True and Fascinating Canadian History
The Mystery of A Mountie
and His Commitment To Kill
by J. J. Healy
Over the years, Google has achieved worldwide acclaim for its Internet search techniques. In the fast paced world of every changing technology, Google has survived by quickly adapting to the unusual needs of world wide users.
One fascinating tool offered by Google is an alert system which notifies the user whenever certain words are triggered on the Internet. Recently, the phrase 'Royal North West Mounted Police' sent out an alert and the word hit led to You Tube and the most bizzare mystery so far uncovered.
The strange mystery was revealed on You Tube under the heading of: 'The Top Ten Deadliest Snipers of All Time'. It involved a man who was identified as Henry Norwest -- supposedly a former member of the Royal North West Mounted Police (RNWMP) who became a soldier during WWI and who was the seventh deadliest sniper of all time.
One can be sure that the case is strange if based solely on Norwest's connection to the Royal North West Mounted Police. In contrast to the role of the sniper operating in a war setting, police officers are trained not to use their weapon and to use it only to protect themselves or as a last resort in a critical incident. Yet, there may be a little lesson for all police officers in The Mystery of a Mountie and His Commitment to Kill.
Henry Norwest was born in Fort Saskatchewan, AB on May 1, 1884. During WWI, he was distinguished as having killed 115 enemy. A former ranch hand and rodeo performer, Henry Norwest apparently served with the Royal North West Mounted Police for a short period until January 1915 at which time he joined the Canadian Army and served for three years as a Lance Corporal with the 50th Canadian Infantry Battalion.
What set Norwest apart from other soldiers, according to You Tube was his excellent markmanship as well as his stealth and his expert use of camouflage.
It was said that Norwest's military superiors took full advantage of his skills by sending him on reconniassance and even behind enemy lines.
The mystery all began when, according to Wikipedia, Norwest first used the name of Henry Louie to join the Canadian
Army. But, Louie was discharged from the army for misbehaving and a short time later, he reengaged in the Canadian Army
then he was sent to Europe all the while under his new name of Henry Norwest. In 1917, Norwest earned the Military Medal
during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Henry Norwest was killed by a German sniper just before WWI ended.
But, the real mystery is, "When and in what role did Henry Norwest serve in the RNWMP?"
So far, Henry Norwest's true identity is not known. His original name of Henry Louie does not appear in RCMP databases and his story as a sniper is not known to have been chronicled in RCMP magazines. The name Norwest was obviously an alias but that just adds to the mystery. The name Norwest cannot be found in RCMP databases. The surname 'Norwest' does seem a little odd since he was also identified as having belonged to the Royal North West Mounted Police.
Down through history, several men have laid claim to be a member of the RNWMP when in fact they were not so employed.
For instance, Canadian Historian Mr. Ralph McLean of Edmonton, AB once reported that a Mr. Willliam Baron identified himself as belonging to the Royal North West Mounted Police when Baron signed his Attestation Papers for WWI. According to Mr. McLean, Baron said he served in the RNWMP for four years, but there is no record of Mr. Baron in RCMP databases.
Yet, both Henry Norwest and William Baron were Lance Corporals. Norwest belonged to the 50th Batallion and Baron to the 51st Battalion C. E. F. It would be fair to say that Norwest and Baron likely knew of each other. Mr. Baron died in 1917 and he was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon, SK. Henry Norwest's body was not returned to Canada. He was buried in France.
The fact that Norwest appears to have been been wearing the uniform of the Royal North West Mounted Police and the Stetson further stirs the mystery. One has to wonder where Norwest came into possession of the RNWMP garb? Absolutely nothing in this mystery can be explained.
There may be a wee lesson for all police officers in The Mystery of the Mountie and His Commitment to Kill. The exploits of Henry Norwest as a sniper during WWI are not in dispute. But, it is well worth remembering that the role of police officers in Canadian society is to preserve life and to protect property. Canadian police officers are accountable to the community and to the courts of law whenever shots are fired. The role of the sniper as a professional soldier in a war setting is well known, but his military activity is the antithesis of the professional police officer.
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh-UBbla9Yg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Norwest
Reporting from the Fort,
J. J. Healy
January 24, 2016
