The Olde Guard

First, A Little History

In 1973, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) celebrated its 100 anniversary, but did you know, prior to 1920 and 1904 Canada’s “Mounties” went  by two other names — as well as a merger?

It was 1873, when Canada’s federal police force, the North-West Mounted Police was established.

The first change was in 1904, when King Edward VII, son of the late Queen Victoria (who died 1901), permitted the designation of “Royal” to be added to “North-West Mounted Police,” which was then (and still is) a very distinct honour!

The next name change occurred in 1920 and involved a merger with the Dominion Police, a constabulary group assigned to watching the Parliamentary buildings on “The Hill” (Ottawa) from their inception in 1868.  They too experienced a name change as they had been previously known as the Western Frontier Constabulary founded in 1864.

RCMP gravestones are a common sight the full head-on shot of a bison, but the rarity is finding military service stones from the Royal North-West Mounted Police, or the NWMP.

NOTE: The odds of locating the Dominion Police or the Western Frontier Constabulary are greater in Eastern Canada, as they were focused in the Ottawa-Hull area; as the RNWMP and NWMP protected the country’s “territorial interests” that later became Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

In the heart of the Fort Saskatchewan (Alberta) Cemetery, you will find the military section and its Valour memorial.  Across from this section, in a modest little area, is a small collection of Barre Greys (granites) reserved for military graves. 

The typical insignia of a bison (headshot) honours the service of fallen officers of the RCMP, but among these beautiful stones lies a red granite …

In Memory Of

Angus Kay McLellan

RNWMP

Born June 25, 1864

Died April 28, 1927

Unfortunately, it was a difficult read; in the photograph and in person.

SLR