RCMP Veterans’ Association – Vancouver Division

    For the RCMP Centennial in 1973, RCMP Veteran Thomas Grant Galloway Raisbeck provided an account of his time in the RCMP to the Edmonton Journal newspaper. Tom’s story is provided below for your reading pleasure.         Background Details: Tom was born on June 14, 1910 at Taber Alberta and joined […]

        In his search of old publications, Veteran Ric Hall has come across some interesting references to an earlier time in the Force.  This information is provided for your reading pleasure.         In June of 1897 a contingent of red serge and flat brimmed Stetson wearing NWMP members, specially […]

    Over the course of the history of the Force there have been many firsts and lasts! First car, first female members, last dog and horse patrol, last troop to train in “N” Division, last troop to take equitation training, first cadets in training and there are so many others. There also has to […]

      “You have come along way baby!” In the early days of the 1900s the Royal North West Mounted Police was still truly the “Mounted Police” virtually all work and patrols were conducted on horseback. Horses were abundant in detachment stables across the Dominion.       The Force did not acquire its […]

        For this week, Ric Hall has sent to us some RCMP trivia and question for our readers.         According to the July 1936 RCMP Quarterly – “A new departure in training is being tested this summer, sixty recruits, from “Depot” having been attached to “F” and “K” Divisions, […]

    Recently I did an article for the Vancouver Veterans’ web site in response to a query from retired Staff Sergeant Doug Buchta regarding the changes to the wearing of Sam Browne equipment by Officers and Sergeants Major.         His question was as a result of seeing pictures of the trophy […]

      Last week, we received an email message from one of our Division members over a photograph of a Force Staff Sergeant Major wearing a sam browne belt at a public event.         Veteran Doug Buchta send out the following message: I am passing along a curious observation, trusting one […]

      At present, Ric is reviewing the early editions of the RCMP Quarterly (commenced in 1933) and old “Scarlet & Gold” (commended in 1919) magazines from the RCMP Veterans’ Association.         In so doing, he is discovering these old editions contain a wealth of historical insight to the early days […]

    Theodore Vincent Sandys-Wunsch, O.B.E. was well-known within the Force as a ‘renowned straight shooter.’ His courage was demonstrated on many occasions in leading his men into dangerous situations.          EARLY LIFE Theodore Vincent Sandys-Wunsch was born on January 9, 1892 at Knutsford Cheshire England.  His parents were Jean Eleanor (Roiter) and […]

      The image of RCMP Corporal Charles George Fairman was popularized on many postcards as being the Mountie on the horse.         EARLY YEARS He was born on November 12, 1896 in England. At the age of 16 years, Charles joined the British Imperial Army and served six years with […]