Ric Hall’s Photo Corner

For this week, Ric Hall has selected the photo theme of “Veteran Fred Stark’s time at “Depot” Division in 1962.”

Over the past week, Ric has received some amazing old Force photographs from RCMP Veteran Fred Stark (Reg. #22248 – O.1392)

With regards to the following photograph, Ric stated “Sgt. Major Bill MacRae (Reg. #15070 – O,645)  front row left, I believe Ass’t Comm’r Pearlson, in the center, note he has his sword out, and the other officers do not. Bill Perry (Reg. #16131) on the far right. A very young Jim Schrumm (Reg. #21734) is the Drum Major, he was held back at “Depot” due to being kicked in the kidney by a horse. He was Fred’s troops “big brother.” I replaced him on the Drill Staff in 1974. I don’t know the rest of the officers, note there is an officer, in Stetson, directly behind Pearlson.”

1962 – Photograph of the RCMP “Depot” Division’s band (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

According to Ric (photo below), “the Musical Ride had taken over Depot for training and posed with the graduating troop of the day, along with the band. Note the two guys on the extreme right of the photo….suits and fedoras…..”Pearly” would be so happy!”

1962 – Photograph of RCMP “Depot” Division recruits with Musical Ride members and Depot Officers (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

With regards to the photographs below, Ric outlined “perhaps a practise for a special parade…..not the normal Sgt. Major’s Parade. Then Sgt. Major MacRae in the foreground. Fire Piquet and probably defaulters (remember, “Report to the Sgt. Major at 4:30” ….with the end result seven days extra duties!) the building in the background, based on the roofline and building design is the old “C” Block built in 1919 and demolished in 1971 to make way for the Centennial Museum.”

1962 – Photograph of morning parade at “Depot” Division (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

1962 – Photograph of Piquet Duties being assigned (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

In an email exchange between Fred Stark and Ric Hall, Ric outlined “I never had such dramatic winter rides, to and from the Exhibition grounds. I do recall going out for a Saturday morning ride in January, we were the first six-month troop and had Saturday classes to squeeze everything in, and it was flipping cold. Sgt. Evans took us out, normally we would have had Cpl. Jessiman, round and round we went inside a barrier of hay bales. Evans telling us to rub our knees, which I did, but did not understand the problem, they felt fine , the rest of me was freezing. Enough was enough, we dismounted to walk the horses back to the stables. I understood now why he wanted us to rub our knees, I could not stand straight! Of course it eventually wore off……but I always wondered was the ride cut short out of sympathy for man or horse?” 

1962 – Photograph of RCMP “Depot” Division recruits on a ride to the Exhibition gourds in Regina.  Harry Armstrong is the riding instructor in front of the recruits (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

1962 – Photograph of Fred Stark on a “Depot” Division horse (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

If you have some old photographs which you would like to be included in a forthcoming Photo Corner webpage, please email Ric Hall at rshall69@shaw.ca.  He will scan the photographs and return the original to you.

Ric’s webpage is one of our most popular webpages on our Vancouver Division website.