C/Supt. James Barnett Thorne, Reg. # 17127- O.663

March 7, 2026

I am a retired member of the Force and a member of the executive, Historian, of the Vancouver Division of the RCMP Veterans Association. One of the roles I undertake is assisting family members of deceased members in disposing old kit that has been stored in garbage bags, closets and cardboard boxes. I recently helped the daughter of C/Supt. James Barnett Thorne, Reg. # 17127- O.663, in disposing some of his kit that she had stored since his passing in 2014. A couple if items that came with the kit was a photo of a young Jim Thorne on the Musical Ride, circa 1950s, and a “Merit Award” (on parchment paper) that was given to, I assume, all members of the Ride that performed at the “Grand National Livestock Exposition, Horse Show and Rodeo” held in 1952 at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, 1952.

I have attached copies of the Ride photo and the certificate presented to Jim Thorne. Can you pass this message along to someone at the Ride to see if they are interested in the originals for historical purposes? Otherwise they end up in the shredder.

As well I have attached two photos of Jim Thorne’s father, Harry Thorne, Reg # 5857, a member of the RNWMP, he joined in August 20, 1914, and served in Siberia. In March 1924, he was dismissed from the RCMP, for some issues with financial records.

Below was a card that I also found in Thorne’s kit. I have never seen this before.