Policing the plains : $b being the real-life record of the famous Royal North-West Mounted PoliceMacBeth, R. G. (Roderick George)
History
Policing the plains : $b being the real-life record of the famous Royal North-West Mounted Police
MacBeth, R. G. (Roderick George)
Northwest, Canadian -- History; Royal Canadian Mounted Police
the House of Lords and High Commissioner for Canada, placed it in
command of Superintendent Sam B. Steele, a widely known officer,
entertained the corps lavishly both before and after the war, fitted it
out as no other regiment was equipped, brought the officers and men into
contact with Royalty, kept it more or less in touch with the Associated
Press--and all of this tended to put this regiment more in the limelight
than others from Canada. This, of course, did not make their task any
easier, but rather the contrary, since any failure on their part would
have been quickly known. As a matter of history they did their part in
such a way as to bring the utmost credit to all concerned. The corps was
officered by highly capable men. The Mounted Police officers, serving in
Strathcona's Horse were: Superintendent S. B. Steele (in command),
Inspectors R. Belcher, A. E. Snyder, A. M. Jarvis, D. M. Howard, F. L.
Cartwright and F. Harper: included also were, Ex-Inspector M. H.
White-Fraser, Sergt.-Major W. Parker and Staff-Sergt. H. D. B. Ketchen.
The two last named were granted commissions in the Army and Colonial
Forces. The commissions of the other officers of this corps were all in
the Imperial service. Strathcona's Horse took part in many major
engagements, did much scout and patrol work, and one of the Mounted
Police serving in it, Sergeant A. H. L. Richardson, on July 5, 1900, won
the highest of all the decorations for valour, the Victoria Cross. At a
hot engagement in the village of Wolvespruit the odds were so heavy
against our men that they were given the order to retire. One of our
dismounted men, wounded in two places, lay on the field, and Sergeant
Richardson, seeing his plight, rode back and brought him in, although
exposed to a warm cross-fire at close range, and despite the fact that
Richardson's horse was so badly wounded that he could only go at a slow
pace. It was a very gallant action.
When at the close of the main part of the war the South African
Constabulary was formed, Steele, of the Strathcona's, was appointed its
Colonel, and much "mopping up" was done in the pursuit of irregular Boer
bands. Inspector Scarth, Constables C. P. Ermatinger, and J. G. French
were given commissions. For their service with the 2nd and 5th C.M.R.,
Inspectors John Taylor, Demers, Sergt.-Major J. Richards, Sergt.-Major
F. Church, Sergeant Hillian, Sergeant H. R. Skirving, Constables A. N.
Bredin and J. A. Ballantyne were also granted commissions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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