.lll, and the .450 Adams revoh'er, second model. The carbine \\'as carried in a 'bucket' on the right-hand side of the saddle. While this
Aui"t.Connn. G. LJ"nn;nss,(".,!tJI. in f..11 drelUl uniform th sotd aig.. iJI"t1" of ADC eo eb" eo..."noor G"nu'lIl. Noe" or offi""....' 'b.. l1"e-bol,,' bnlid on coll.r. Tb" Wolll"ley bdm"l was inlrod.. c..d for fuJI dr"". arc".. Ib" Fi.... 1 World W.r, ...,placing d." lJni~·".....1 P.Il".... wbil" h"I ... "t, and WIlli IItm in Dr..... R"gu.laliona in '942; howe..."r, an 'ah"rmtl;'·" f..11 dr....' with th" peak..d cap .nd ....d lIuse t .. oi" WIlli a1110 allow.,d, and ~ m .. th" aol" full drellll .fe"r the S«ond World War. J"nningll ""r ..d in South Africa, aod c:on.mand..d 'A' Sqn. RNWMP i .. F nc:e and Belgi.. m, '918. (RCMP)
single-shot weapon was' quite satisfactory for the first few years, by 18]8 many Indians were carrying repeating rifles. To restore parity in firepower, the Force experimcnted with Winehcstcr rifles, and finally adopted the .45-]5 Winchester Model 18]6 military carbine. The first shipment of revolvers to reach the Force at Dllflcrin was poorly packed and many weapons were badly damaged. The armourers resoned to cannibalism to produce enough serviceable weap· ons for the march west, and the shortage was made up by local purchase at Fon Benton. Maj.Gen. Selby Smith, in his repon to the i\linisterofJustice in 1875, noted that recruits had been provided with the improved Smith and \\'esson revolver; however, there had been problems with the weapon, and it
original lances had bamboo shafts, and were probably lipped with the 1868 pattern point, still used today. Officers carried thc 1822 pattern British light cavalry sword with a steel hilt and scabbard, the blade decorated with 'N\\'~1 P', a buffalo head and the motto '~Iaintiens Ie droit'. These were supplied by the London firm of ~laynard. Harris & Grice. NCOs also wore swords, the 1853 other ranks' cavalry pattern with steel hilt and scabbard. Swords were not a regular issue to constables, though there appear to ha\'e been sufficient in store for sword drill to have been perfonned. in training. A small artillery detachment was fonned to operate the twog-pdr. R~I L guns and the two brass mortars brought out on the march west. The g-pdrs. were considered b} some 10 be of doubtful utility: Insp. Denney wrOte that they '... gave us more trouble and crippled more horses than all the rest of the transport'. Commissioner French had counted on using them to stonn Fort Whoop- Up ifresistance was offered by the whiskey traders. The Force left Dufferin equipped with the British Anny Uni\'ersal saddle; ho\\ever, it had some marked deficiencies. The stccl stirrups and buckles rusted easily, and were unbearably cold and COmrni...ioncrf....m 19)8 to 1951, z.. T. Wood,CMG, wears dar" slippery with ice in wintcr. It was not suited for blue Servic:e Order uoiform; nole double .... w of emb iderfll maple I_Veil 00 cap p"'ak, and .... n .. in.il"ia ofCOmrni ioner rough work, and rolled from side to side. The 00 .boulder .I.... p. Wood, too, h.d .ervtld wilh 'A' Sqn. in France. (RCUP) Commissioner preferred the 'McClellan' saddle of the US Army and sevcral were purchased for user was the Gencral's vicw that the improved Adams trials, but not adopted. A number of California should be issued to all ranks. The precise pattern of saddles wilh Texas rigging were obtaincd at the Smith and \Vesson was not mentioned, but Benton, and proved so satisfactory with their authorities on the subject think it may have bcen comfortable scat and double cinch (girth) that this the.44 calibre Smith and \Vesson American Model. saddle was adopted by the Force. With thc A shipmcnt of the .450 calibre Adams revolver, introduction orthe California saddle the carrying of third model, was received in 1875, and the Force the carbine moved from the 'bucket' to a strap was complctely equipped with this weapon. fastened to the pommel. On several occasions during the early yean; some troopers found thcmselves armed with the lance, a most unlikely weapon for police work on the New unUorlDs, 1876 prairies. On the mareh Wt'St 20 picked men were Dunng 1875 the need for appropriate uniforms to formed into a corps ortancen; to impress the Indians replace the hastily acquired garments of 1873 as the column moved into the Blackfoot country. A became pressing. The lack of differentiation photograph of 1878 shows a troop on parade with between officers and men led to cases of lances at Fort \\'alsh, with the red-over-white insubordination being explained by constables on swallow-tail pennon still in usc today b} the RC~IP the grounds Ihat they could not identify officers. ~Iusical Ride; hUlthe lance soon became relegated. The officers also wanted a distinctive and to ceremonial parades and gymkhana e\'ents. The impressive uniform in keeping with their social, as
I: Constable, 1874 2: mllpe<:lOr, rllll dress, 18761JtlI. 3: Inspector, undre!lS, 1876 IllH.
, /.
A
---------------I: Stafrsgt.., UJldre88, 1876 Pln. 2: COllstable. run dre88, 1879 3: Constable, 'sc:arletserge', 1878
1
I: SlaCfSgt.,rull dreg, 1886 2: Superlntelldent, undreli8. 1890 3: Sgt...AIaJ., undreM, 1890
c
I: Superinlendelll. full dre88, 1886 2: wpedor, full d~, 1910 :J: Cornnable, patrol dre88, 1890
1
D
3
1: ConBta b le, 1897 Jubilee, 1910 2: ColUltable, I'ull d~r"lce Order, 1904
3:
\~t.e.rinl!lry SUflCeon,
3
E
I: ~t. Commls8loner, ruB dre88, 1930 2: Trooper, II Sqn. RNWI'olP; Siberia, 191.9
3: Sgt., No.1 Prou)St Co.; UK. 1942
2
F
I: Superintendent, CuJl dre88, 1967 2: Superintendent, Review Order, 1967 3: Superintendent, mess kit, 1967
G
I: Con,tRbk!, Service Order, 1960 2: Female eon!ltAbk!, full dress, 1987 3: Con'lItbk!, full dre88, 1987
, I~
1
•
~~~. -
--""-~-
0- ..-.•...c" -:~-
------~.
=-= /
2
H
well as their military status; and :.l smart uniform for other ranks would be an aid in recruiling and reenlistment. Inlhe field, adequate protection against the extreme cold of the prairie winter was obviously essential. At that time it \vas customary in Canada for ~Iilitia units to have a large say in the choice of their un..ifonns, and the ~lounted Police followed this practice. The officers chose a very elaborate full dress see Plate A2" the tunic being ofBritish hussar pattern in scarlct wi III gold frogging and braid, dark blue trousers, a gold lace pouch belt and a beautifully embroidered pouch, thc whole topped with a whitc India-pattcrn cork foreign SCI"\;ce helmet with a white horsehair plume. A costly scarlet and gold s....ord belt and slings supported the 1822 pattern sword in a steel scabbard. A smart c\'eryday undress uniform see Plate A3 was also authorised. Scarlet was chosen for the tunics of all ranks, partly becausc it was the traditional British military colour, partly to avoid confusion with the blue·c1ad l:S Army during an) dealings with the Indians. Stars and crowns on the collar, combined with varying patterns of sleeve and collar braid, indicated officers' ranks. Ordered from ~lessrs. ~Iaynard, Harris & Grice of 126 Lcadenhall St., London during 1876, the uniforms arrived in early 1877. The invoice for Supt. James Walsh's completc SCt, including mess kit, totalled £105 '7s. gel. Despitc a numbcr of complaints about the quality of workmanship, this company continued to supply uniforms for all ranks for a number of years. Surviving examples of both full dress and undress lUnics are made ofmalerials of fllle quality; and the lack of wear seems to indicate that full dress was worn comparatively seldom. The aim of differcntiating between officers and other ranks was achieved: sergeanlS and above wore a scarlet infantry I"ull dress tunic ofgood quality wool fabric, with gold lace and braid on collar and cuffs (sec Plate Bl); or an undress tunic of scarlet wool serge with gold collar lace only. A brown leather pouch bcit with black binocular case, and an 1853 pattern cavalry other ranks' sword completed their distinctions. The full dress for constables and corporals (see Plate 82 included a scarlet tunic of good quality wool fabric with yellow collar and cuff braid, and the white 'I ndian' or 'Ashantee' pattern foreign service helmet, worn without a badge.
The SI. Rot:' was buill u ... RC:\1P A.retie aupply amp Ua'!I"8. U..der Ihe command of ~1. H. A. Lar...,.. "he sailed in '9010 from V...cou.·er, arrivin8 ... lIalif.... in lale '906" via !.he North W61 Pa"1ia8e--t.he fiNI vnsel 10 do lIO from west 10 roul. Apin under Lar"en's command, she mad .. Ihe rel ...... jou....ey of 7,295 ",ilell i.. 86 days in '9+f. She is p~...,"·ed 1101 !.he V ... couver Maritime ~tu"eum, in Ihe <':11 .... of Parb Canada. Insp. (lau,r Supt.) ""'nry Absjorn Larsen, skipp"'r of th", St. Rot:lt in '9010 ..... ill "how" h"' .... in rull dr", "uniform. Amonl hi" medals a .... lhe Atlantic and P..",ifoc Sian, and Ih", oetaJII:onal Polar Mc:dal with ban 'Arctic '9040 42' and 'Ar"'ti", '944'· (RCMP)
Uniform changes, .882 In 1882 the Force adoptcd in place of the Adams the .476 Enfield Mark II revolver, a superior weapon which remained standard until 1905. There was a slight modification to the constable's full dress lunic, its yellow shoulder cords being replaced by a yellow.braided scarlct cloth strap; this tunic remaincd in usc, otherwise unchanged, ulllil 1904· The major change was to the uniform 01" senjor NCOs: lhe t876 full dress lunic was abandoned in favour of one of idcntical cut to thai of lhe constables, but \\ ith gold-braided collar and cuffs; and an 1822 pattern ea\-alry sword in a black !camel' scabbard with slN'1 mounts replaced the 1853 pattern sec Plate CI for this uniform. 33
Officers' uniforms, .886 Dress Rcgulationsof 1886 authorised a less cosdy set of uniforms. The hussar-style full dress was replaced by a dragoon-pattcrn uniform (see Plate 1)1) with scarlet collar and cum, \vorn with a brown leather pouch bell and black binocular case; and brown leather sword belt and slings, also worn with undress. Rank badges were altered as follows: Commission" crown and star on collar, triple Austrian knot on cuff; AsS/slant Commission" crown, triple knot; Supuinlmdmt two stars, double knot; bu/Ndor star, single knot. 'The ~\\'~IP retained LEH RC.\IP const.ble in ...·inler dothin,;, Ig6o.; bro...·n fur cap, dark blue arloa pa........·ith do ...-n.filllHI q ..ihlHll.i..nio,;, ...·oollrnv-.-s and hidt! trUII.hll.s. n.e parka repl.ced Ih" old burr.lo coal for cold ...·nth"r u_, u:ceJH for ...me cen:monial duti--. (RC."lP)
CE,\TRE Wi.nl",r ....ifo....., .g6o, wi.b Ibe b..rr.lo ..... 1 worn since Ibe 18705i thou8h -nn, tbey W"'n: bnvy. and by 1960 buffioJo bid.,. W"'n: l-Carce. From I.bi. d.l", they W"'n: ""PI for parad""" ...d dul wh"'re e.... need for sm.nn.,.s rullHI ....1 110" par...... Note bro ·o Slr~lhcona bool,., )·eUow....lriped blue breech.,. a.od bro"'n fur cap. (RCMPj
34
collar rank badges although lhe Canadian Militia had already followed the British Army in moving them to the shoulder straps.) Although the pillbox cap was retained, a folding Ficld Service cap was introduced for undress, in dark blue with a yellow top. A dark blue universal cavalry paltern undress tunic, with black braid, was also authorised fS(."C Plate C'2 ,; and a morc practical single-breasted scarlet serge Patrol Jacket for Field Service was adoptt.-d as \\orking llilifonn. Brown leather gauntlets replaced white. ~ledical officers were ordered to \\ear black waist and pouch belts with a black instrument case.
Officers' uniIorDls, ISgo The next Dress Rc&"Ulatioll.!l seem to represent the RIGIIT Dnun Major (Const.j C. Sc:brumm in R~;"w Order, ,g60. Th", p .. rple sho..ldu belt is I."IHI ..... e.mbroiderlHI in l0l.d"";th ,10" Divi".ion .... m" 'Ou_wa', aad Ihe ba.de ho..ou.-. 'North W.,.".e
ea...d. ,885" 'South Arri~ Illgg; '9'»'. 'F....ace .. Ftaod...... '9'8'••Dd 'Siberia '919'-bul 'Europ" '939 '45' ill "1 ......I""y mi"..inl· n." bad~", On 110", nlbl (;Iee~-" iadical'" • druID In.jor, io 110", RCM.P all .ppoinlmenl Or q .......ificalioo rath"'r than _ ......1.. (RC."IPj
t
defeat of a move towards simpler and less costly uniforms. Urown leather waist and pouch bells were now relegated to undress only; for full dress, gold laced belLS with purple celllre lighls and matching slings wcre authorised, and the embroidered full dress pouch was reintroduced. A helmet plate appeared, of the same design as the undress pouch badge. A white twill summer Patrol Jacket for Field Service was authorised alongside the scarlet pancrn; and officers \\('re also permitted to wear khaki patrol jackets and breeches for patrol duty_ The use ofblack Persian lamb gauntlcLS, and caps of the same fleece \\·ith a yellow 'bag', as introduced for winter wear in 1886, was continued. The distinctions ofmcdical officers were changed to black leather \\ aist belLS "tith two lines of gold lace, and matching slings; and a black pouch belt with three gold lines for Senior Surgeons, two for Assistant Surgeons. Veterinary Surgeons were to wear white patelll leather \\aist and pouch belLS and slings, and black leather instrument cases. Rank badges were unchanged, though Senior Surgeons arc no" listed as \\'earing two stars, Veterinary Surgeons one-Assistant and presumably in acknowledgement of existing practice.
1904 Dress Regulations Because the nature of their work subjected the elothing of the N\\'~IP to unusually hard wear, there was cominual correspondence between field detachments and Headquarters on the subject of suggested improvements. In the period 18gg-lgo4 experience in thc Klondike and South Africa helped to bring about major changes. In 1goo the following changes in other ranks' uniforms were listed in the Commissioncr's Annual Report: Discord/!d: White helmet; pillbox c"p; white gauntlets and glovcs; full dress scarlet tunic; bl..'l.ck riding boots; greatcoat; black fur cap; moccasins. AdOpltd: StetsOn felt hat; Ficld Service cap; bro\\ n leather gauntlets and gloves; four·pocket serge frock lllnic; brown Strathcona boots; pea-jacket: fur cap Klondike pattern with earAaps ; brown duck fourpocket Field Service tunic and cord breeches; elk
~.
T ...·o conslabt" in "';Dler Renew Ord..r r;aj,. 8 the IheD-D..... Ca.nadUul m.aple _..arRas> F..brua..,. 1965- Th ..y ear lhescartel l'e'1l'" t""";e, hrown fur hal, yeUo ......lnped btue br-.::b..... and 'stripped' Sam. Browne .... u;pm...nl-;.e....ilhoul ",,"o_~·er. (RCMPj
mitts with wool mitts inside; slicker (raincoat) and sou'w(.'Ster. These changes were mainly the confirmation of actual practice in the fidd; e.g. the Stetson and Strathcona boots had been WOI"ll in the Klondike since 18g8. Tunic collars were now higher, squarecut and fastened by twO hooks and eyt'S. Breeches changed from the old form·filling lype, Aaring out above the knec in the now·standard CUt or riding breeches. Equipment was also up·dated: in 1895 the Force purchased 200 Lce-Metford .303 magazinc carbincs as a possible replacement for the Winchesler. The N\\'~IP inherited some LeeEnfield .303 Mark I magazine riAcs from the Yukon Ficld Force in I goo, and more were purchased; by 1904 this had become the standard arm of the Force. The leather cavalry pattern bandolier, with some loops for re\'olver ammunition, was worn o\'er the left shoulder. In 1<)05 the Colt :"cw Scn.;ce .45 35
scarlCI serge replaced the dark blue universal cavalry pattcm undress tunic; and a peaked forage cap, dark blue with yellow band (cherry for medical officers, maroon for velerinary surgeons al Headquaners) and gold embroidered badge replaced lhe pillbox. The term 'scarlet serge' had by now come into use to describe the tunics worn by all ranks, whether of serge or other wool fabric. During this period the 18g6 officers' pattern British Army cavalry sword came illlo use with a sleel scabbard for full dress, and with a brown leather-covered scabbard when worn with Ihe Sam Browne.
SlaJJ~L R. R. Coon ill Mounled M"';« Order, '970' dar" blue lunic:, bro..'" office.... pallern Sam Browne ....d pu..deu, yello ......lriJlftl dar" blue breec.bes., bro..·.. 51",lh"ona booIS.I" full dress or'RmewOrde"'lhe scarlet: luni" would repla"..,the dark blue, The Colo..;al pall'"-rn ..ddl.., hall a dar" blue doth ,,';lh )',"-lIow edA"inS .nd co..joilled 'MP'; the '908 pall..,.... ea.-a.lry s ..·ord is allached ,. lh.., ..ddl.., ;" a bro..... lallher
~"""n1.
calibre revolvcr replaced the Enfield, and Sam Browne equipmcnt was issued to carry il. NCOs' uniforms changed in the same fashion as constables' and all worc a smaller version ofLhe cap badge as collar badges, in blackened silver on the brown duck tunic, in brass on all oLhers. Sergeant Majors were now permitted LO weal' a dark blue four-pocket frock tunic on certain dudes, their chevrons on a red ground. \VorSled chevrons were worn on thc brown tunic. Officers' uniforms were ll1
The Royal North-West Mounted Police In 1904 the :\W~IP was grallloo the designation 'Royal' in recognition of its members' services in the South African War; this elllailed the addition of 'Royal' to the title on all badges and bUllons, and brass shoulder titles changed from -XW~IP' to 'RNW~IP·. The major change was to the facing colour on all tunics. The whole collar, Ihe shoulder straps and the cuffs on officers' tunics changed to dark blue. On other ranks' tunics lhe shoulder straps became dark bluc but the collar rcmajned scarlet wiLIt dark blue gorget patches, a measure designed to cut the COStS of conversion and to diffcrellliate officers from Olher ranks. Uniforms of the RCMP With the change of title in 1920, 'Royal Canadian ~Iountcd Police' appeared on bultons and badges, and shoulder Ii ties changed from 'RNWMP' 10 'RCMP'. Although everyday working uniforms became steadily more practical in the inter-war period, officers' full dress, though optional, was retained and even elaborated for senior ranks, such ilems as a cocked hat and frock coat being illlroduccd. Wearing of full dress (Plate fl) was restricted to special parades and such ceremonial duties as accompanying the Governor General as an ADC on his marc formal appearances. The !gOB British Army cavalry pattern sword was carried by officers and senior NCOs, and the Wolseley helmet replaced the old 'Ashanlee' paltern. Officers made increasing usc of the undress dark blue tunic, now cut like the standard Army khaki service dress tunic with an open collar, worn with a white shirt and dark blue tie. The brown
Service Order tunic, similarly cut, became the daily \\orking uniform, wom with either the peaked cap or the StelSOn. The use of the scarlet serge by constables was gradually limited to full dress occasions and the brown tunic was worn for most duties, with a light tan shin and dark blue tie. This remains the principal uniform today (Plate HI)_ The problem ofcold weather clothing was met by increasing the numbers of layers of undergarments, usually wool, under the buffalo coal. The men were not relieved of carrying around this considerable ....-~ight until the appearance of dOlI n-insulated nylon parkas in the late 19500. In the Arctic, c101hing based on the gannents worn by the Inuit and Indians, \\hich utilist.-d the principle of air entrapmelll 10 retain body warmth, was widely used. The 1928 Dress Regulations list the following standard issue: Sweaters or \\'indbreakers Tuques knitted wool caps Shirts, ~Iakinaw z Kouletahs under-parka of hide with fur inwards Anikis outer parka, fur outwards Pants, heavy, deer skin Pants, light, deer skin ~Iitts, heavy, deer skin 2 ~Iitts, light, deer skin 2 Socks, light, deer skin 2 pI' Socks, heavy, deer skin 2 pI' Shon and long dume socks were an alternative issue for Ihe deer skin items. The hide clothing was made up by native people and purchased locally. The drawback was that this type of clothing needed continual repair, the taskofa man's wife in the Inuit family. Ret"l P patrols sometimes included wives of Inuit guides foJ' this purpose. Full dress for officers was still included in the '942 Dress Regulations but after the Second World War it was dropped, and the uniforms shown in Plates C & H became the standard still worn today. The major innovation was the Review Order uniform for female members (Plate }-12); for all olher orders of dress women wore similar clothing to males. In 1970, to reAcct the bilingual nature of Canadian society, 'Gendarmerie Royale du Canada' ap"" peared on shoulder Rashes, and metal shoulder titles were altered to ·CRC-RC~lP'.
Officers' rank badges since 1903 From the beginning the Force had used the same crowns and stars as the ~lilitia, in turn followed exaclly the practice of the British Army. The military background and experience of many officers of the Force inclined them to value army rank alx)\"e their ~loullted Police rank: in official correspondence Commissioner r.,lacicod was usually referred 10 as 'Col. ~laclcod', bis former ~(ilitia rank. As late as 1923, when Commissioner Pcrry retired he \\ as promoted major-general and was known in retiremelll as ·Cen. Perr).' The effect ofthcse military traditions was a desire on the part of Ihe officers of the Force 10 ha\"e a clearly visible paril} with mililary officers, in the shape of rank badges. As the Force expanded the Commissioner rose from \\earing the same rank insignia as an Army colonel in 1876 to thai of a Iieutcnant-general in IgB7. In 1903 the sp)lem of acknowledging seniorilY in a rank was introduced by a 'step up' in insignia, thus avoiding the eost!} need to create new ranks. This system apparently became confusing, with as many as three different ranks being indicated by identical insignia; eventually new ranks were introduced and the system was simplified. In 1903 badges were revised in order to retain equivalency with the ~\'Iilitia, whose highest rank was now mf\ioJ'-gencral, and to recognise seniority. Insignia \I'ere moved from the collar to the shoulder straps, in gilt metal cxcept for full dress, when silver
'''10
(Left) firsl bulton, bra!>s, used on Norrolk jacket from ,8H· (RighI) NWMP bonon ;"Corl)()rllting buffalo head, ... suggesled by Cumm. Macleod, probably inlruduccd with ,876 paller" uniform". With I.he accell8ion of KinA Edward vn the crown became the King'lI type; after '904 'RNWMP' replaeed 'NWJ\lP'; the Kin!,s crown walll worn from '920 10 '9S"; and Ihe 'EllR' bUlloo io Ulie liince '954 fealures the ReMP c ....st.
37
embroidered stars and crowns were combined with a singk Austrian knot on the cuff lor all ranks: Commissioner Crown, two stars Assistam Commissioner Crown, star Superintendent Crown Inspector Star " with 10 ycars in rank Two stars Surgeon Crown Assistant Surgeon Star 10 years 111 rank T\\o stars Vetcrinary Surg:t."On One Star 10 years in rank Two stars In an effon to avoid creating new ranks further changes \\ere made in 1909: Inspectors: Assistant & Veterinary Surgeons: With 5 years in rank Two stars With 10 years in rank Three stars In the 19205 additional recognition \\ as accorded to longscrvice by meansofinsignia which raised the status of ,\ lountc
,8,6 """.,rn lun;c ",I.,eve and collar braid, in gold lac.,. (L.,n) Commi",s;on.,...-w;.h crown on collar; As"i,. ....nl Commin;on.,...-wilh .ar. (Cenlre) Su~rin•.,nd.,nl_W;lh crown on colh'r. (Righi) Inlil",c'o.....-wi.h Ii,;or on collar.
•<
Inspector Two Sla rs (5 years in rank) Three slars " (15 years in mnk) Crown Surgeon Three stars .. (10 years in rank Crown 120 years in rank) Crown, star Assistant Surgeon Two stars Veterinary Surgeon Two stars Three stars 5 ) cars in rank 15 years in rank Crown Assistant Vetcrinary Surgeon Two stars Commis:.ioner Sir James ~lacBricn 1931 38 imroducc
1960.
2 Pouch.... "'orn by office.....nd .""ior NCO... (r)NWMP officers' f .. 11 dr"1I pouch, .8J'4i pallern: purple ...~Ivct Rap, sold lac," and embroidery, lIilv",," burralo hud. (~) RNWMP onie......• pouch, tbe .... me all .bove bu. IIlight.ly larller and ...;,h add~ 'Royal'. Afu:r '920 the inllcrip.ion beea.me 'Royal Canadian Mounted
was created between Superintendent and Assistant Commissioner. Inspcctors and Sub·! nspcclOrs were gIven more senior insignia, allowing the 1IlIroduction of military general ofTicers' insignia for the Commissioner and DCPUI y Commissioner, thus: Commissioner Crown, sword and baton Deputy Commissioner Star, sword and baton AssiSlanl Commissioner Crown, three stars Chief Superintendent Crown, two stars Supcrilllcndcllt Crown, star InspcclOr Crown Sub·lnspector Three stars This system of insignia remains in use today. A distinction enjoyed by Inc :\.IOUllted Police is to pro\Cide aides-de-camp to thc Go\-emor General of
4 Police', bUI since Ihe pouch beame an oplional iu,m e>
Canada and to the LielltenaIH Governors of the Provinces, all of whom represent the Sovereign in theirjurisdictiolls. A gold aigllil1cltc is worn on the right shoulder in full dress wilh thc scarlet tunic, and with tht' dark bluc tunic in Service Order.
NCOs' rank badges since 1876 NCOs' rank badges have changed little over the years. Chevrons and crowns arc still used to denote non-commissioned ranks in a system similar, though nOI idelllicallo that of the Victorian British Army. In 1876 non-commissioned ranks were: Sergeant ~lajor Four-bar chc\Ton below cro\\ n, point down, "lxlVe cuff Senior Slan- Ser~ealll Four-bar che\Ton below 39
crown, point up, above cu(r Stan' Sergeant F'our·bar chevron, point up, above cuff Sergeant Three-bar chevron beloh crown, point dOh n, abovc elbow Corporal TwCd on chevrons. Chevrons continued to be worn on the right only, the left sleeve being reser\'ed for five· point service stars above the c1bo\\, and marksmanship badges above the cuf[ In IgOO the Corps Sergeant ,\Iajor followed the practice ofArmy RSr..ls and adopted the insignia of the Royal Arms of Canada on the forearm; Staff
Sergeant Majors now wore a wrealll(~d crown in the same position. Rank badges today arc as follows: Corps Sergeant :\l;:~or Royal Arms, above cu(r Sergeant i\lajor Four·bar chevron below crown, point down, above cuff Staff Sergeant i\lajor Wreathed crown, above cuff Staff Sergeant Four-bar chevron, point up, above cuff Sergeant Three-bar chC\ron below crown, point do\\ n, above elbow Corporal Tw
quartermaster. The red Geneva eross on a while disc \\-as worn by hospital stewards and attendants before 19+0, when civilian staff of the Department of\'eterans' Affairs began to take over the Force's medical needs. Two badges are today worn on the left breast above the pocket and any medal ribbons. The ~larine Division badge is a crown abovc' ~Iarine', a \Hcathcd anchor to the left and a ship's \\ heel 10 the right. The Air Ililot's badge, embroidered in yellow silk on dark blue fol' all colours of tllnic, had 'RCivlP' within an oval maple wreath between wings; in 1976 gold replaced yellow embroidery, the lettering changed to 'RC~IP-GRC', and a crown was added above the wreath. NWMP
"on~l.able·"
Karlet lunie wiLh )·ellow braid, .1Ilb pllllera; lhi .. is Lhe saune Lhe 1876 pan",rn ex""'Pl WI Lhe Poulder I'lraps """ now rlel doth rdllrd wilh yellow b ... id. No collar bad~ or ..ho..lder LirJes "-en: "·OrD. Thl! ....u.1 bell WIll< brow.. lealher wirJo • slHI buckle; rJoe wh;le ero.. 'rap s.,ppor1 .. Ihl! !la,·enac:k. In ...., until .go •• I.M WIll< the '~rtet coal' _ f.""ilioo.r aero.. Ihe Canadian P .... iries. (Glenbow
M.,se.,m)
The Ploles Ill: Co"slabk 1874 Based on a cOlllcmporary photograph of Const. Archib."1ld Hare "caring Ihc first 'Xorfolk jacket' uniform; the blue collar here shown turned down is copied from the onl) known surviving example, that of Supt. Crozier, and is less than obviolls in early photographs taken without panchromatic film. Breeches might be tan, grey, white or dark blue, all these colours being issued. The cloth belt was usually replaced by a brown leather belt to support the holster when 011 dUlY. 112: I"sputor, ojJiur's jull drw. 18]6 jJalttrn Based on a photograph of the famous Sam Steele. There was no full dress sabretache; the undress pattcrn was worn from plain bro\\ n undress slings when mounted. Note light brown band around helmet.
A3: 11Ispec/or, oifiur's IlIIdms, 18J6 pattern everyday working uniform; the tunic fastened with a series of hooks and eyes. The black patent leather binocular case was worn on the pouch belt, with a gilt badge, Based on a photograph oflnsp. E. D. Clarke. Background: Lower Fon Carry, the Hudson's Bay Company headquancrs at Red River \,here the first contingent ofthe N\\'~I P trained in t873-74the binhplace of the Force, preserved toda) as a national historic site by Parks Canada.
Th~
BI: Staff sergca1//, undress, 18;6 pattern \Vhen WOI'll with the pillbox cap, lhe 1876 full dress tunic constituted a version of undress; for full dress it was worn with the white helmet, brown leather waist belt and holstcr. Chevrons, offici all) \\'orn on the right sleeve only, are seen in some photographs on both sleeves; notc apparemly white backing here. The 1853 panern British cavalr) sword in a steel scabbard was ror ceremonial rather than for uS<.
B2: C01ls/ab/e,jull dms, 1879 The full dress uniform introduced in 1876 remained little changed until 1903. The white linen haversack, often worn rolled up on parade, was a 4'
distinctive leaturc of full dress as well as a practical carry·all on othcr occasions. The tunic was of go
• •
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o
•
•
forestock and nosecap, introduced in 1878 to replace the single-shot Snider Enfield. In summer the dark blue pillbox cap with a yellow band replaced the fur winter cap. Tunic and breeches were worn tight and close-fitting. Balkground: Fort Walsh, head
The full dress introduced for senjor ~COS in 1882; based on a photograph of William Parker. The pouch belt supported a black leather binocular pouch with brass monogram; the white cross strap supports the haversack. By this date NCQs carried the 1822 pattern British cavalr, sword. Chevrons, worn here abo\'e the Austrian knot, sometimes had the knot superimposed. Note North West Canada i\ledal for .service in the 1885 rebellion, with bar 'Saskatchewan '. C2: Supmntmdtni, unduss, 18f:p
The British cavalry pattern undress tunic was adopted in 1886, as was the Field Service cap with cmbroiderl'd badge. If parading with constables in full dress, officers wore the white helmet with this tunic.
-
C3: &rgeant ."dajor, undress, lOgo The dark blue senior NCOs' undress tunic was adopted in c.[B86, although the scarlCl serge was also retained. Note cloth-covered button securing end of cap 'bag'. Background: Thc Riding School, Depot Division, Regina was built ill 1888, and destroyed in a speclacular firc in 1920. It greatly improved mounted training, which could now be carricd out in all weathers.
D I: Superi1//trldmi ,full dress. 18$
The British Army dragoon-pattern tunic was adoptl:d in this year. Brown leather pouch belt, waist belt and sword slings wcre introduced as an While li.. ~n ha"..,...,d. beJou!in!! (0 RE'I.No. 26,1 ConSI. Mich.a~J Sdo.a.ab, NWMP. Inlroduced i 876 and in use .... til '9"3 a§ pan orrull d unirorm, thi ry pnocf.ical il~m waS ...orn _ltb all ord or dr....lI, on panod~ Or patrol. (Gt ....bo_
Museum)
economy' measure, but were unpopular, and were relegated to undress use in IBgo. The black leather binocular pouch was worn in place of the embroidered pouch. No badge was \\-om on the helmet. /)2: Ins/ltclor,full dress, 19/0 The gold lace pouch belt, waist belt and sword slings with purple 'Iiglus' were imroduced in IBgo; rank badges \\ere transferred to the shoulder cords in 1903, and the collar and curfs became dark blue with the designation 'Royaf in 1904. Collar badges also appeared in [903. By 1910 the 1908 pattern cavalry sword was in usc. Note gilt badge 011 helmet.
OJ: Constable, polroJ drtSs, 18g0 The brown cotton duck working uniform worn for fatigues and patrols had been in use for some years; it gradually ('voked into a smart, tailored garment, while remaining more practical for rough travel than the scarlet serge. The 'dccrslalkcr'-stylc cap was a practical innovation, givingsomc shade to the eyes, though hardly elegant. Note long stirrup length of the California saddle, and the horn to \\ hich the carbine was auached. Background: The Commanding Officer's Housc at Fort Battlcford, 1885; a substantial house in the Gothic Revival style, it still stands today at Fort Baulcford national historic park.
1:.3: r't/trinary Surg~on. Sm.'iu Ord~r, I!)OJ Onl) surgrons al Headquarters wore the special coloured cap bands. Note the ne\\ Iy introduced Sam Bro\\nc cquipmelll, and the 18g6 pattern British cavalry sword. Background: NWrvl P post at Dawson City in the Klondike, 19°'2. Log buildings like this substantial and practical, but oOering spartan comfort were erec(t."d b) the Force throughout the prairies and the Yukon. Fl: Assistant Commissio/ler,fuJJ dress. 19]0 Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners \\ore the cocked hat with full dress with B in. and 6 in. plumes respectively during tll(' [930S, when the S"~lch of NWMP co""'labl,,'. kil layoul pI..... cO"5id~... b", amou .. 1 o( .. il had 10 M aceounlrd
'88.4-
A
(0.. at
ia.li~o.a.,
i.ncludia!!\ the ho.....'. bridle. Mi_ia!!l (rom this layoul are the 'Kadel ""''"'!!Ie', pillbo" cap, ...,~...h-c.. 1to151~" a ..d belt, p"""u...ably beia!!: WOrft (or the ias~o... Bar....c .. beds .1 Ihi.. date ",·c.-e ...·OO
cA'rfVdb r!JD
-@ tlJ......~
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dd~u.&j-t
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£1: Conslable. Diamond JubiJtt, lfig7
The scarlel serge undress tunic and nc\\ I) introduced Stetson hat \\erc worn rather than full dress in Queen Victoria's Diamond J uhilec parade; and created a striking image of a practical, down-la-earth body of Illen in contrast to the exaggerated finery of some of the other troops taking part. ~ote ']6 Winchester carbinc and bandolier of 15 75 cartridges.
£2: Constable,full drw, 1910 The dark blue gorget patches had indicated the 'Royal' designation since 1904. The cavalry pattern bandolier carries ammunition for the new Lee ~tetford carbine; a waterproof coat was carried behind the saddle, a valise cOlllainjng the peajacket in front.
Ad- 'P ~ t....... --c
t.-I-......, ~
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43
lI.,h...,1 _ida RCMP bad!., ..·0.... by fo .......,r rn"rnbe... of Ih" Dornin;o.. Pol;ce aflu arnalllarn"tion _ilh RC."1P in 1!t2Oj Ih.,.,. co.. tinued 10 "'ear lhar blue unifo........ in Ou....,. until Ih" early '9JOS> wh"", th"Y adopted ~Ialion RCMP scarl""(RCMP Mu""un.)
PilIbo" ClIp d...:onc;on in lJold b ...id and la«:: these caP'!' those .ho...... in Pial.,. "3 (lOp) and 8, (bouo.... ).
lln'
Ddails: Top RC),! P plate worn on blue helmet by '1\' Division, Ottawa, which consisted mainly of
IBgo uniform rcached ilS apogee. By the 1942 men absorlx'Ci from the Dominion Police in 1920. Regulations it was optional, and the peaked cap Boltom RNW~IP brass cap badge, 1910. and 'scarlet serge' could be worn alternatively. Note 1896 pattern sword still worn by Ihis officer, based Gl: Superinletldmt.fllll dms, 'rfi7 on a photograph of Asst. Comm. Worsley, who had Officers have dark blue collars amI cuffs, while commanded 'B' Sqn. RN\\'l\IP in Siberia. For this other ranks have dark blue gorgel patches only. campaign he was awarded the Japanese Order of Plailcd shoulder cords were detachable from the the Rising SUIl, which he wears here with the British dark blue cloth shoulder straps. This is the tunic known today as the 'stadet serge'. Full dress is still War and Victory medals. worn today, but restricted to vcry 'high profile' ceremonial occasions. The 1908 pattern cavalry F2: Trooper, 'IJ' Sqll. RNWi\lP; Siberia 1919 The unit wore standard Canadian Army mounted officer's sword is always worn wilh the knot troops' khaki uniform, with RNW]\'IP collar and unwrapped. cap badges: nOlc Corps sleeve patch. Ig08 pattern other ranks' cavalry swords were carried, the G2: Supm'''letldent, ReuifflJ Ordn-, '!li7 \\'orn by officers when parading with other ranks in guards painted khaki-brown. full drt.'ss; Ihis uniform is still regulation, but is seen less and less frequently. Notc cavalry pattcrn Sam Fj: So-geanl, So. 1 ProtYJsl Company; England, 1!}p Regulation Canadian paltcrn khaki batllcdress was Browne wilh whistle. Obscured here, Ihc purs havc worn, with the RC),! P b••dge backed red on the FS chains beneath the inslep. cap, RC),IP shoulder lilies, a ),Iililary Police brassard jusl bclo\\ the righl elbo\\, and the sleeve G3: SU/Nrinlrodent, Jim Kit, 1!1i7 Still worn today for formal c\eningsocial occasions; palch of 1 Canadian Inlhnu) Di\-ision.
out of doors the peaked cap would also be worn. ~linialUrc decorations, if awarded, are worn on the left lapel abO\e the collar badge, Batkground: Left-guidon of RC~II) with battle honours '1"\orth West Canada 1885', 'South Africa 190002", 'Siberia 1919', 'France & Flanders Ig18' and 'Europe 193~45'. Right badge of the (II I ..... Ii_ke Cb.lip .....th .... iliftl 'M.P' ...·0.... on lI'e le-athe.r ~It aSftl with the Norfolk 'pckH, ,814_ (a) NWMP OffiCer'1i ~It pl.'''e, wo...... nder the .876 paue.rn luni ...... lI:ilt with ,.iJ,·cr buffalo head, dark .-I leather belt with lold Iitripcs.. Wo.... after .886 ...ith, 6 ....t, the plaiD leathcr ~It, and later tbe soldlaced belt witl> p .. rple 'Ii!bt' .. nlil '904> ..·he.. 'Ro)"1IlJ' wali added 10 the i..""riJN-ion. Other ra .. k. wore a pia... IillJ.ake
RC~I
P in full heraldic colours.
I-II: Co"stablt, Sm';u Ordtr, [!flo The e"cryday brown working uniform, often worn with the peaked cap and the yellow-striped dark blue trousers, as seen today. Note blue piping edging the bro\\ n shoulder straps, buckle ..';thout the '1\11" unr.il the "'troduc'ion of Sam lro..-nc equipment, '903- (3) RC.'tp ofli"",r'. belt plate, aU Silt, ..- _ from '!PO .. n,ilal leali' '9]9. (4) RC.'IP officer's full drfllii Kilt belt plate wo .... with modified futl dreu post"!H50 ..';110 the ,;old and p .. rple ~hi currently ..-0.... with Q... _.'s cro...... motif. (5) Officer's Ii"-Ord slinS b".cl"Ie, lilt, ,1186 '9]9. (6) Officer'. sword lil.in! ....clde, posl-'!HS-
2
+5
1-12: Ftma/t (otlJ/ab/t.jull dusJ, 19/J}
Devised to retain the distinctive colours and insignia \\ hile presenting an appearance appropriate ror women members or the Force. RiOe and pistol marksmanship badges, and a star roreach five years' service, arc worn on the lert sk'C\'e onl)" as on male unirorms. H3: CotIJlablt.juil drtsJ.
1!Jll7
KnO\\1l in the Force as 'Rc\;e\\ Order', this is worn on ceremonial occasions and speciaJ parades. Len sle('\,(' insignia, where applicable, arc worn as in H2. The shoulder title is 'GRe' in an arc over 'RC.\I P' in a line, The holster is worn on the right side or the Sam Browne, with a combined case rOJ" six cartridges and handcuffs on the len, (I) ,876 patl~rn offic,.r's .... br,.'ach,. b"dg", gilt ....ith "il",.r buffato h,.adj a smaU,.r "",rsion ....'u ....orn on ,h,. undr"",s pouch. N.,ilh,.r offiun nOr o,h,.r rank. "'o~ hetm~, plates unlitaner '904. (2) 'ERVII' bra~" NWMP.,.p badge, '90' 04, arl,.r ....hich 'Royal' ...... add~ 10 the "crott. Coltar badgd ..-~re a smalter O'er ion, i.a bl:acken~ sih,.,r ror Field Mro;ce and
Background: Helicopters and sca·going boats are among the modern methods or transportation widel) used by the Force today,
• • • This has been, necessarily, a much condensed account orthc histor), and the unirorms orthe Royal Canadian .\Jounted Police; and interested rcaders arc rererrcd (0 the rollowing bibliograph) ror rurther reading: Bibliography & Further Reading: Goldring, Phillip Tht First COlltif/gmt ;\'II'MP 18;;-74; Canadian Historic Sites Occasional Papers in Archacology & History No. '21; Parks Canada, Ottawa fatigue lun;':5. AI ,his lime officer>! wore ",... broitler~ cap badges. (3) 'GRVI' bra.." RCMP "'p badg~, (..l 'EUR' b ....... RCMP cap badl\e in u .... since 1!I';2; note that ..inee '!I''I an '5' h.as been added 10 th~ previously incorrect 5po:llinl!: 'MAINTIEN' in the mollo, (.;) Cur...,nt badge, gill ""';,h black e.... mel backing 10 th~ teu~ri.ag and red to Ih~ crown. (RCMP)
Horrall, S. W. 7 he Pictorial /-listory 'oJ tI,e Moul/ted Police 187:J-1973; f\IcGraw-Hill Ryerson, Tor. Onto, 1973 :\lcCuJlough, A. B. Papers relating to Ihe North- IVtst ,Ifounled Poliuand For/lValsh; !\'Ianuscript Report ~o. 213; Parks Canada, 1977 :\leLrod, R. C. Tht XJI'.IfP & Low Eriforumrot 1873- 1905; Uni\'eN.ity ofTorolllo Press; TOI"OIllO. 1976 :\lorgan, Ed\\in Charles .Xorth Il'tsl .\founttd Poliu 18;:J-1883; I>arks Canada .:\lanuscript ,'\'0. 113, 197°· :\Iorrison, \\'illiam R. Shou'mg Ihe Flag. TIlL .\founted POilU alld Canadian
Souuignry
in the Sorlh
JlJ9.j1!J25; University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver, 1985 Xevitt, R. B. ed. Hugh A. Dempsey. A u'inl" at Fort JfadtOd; Glenbow Alberta Insutute, Calgary, t974 Parker, William cd. Hugh A. Dempsey. William ParK." .\founttd Poliuman; Glenbow-Albena In. stitute, Calgary & Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton. 1973 Phillips, Roger F. & Klaneher, Donald J. Arms & AUOlllrroun/s oj Iht Mounttd Poliu 18;3-1973; .:\luseum Restoration Service, Bloomfield, Dill.
19B.
I
Public Archives of Canada. Ruord Group 18. Ro)'al Canadian ,\10111/ltd Poliu; Correspondence, Orders, Dress Regulations, Official Journals etc from 1873 to the prcscm Rtports qf Ihe Commissioner 18;4-1881; Ottawa; AlacLean, Roger & Co. Facsimile edition 'Opening lip the West'; Toronto 1973, Colcs Publishing Co. Reports oj Ihe Commissioner 1886-11187; Ottawa; MacLean, Roger & Co. Facsimile Edition, 'Law & Order'; Toronto 1973, Coles Publishing Co. Reports qf Ihf' Commissioner 1888-1889; Ottawa; Queen's Primer. Facsimile Edition, 'The New WCSt'; TorolllO, 1973, Coles Publishing Co. Ross, David U"ifonns oj tilt NII'MP; RC~IP Quarterly, Summer 1980. Ross, David Two XII'.\I Poliet Uniforms 18;9; Journal of the Society for Army Histoncal Research, Vol. XLVIII, No. 191. London t970 Ross, David UniformsoJlhe. \'orlh lI"esl .1I0unltd Poliu 18;j-1885; A manual for Guides, Parks Canada, Winnipeg, 1987
RCMP hlue Service Order uniform for "enior NCO", c•• g60, fo..... ge cap with ydlow band; King'. CrOwn cap badge bUI Que.,n's crown collar badgc_ 1I0mel;n..,. condoned irregu_ larily; SlafT urg.... nl's gold ch.,vrons wilh Kold Rough Rider badge; b .... u bUllons; omcer's pallern Sam Browne. (Glenbow Mu"eum)
Steele, Samuel B. Forty rcars in Callada; l\IcClclland, Goodchild & Stewart, Toronlo, t91 I. Facsimile Edition 1972, l\IcCra\\-lIill R)-crson, Toronto Turner,John P('ler 7 ht. \'ortn II 'tst .\/oll1lltd Police; 2 \-ols. King's Primer, Ottawa, 1950 Parks Canada publications are a\-ailable on interlibrary loan from I>rovincial Libraries or Parks Canada Libraries.
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A" I),~I''''' u,": I'hOI"Kr~I'"... d·"""IUCd~ I'a~n' de pol,ce Ila",e' la H'''qU' ~ ele prnl'.... n', dile du ·,,,.folk· dll rllff de polKe C"""". col bku. II IC1t1blc qOf' In pa..,.k>mdlSlfllw.. ~"'"1 c'c "-II h:b:ard "".... ~ris, b1 ou !>kill. I:on I--"il u.. ctinhlmn M till< CI un ,'lIi de ~,ol,c< I'Cnd..", I< -;ce Az; Te"lIC d·o/1io..icr r>dcl< n, de 1876. d'.. prc:s UI1C pho
A" Ikruhcnd .. "f "1l~,,,OIIi",hem ~'otO \'(.., <.:o...,ablc 1t. ncI oIlOI 'fhal'en ~blicbc"e". -',,",~l'-Jacke 'Olt ~upni"'endcn, C......... ....... Kr-"lI"n. R,"hoolr" " .."len Ie""nl",r " .. hll<» in Oralln. Gnu, ""OllCll".brll 1m l.l\clt" "urd." I.rd"l,urlool 1I,1d H.lller gClra~n. A.. Olroo G"I,"n,,,",, ,_ '8;>6, naeh emem ft)«) tits .~oh"lach.. ~h uud (;.old 'm bn",dlCn Il_rcn.. d, dcr " .. . - A ...botdod....·1\.. mil ..... 'alochcn R~h"ifCrt ,\Il'aj(HJrubm; dcr Gllncl m, T-.dnalKh ell..It tell"""'. ....."n~wbch..h.... ntll "l'1"fI"klnern __\buicho'tl H
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