True and Fascinating Canadian History
The Confusing Mystery of
A Not So Confused Corporal
by J. J. Healy
In today's society, there is a startling fact: surprisingly large numbers of people are not content in their chosen occupation or do not maintain a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
This is truly a dismal affair. Unfortunately, too many people - for a variety of reasons - do not maintain a sense of fulfillment or purpose in their work pursuits. Discontentment results in absenteeism, conflict and an obvious decline in dedication. Employee mental health is affected. People in certain professions may become resentful of their choice of work and their temperaments are on edge.
Take the law profession as one example. Since the beginning of time, the word swirling around university is that the study of law leads to life on Avenue Easy. In truth, some lawyers find that after many years of hard study the actual practice of law may be repetitive and tiresome. Estate planning, wills, mortgage documents, property searches and the like can be spun out by computers under the care of an office clerk. Of course, this outcome is not true for all; there are happy, fulfilled lawyers, yet there are also unhappy, disenchanted lawyers. These observations can be made in many other professions as well.
This change of attitude towards a chosen career is quite wide spread and then one must reflect and decide to continue in a given occupation or change directions and pursue another means to earn a living. It almost seems that a talented 'generalist' may hold the upper hand in today's workplace rather than a finely tooled, highly educated expert.
Imagine then one's reaction if this occupational choice is taken away and the situation results in being forced to leave a satisfying form of employment and turn instead to a different, unknown, unselected form of work. One would imagine that resentment and discontent would certainly arise. If some workers become unhappy in chosen fields of work, how much more likely that a worker would be extremely dissatisfied in a job thrust upon him or her?
I first met our Mystery member in 1964 while I was a recruit. By this time, he had settled well into his new role as Division Orderly. I recall that he accompanied the Friday Morning Dorm Inspection Team as they conducted their tour. The thing that set him apart was an article of historical NWMP uniform dress; an old fashioned light weight 'Dispatch Leather Bag' perhaps the size and weight of a rolled up daily newspaper which was worn on his back and affixed with a leather strap much like a revolver cross strap. At one time, the Dispatch Bag contained mail and it was a part of a 'runner's kit'. His leather shone like new out of the box Wellington's.
About ten years later, I returned to 'Depot' as an Instructor. I reaquainted myself to the Division Orderly through the Corporal's Mess and we became conversation friends. He had a quiet disposition but he was very knowledgeable about 'Depot' and he has a wonderful memory. Although he appeared to be serious, I recall that as we spoke, he was smiling all the while on the inside. In the company of Senior Officers, he would wink as if to assure us that 'all was ok'. He was sober, dependable and honest and surely he was 'one of a kind'.
So, now we turn our attention to an interesting case - the Confusing Mystery of A Not So Confused Corporal. I will attempt to unravel the mystery behind a police officer who lacked familiarity with the law yet excelled in his new post; one who was torn from a beloved career but rather than enveloping himself in defensive resentment and feelings of hurt and injustice, embraced a new challenge and exceeded all expectations. It's a memorable story.
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A Tribute to an 'Ole 'Depot' Friend
Reg.#17853, Corporal
William Joseph Aloysius 'Bill' Hesse
Reg.#17853, Corporal
William Joseph Aloysius 'Bill' Hesse
Our Mystery Member joined the Force on August 12, 1952 as a bandsman at Regina, SK. He was about 32 years of age. He served in the 'Depot' Band from that time until this Band was dissolved in 1959. He was noted to be a very talented member who preferred to stay in one location with his family. Like many others in his Troop, he did not have the inclination to become an operational police officer and was most content playing his tuba and serving the Force in his capacity as a dedicated and capable musician.
In 1959, our Mystery friend along with all other members of the Regina Band were heartbroken to learn of the Force's decision to cut the band. Several men found themselves belonging to the Force but no longer knowing their place within the organization. A few chose to leave the RCMP, but most others decided to try their best to reinvent themselves in the administrative or instructional positions that were offered to them.
At the time the Band dissolved, our friend held the rank of Constable. He was posted to the Division Orderly Room, best known among members as the Guard Room. His office was a hub of all 'Depot' activity. Every register (recording book) for every possible action was housed in the Guard Room, laid out on the counter waiting for signatures and initials.
Keys for cars, gates and buildings; flags; brooms, shovels or pick-axes; cleaning equipment, extra duties, Duty Drivers, Fire Pickets and night patrols were all accounted for and chronicled. As the Corporal In Charge of the Guard Room, he was ultimately responsible for the whereabouts of all these materials and the identity of all persons entrusted with their care.
The transition from bandsman and expert in the field of brass instruments to keeper of Force administrative detail may have been difficult and may have been unpleasant. It may very well have been very unwelcome. However, it was my impression that he put aside all personal reservations and he worked diligently to prove himself worthy of tasks which may have seemed tedious, but were absolutely essential to the smooth running of 'Depot'.
of the Guard Room became the 'Radar' of M.A.S.H. fame. He was promoted to Corporal while fulfilling these duties on May 01, 1967. Corporal Hesse may have seemed like a relatively minor player in the grand scheme of Administrative Responsibility at 'Depot', but in truth he proved to be so reliable, so adept, so organized and so undaunted by the many types of tasks that were thrown to him that he became quite truly indispensable.
He developed such a reputation for being the go-to person for almost any form of duty that Corporal Neil Collette of the Instructional Staff created a schematic diagram (seen below) that tried to convey the widely varied types of jobs that were undertaken by Corporal Hesse. He was akin to the Queen Bee to whom all other worker bees had to at some time return and report. He was an office octopus with many arms conducting and managing an ocean of responsibilities all at the same time.
Some of his friends liked to tease him about his seeming lack of limitations. Everyone knew Corporal Hesse. They also knew his office. His office was filled with such a variety and such a number of necessary tools for his 'all encompassing job' that it reminded people of an old-fashioned 'five and dime' store. Only Corporal Hesse knew where to locate what was needed at once. People who worked with him simply surmised that 'absolutely everything falls under Corporal Hesse'.
In truth, he reported to the Corps Sergeant Major who at that time was CSM W. F. McRae. The CSM's booming voice could be heard hollering for Cpl. Hesse down the hallway on a continuous basis for answers to all matters of administrative concerns. Cpl. Hesse was the CSM's right hand, left hand, eyes and ears.
Corporal Hesse indeed made the very most of an unexpected and abrupt change in his career path. I believe that he serves as a model of open-mindedness with the attitude of making the best of an undesirable situation.
To the surprise of many, maybe including himself, Corporal Hesse was not a confused corporal trying to handle a centre of chaos, but a meticulous, competent, calm detail oriented person who not only kept order in the house but improved the order in the house and exceeded all expectations. He was hardly a Confused Corporal!
At a time when there were no computers, his mind contained enough terabytes to keep all information sorted and accessible. Corporal Hesse helped keep everybody else on track. He may have been sad when his career in the Force as a bandsman ended, but his loss of position as a musician proved to be a great gain for 'Depot' for it was only as a result of this realignment that Corporal Hesse's stupendous talents as an organizational force were uncovered and appreciated. Bravo!
I count myself among those who could not have done his job.
Corporal Hesse served as the D.O. (Division Orderly) until his retirement on June 25, 1976.
He died suddenly at age 68 on September 26, 1988. Corporal Hesse is buried in Regina, SK
I extend my sincere appreciation to my 'Depot' friends, Vets Herb Muma and Bill Perry who offered and helped me with favourable recollections of Cpl. Hesse.
I also sincerely thank Ms Jan Nicholson, Regina, SK for finding and photographing Cpl. Hesse's grave.
I tip my Stetson to Corporal 'Bill' Hesse, 'Depot' DO. I have fond memories of him.
Reporting from the Fort,
J. J. Healy
