True and Fascinating Canadian History
The Mystery Of The Mounties
Never Mentioned
by J. J. Healy
Canada and its people down through many, many generations have made the Mountie an easily and recognizable image around the world. And it should come as no surprise that Canadians to a large degree continue to have faith, trust and respect for the RCMP and the job which they do in spite of some well publicized mistakes that have made the front page. And another mistake is the nub of this Mystery -- the problem we face lies as much with the RCMP as it does with the queen.
Very often good news about the Force is the result of a case where many members worked together as a team and were able collectively to bring the suspects successfully before the courts. But, there are also times when the Force has suffered from punishing publicity often created by one or two persons who failed to perform their police duties in an ethical way. Excuses are not acceptable, especially in the courts, but some job situations are made more complex because neither police officers or the law operate within clearly cut parameters. A police officer must learn to skate on whatever ice surface is provided -- in other words, perform their duties as defined by the law and always with the best of intentions for the community they police.
So while the world recognizes the Mountie by his or her Red Serge, the universe will likely turn blue trying to solve 'The Mystery of the Mounties Never Mentioned.' The Mystery has been kept under wraps far too long. It is a case where one is left with more questions than answers.
It just so happened that this mystery surfaced at a time when I was enjoying a short holiday in Saskatchewan. My good friend, Vet Sheldon Boles from Vancouver, BC and I had agreed many months earlier to meet in Regina. He is also a native New Brunswicker and we have enjoyed a long, long friendship. Sheldon is the kind of friend that enjoys good banter and we have been known to share the occasional late night around the 'water cooler' in the Officer's Mess at 'Depot'. Sheldon is a dedicated buff and he generously offers his historical research to me to push the Graves Discovery Project along. He maintains a hugh collection of photos which would marvel Canada's Karsh.
After a few days at 'Depot', Sheldon suggested that we drive north towards Saskatoon and on to Battleford. Sheldon's idea suited me just fine because my good acquaintance Mr Don Light lived in Battleford and the visit would give me a chance to forge our friendship. Don Light had been born and raised in Battleford and his uncle, Reg,#2386, Staff Sergeant Frederick Light had once served with the North West Mounted Police in the Battleford area.
When one tours with Sheldon Boles, one must be prepared for surprises. After driving towards Battleford for a couple hours, he suggested we stop for some Chinese food -- who but Sheldon would think of that idea in the middle of Canada's wheatland? 'Surely you joke', I said, because I was convinced there were no Chinese restaurants in Saskatchewan. But lo, he turned the car into the small community of Hanley and soon we were enjoying rice and a chat with a new little kindergarten friend.
Soon, Sheldon and I were on the trail again and Battleford was our intended next stop. No more surprises went through my mind. I placed a call to Don Light and he said he would skip on down to visit us at the North West Mounted Police Cemetery which is located near Battleford's Historical Light Museum. While we waited, we began to photograph the grave stones in the Cemetery. Meanwhile, Sheldon began to tell me a tale about a huge mix-up with the Mountie graves in the Cemetery. I stood in disbelief listening to Sheldon just at the moment when Don Light arrived.
'Yup, yup', Don repeated. 'Everything Sheldon told you is absolutely true', he said. 'But', I asked, 'how is this possible'? 'Can what you're telling me really have happened'? 'How could it'? Is this mix-up the crux of the Mystery of the Mounties Never Mentioned'?
'Yup, yup', Don repeated. 'Joe', you have got to believe us', said Sheldon as I nervously waited to hear more. 'Perhaps the Chinese food had affected Sheldon's vocal chords -- can they be telling me the truth', I thought? Perhaps the twosome I was standing with needed water. I tried to convince myself that Sheldon and Don had suffered from too little sleep. But, in the end, I was wrong. I had to confront reality and accept the surprising 'Mystery of the Mounties Never Mentioned'. It is what it is.
'It all started this way', began Don Light. 'The famous Mounties arrived in Battleford at the time of the North West Rebellion. Naturally, some of the men died and there was need for a cemetery. This is it. This place is the North West Mounted Police Cemetery and you can see that quite a few members were once buried here'. 'Yes, yes' I said, waiting and waiting in disbelief as Don continued the mystery. 'I have always been interested in the history of the NWMP because my uncle was a member in the early days of the Force. So, when I retired, I decided to devote my time to the restoration of this cemetery -- you can see that we have done some good work and the cemetery looks in good condition'. 'Yes, yes', I keep pressing.
'But', Don said, 'one day we ran into a problem in the cemetery'. 'I guess it's really no one's fault, but there is a problem'. 'Yes, yes', I kept pressing. 'Well', Don said, 'one day we hired a crew to come in and mow the lawns. You see the little white crosses'? I glanced around not wanting to hear the next sentence. 'Well, one day, the lawn crew pick up all the crosses and laid them in a pile over there. After the lawns were mowed, they went back to replace the crosses but they couldn't remember where they belonged!. They got the crosses all mixed up! Now, we don't know who is buried where! See here, we're not sure if this is Corporal Brown or someone else'? 'It's too late now', said Don somewhat exasperated.
I was lost for words. This was not an easy problem. 'Apparently', Don said, 'no map was made for the cemetery so no one can ever be sure of the rightful locations for the crosses. 'When it comes to destination, one guess is as good as another', I fussed as the afternoon wore on. Don's painful facial expressions were obvious.
I don't know the exact reason but at this precise moment I began to think of bees and their queen. 'Imagine', I thought aloud to Sheldon, 'trying to swat bees through a small circular hive hole then into their rightful slots after the queen has bid adieu to the swarm and taken flight with a soldier bee'? Who's to know who lived where?
Still in disbelief, I thought to myself, 'these buried Mounties are not talking and you can bet they have never mentioned the mixup here in their own Battleford NWMP Cemetery.' No one is lying in their rightful grave. It truly is a 'Mystery of Mounties Never Mentioned'.
The end. Sadly.
'Maintain Our Memories'
From the Fort,
I have the honour to be, Sir
Your Obedient Servant
J. J. Healy
June, 2013
