True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: January, 2022
Reg.#6412, Sergeant Arthur Sefton Band
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
Since the founding of the North West Mounted Police in 1873, there have been a few prominent Canadian families who joined the Force one generation after another and left an excellent imprint on the RCMP. And so it was with the Band family. Down through the years, four men in the Band family joined the Force, and each of them went on to serve Canadians honourably. The trend all began with now deceased Reg.#6412, Sergeant Arthur Sefton Band.
Arthur Band was born in Worcester, England in 1890. He and his family emigrated to Canada, and he joined the Force at Prince Albert, SK, in 1915. He took his discharge when his term expired in 1918, and six days later he joined the Saskatchewan Provincial Police (SPP) at Swift Current, SK. Ten years later, he resigned from the SPP and joined the Estevan Police. In 1932, he resigned from the Estevan Police and he reengaged with the RCMP. After serving throughout the province, he retired in 1947. Arthur's two sons also joined the Force, Reg.#13498, Tom Band and Reg.#14606, Arthur Band Jr. A grandson, Reg.#28935, James Band also joined the Force. Arthur Band Sr. died at the age of 77 in 1967. He was buried in the Mountainview Cemetery in Lethbridge, AB.
The eldest son, Reg.#13498, Thomas William Sefton was born in Saskatoon, SK in 1921. After highschool, Tom joined the Force at 18 years of age in Regina in 1940, however WWII interrupted his career. After the war, he was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. Tom served throughout Alberta as a Staff Sergeant. According to his obituary, he had a long and outstanding career with the Masons and he was Past President of the Lethbridge Shrine Club and a member of the Shrine Oriental Band. He was Governor of the Lethbridge Juvenile Hockey League, Past Director of Crime Stoppers and a member of the Canadian Legion. Tom died in 2015 at the age of 93. He was buried near his father in Mountainview Cemetery in Lethbridge, AB.
Reg.#14606, Albert James 'Jim' Stanley Bond was the younger son of Arthur. Jim Band joined the Force in 1943 and served until 1947. He was selected to deploy overseas with RCMP during the latter years of WWII and was preparing to deploy with his unit but the war ended before he shipped out. He wasdischarged from the Force in 1947. He joined the British Columbia Provincial Police (BCPP) as Badge #1204 in 1948. He served with the BCPP from 1948 to 1950 at which time BCPP was absorbed into the RCMP. At the time, he was stationed at Hazelton, BC.
Jim was awarded the BC Provincial Police Meritorious Service Award in 1950. He was NCO i/c Castlegar Detachment at the time of his retirement in 1969, and then he worked with Bayshore Inn Security for an indeterminate period of time. Jim was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal afer WWII. In 2022, Jim died at the age of 98.
The Band's grandson, Reg.#28935, James Thomas Sefton Bond was the son of Thomas Bond, and grandson of Arthur Bond. James joined the Force in 1971, he died of cancer in 1974 while serving in the RCMP. He was 23 years of age. James was buried near his father and his grandfather in the Mountainview Cemetery in Lethbridge, AB.
Over the years, each of the Bond's held prominent positions in the RCMP. They were loyal to the Force and its values, and loyal to their family name. As well, each of them voluntarily contributed to community life and community activities wherever they lived. Canadians can be proud that the Force attracts people who serve honourably like the Bonds.
Left is Reg.#14606, A. J. S. Band
Center is Reg.#6412, A. S. Band
Right is Reg.#13498, T. W. S. Band
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
January 23, 2022
