True and Fascinating Canadian History
Tales from Fort Healy
The Mountie Who Posed as a Model
by J. J. Healy
I have met only one male RCMP who ever posed as a paid, professional model. Surprised?. Oh, he was rightfully employed with the RCMP, and he posed in full Red Serge but you will never, never guess his chosen location for the photo op idea. So, I had better explain.
In late October, 1978 I was invited as a Guest Lecturer on an In-Service Training Course at 'Depot' Division in Regina, SK. One day, I took time out to visit the Chapel -- like every member of the Force, the Chapel has always been a very special place of solitude and peace. The interior walls of the Chapel are lined with images and memorable plaques which remind everyone of deceased members and especially all the members who lost their life in wars around the world or in the pursuit of police duties within Canada's boundaries.
In the very early days of the North West Mounted Police, the RCMP Chapel on the 'Depot' Square was meant to house a pub for the men. But, legend holds that Commissioner Herchmer's wife persuaded her husband to identify the building instead as a place of prayer.
Over the ensuing years, the interior of the building was redesigned to represent a small church for the congregation of the NWMP and their families. In the modern era, the unique style of the roof was designed by `Depot` Boxing Instructor Reg.#12511, Sergeant James Coughlin. All in all, the Chapel has remained much the same for the past hundred and thirty years or so.
But, the Chapel is distinctive not only as the oldest building in the City of Regina, SK., but also because of the two ornate and beautiful stained glass windows which are mounted into the south wall of the Chapel's altar sanctuary area.
In 1941, the two stained glass windows at the south end of the Chapel were commissioned. The windows were the gift of the Maritime Provinces Association of Regina, SK and were dedicated to the men of Maritime birth who died while in the service of the Force. They were designed and created by Mr. William Edward Briffett who worked for the Robert McCausland Company of Toronto, ON. At the time, the cost of the two windows was $600.
In June, 1944 a special service to dedicate the windows was held in the Chapel. The stained window on the right side of the wall depicts a trumpeter-sounding reveille and is symbolic of the Resurrection. The biblical quotation at the bottom of the window reads, “For the Trumpet Shall Sound.”
The stained window on the left side of the wall is a standing Constable in Review Order with his head bowed and his rifle reversed. Its quotation reads, “Blessed are They that Mourn.”
Down through the years, thousands and thousands of RCMP members and their families have toured the Chapel and sat in its pews. The two stained glass windows hold a prominent place in one's line of vision and they easily catch one's attention. However, very few members might know that the design of the two memorable windows was actually based on a series of photographs taken of an RCMP member who posed as a model in Review Order.
The member who posed in Red Serge and is represented in the windows was Reg.#13143, Corporal John Roy Fraser. And the identity of John Fraser takes the story back to October 1978 while I was visiting the Chapel.
As it turned out, on October 28th, 1978 retired Staff Sergeant John Roy Fraser and I were visiting the
Chapel at the same time. After he introduced himself, he told me about being chosen to model for the highly
visible stained glass windows and he told me about their history.
At the time, I confess that I was greatly surprised, but I didn't have a camera so, I told John Fraser to freeze solid while I ran next door to the Museum to fetch a photo of the windows inside the Chapel. I had to have the signature of the RCMP's famous model John Fraser. Down through the years, I have counted meeting him as another exciting and memorable moment in my long RCMP career.
Sure enough, Museum Curator Malcolm Wake came to my rescue and provided me with a photograph. I promptly returned to the Chapel so that John Fraser could sign it for me. John Fraser's autograph in pen can be seen in the upper left corner on the photo below.
John Roy Fraser led a fascinating career in policing. He was born about the time of WWI and he joined the Force in 1938.
In 1943, John Roy Fraser was selected as the member to pose as the model for the windows in the Chapel. After his participation in WWII, he was posted to Toronto, ON.
Eventually, he was transferred to New Brunswick where he served until 1960 and he retired at the rank of Staff Sergeant. After retirement, John Fraser was hired as the Chief of the Lancaster, NB Police Department. He was also elected as a Life Member of the NB Vets Association.
John Fraser died in Gagetown, NB in 1999. He was buried in Nova Scotia.
Undeniably, it was a very special honour to meet John Fraser, the most famous model in the RCMP. His images depicted on the Chapel windows have likely been seen by the vast majority of RCMP members.
But, John Fraser's death should not mean the end of the story.
Perhaps, there is another dimension to the stained glass windows which should not be played down -- that is, the two windows in the Chapel were meant to glorify God -- another sort of model. In the end, it's two models in the Chapel both working hand in hand with the RCMP; the one is Corporal Fraser the model police officer, and the other is Comfort Father, model protector of police officers.
The end.
Appreciation: To Reg.#35982, Sgt. Larry Burden for his historical research on the Chapel at 'Depot' and 'This Day In The RCMP' listings. E-mail: larryburden8@gmail.com.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
June 28, 2014
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