Ric Hall’s Photo Corner – RCMP Cenotaph

For this week, Ric Hall has selected the photo theme of the “RCMP Cenotaph at ‘Depot’ Division in Regina.”

For this webpage, Ric provided the following extract from the RCMP website entitled “History of the Cenotaph, Memorial Wall Plaque and Honour Roll:”

A proposal to erect a memorial to those Regular Members who died while performing their duties originated in the 1920s. In 1934, Commissioner Cortlandt Starnes requested that a Memorial Tablet (later known as the Cenotaph) be erected in memory of all Regular Members who were definitely killed while in the execution of their duties. This request was later expanded in 1935 to include an Honour Roll Book and Memorial Wall Plaque, on which would be inscribed the names of Regular Members who lost their lives through the hazards of service and by violent means. The Memorial Wall Plaques would be placed in the RCMP Chapel in Regina, Saskatchewan.

September 8, 1935 – Photograph of Rev. A.E.G. Hendy, RCMP Chaplain, unveiling the Cenotaph which bore 48 names (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

1935 Photograph of the RCMP Cenotaph at “Depot” Division in Regina (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

1941 – Photograph of the RCMP Cenotaph in Regina (Source of photo – Sheldon Boles Photo Collection).

1940 – Photograph of the RCMP Cenotaph at “Depot” Division in Regina (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

In 1962, the criteria for inclusion to the Cenotaph, Memorial Wall Plaque and Honour Roll Book was amended to include those names of Regular Members who suffered loss of life in the performance of police duties or while taking action of a police nature.

In 1992, the criteria for inclusion was again amended to reflect inclusion for all Regular Members and Special Constables who lost their lives while acting in the line of duty. Additionally, a memorial service was to be held annually at “Depot” Division (Regina, Saskatchewan) to honour Regular Members whose names were inscribed on the Cenotaph, Memorial Wall Plaques and Honour Roll Book.

2005 – Photograph of the updated RCMP Cenotaph area – “Depot” Division in Regina (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

In 2004, the criteria for inclusion was again amended to reflect inclusion for all Regular Members, Special Constables and Auxiliary Constables who lost their lives while acting in the line of duty.

The policy for inclusion to the Cenotaph, Memorial Wall Plaque and Honour Roll Book has evolved many times since its original inception in 1934. As this policy evolved, many debates over the inclusion policy resulted which created inconsistencies in the inclusion of names. Following an exhaustive historical review of the program in 1993, a decision to accept these inconsistencies was accepted by Commissioner Norman D. Inkster.

Current RCMP Cenotaph at “Depot” Division in Regina (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

Current policy directs that the names of Regular Members, Special Constables and Auxiliary Constables who lost their lives in response to an operational police duty, in which there was the element of life-threatening risk, be inscribed on the Cenotaph, Memorial Wall Plaque and Honour Roll Book. This excludes the names of those whose death was self-inflicted or the result of natural causes.

Since 1935,  there is a RCMP Memorial Parade held every year on the Sleigh Square at “Depot” Division in Regina.  At this parade, the names of the members killed over the past year are unveiled on the RCMP Cenotaph and their names are read out.

2004 – RCMP Memorial Parade in front of the RCMP Cenotaph. RCMP members in red serge with the RCMP Guidon (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

2004 – Photograph of an RCMP Dog Handler with his Force dog standing in the RCMP Cenotaph area facing the other uniformed members for the memorial service (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

In 2005, Queen and Prince Philip visited Saskatchewan and Alberta to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of these two provinces. On May 19, 2005, while visiting “Depot” Division, the Royal Couple laid a wreath at the RCMP Cenotaph in memory of the four members who died on March 3, 2005, near Mayerthorpe, Alberta. After the service, in the RCMP Chapel, the Queen and Prince met with the deceased member’s families.

At present, there are 234 members who have been killed or died in the line of duty since the Force was created in 1873.  You an view the entire listing of these members on the RCMP’s Honour Roll website here.

Photograph of the RCMP Cenotaph with the ghost images of two RCMP members bowing their heads in honour of the fallen members (Source of image – Sheldon Boles).