True and Fascinating Canadian History
The Mystery of the Mountie
Who Reversed His Red Serge
by J. J. (Buffalo Joe) Healy
Across all cultures and time, people have always given interpretation, recollection and honour to symbols and colour. Colourful symbols and human activity link meaning to our lives. The horseshoe foretells luck. The valentine love.
Archaelogists have found stick symbols in caves and dwelling places of ancient inhabitants. Some symbols depict strange sun gods, some show the hunter with crude weapons in chase of various animals while other drawings pay homage to great rulers. Early symbols are credited with humans first attempt to communicate with future generations.
Other symbols, more complex, remain yet mysterious and not fully understood. And, in spite of all the cherished notions which colour and symbols provide Canadians, the 'Mystery of the Mountie Who Reversed His Red Serge' may also never be fully understood. It is a story of betrayal and disappointment. It was betrayal by one member of the RCMP who turned his life against all the very best of human values; love of country, honour and respect. This was a man flawed.
In western society today, symbols and colour continue to play an important part of everyone's daily life. A colourful sunrise lends hope and energy to the early riser for a rewarding day ahead. Perhaps a jog with the kids. Maybe a row in the canoe.
A sunset of unmatchable colours triggers one to dream of a profitable future, new plans for the morrow and hopeful relationships. Gold spells wealth. A blue sky brings sun and warmth. Beaches. Summer holidays. All in all, and without any doubt, people's lives would be dull and truly meaningless without the wide variety of colour and symbols which lend definition to daily life.
In contrast to all the rich colours and symbols which one considers wholesome, darkness often spells a warning. Perhaps sadness or death. Whereas the Blue Helmet stands for unity and peace, weapons of a thousand kinds define war. And it was precisely ill, chilling and foreboding moods of colour and khaki, in particular, that will become more apparent in the 'Mystery of the Mountie Who Reversed His Red Serge'.
Symbols and colour have made Canadians particularly fortunate and proud. From the days of Confederation in 1867, scarlet has remained a unique and cherished colour for Canadians. In court, the judge's scarlet robes signal justice wrapped in independent thought, fairness and the rule of law. Canadian courts and the judiciary are renowned throughout the world for fairness and impartiality.
The Canadian flag also flies all over the world on Canada's naval ships, consulates and embassies. The red maple leaf unquestionably lends hope to aspiring immigrants from around the world. Often times, the Canadian flag flying abroad is the first symbol of hope in the immigrant's mind. But, there is no other symbol for which Canada is truly known around the world as the RCMP Red Serge. To the new immigrant family, the Red Serge also speaks, 'Welcome To Canada! Here you are safe!'
From the earliest days of the Force stretching back to 1873, the dress ceremonial uniform Red Serge of the RCMP has remained a highly cherished symbol which represents all things Canadian.
Survey after survey has demonstated the popularity of the RCMP's Red Serge. And from the earilest of days of the NWMP, Canadians to a large degree have always remained proud of the small, select number of young persons who are chosen to join the Force and who are inducted into the RCMP as full fledged police officers at 'Depot' Division in Regina, SK.
In a poignant way, the Red Serge represents all the members who have lost their life on duty and in the performance of their role of police officer. The RCMP Honour Roll lists 237 names of men and women who died in the performance of their police officer duty. Families of the deceased loved one prefer that they were buried in their Red Serge. Their coffin is draped in the Canadian flag.
In a painful way, the famous Red Serge also reminds Canadians of all the RCMP members who lost their life in home conflicts or world wars or while representing and working with the United Nations in a foreign country. The Red Serge is recognized around the globe. And it is fair to say too that wearing the Red Serge is impressive. Without hesitation, every member of the Force remembers the first time in which they dressed in Red Serge at 'Depot'. To wear the Red Serge makes every member of the Force just a wee bit taller but a million times more proud.
Rare are the times when a member betrayed the Red Serge or its trust. A single case of disappointment was recorded in 1916 during WWI.
The history of the Force does not record the very early life or the origin of Reg.#4327, Sergeant Werner Maximilian Robert Abich. It is known, however, that he was born in Germany in 1888. He joined the Royal North West Mounted Police (RNWMP) in mid February 1905 and remained with the Force until 1911. He was posted to 'Depot' in Regina, SK then afterwards, he worked in Saskatchewan and Alberta. In a short time, he attained the rank of RNWMP Sergeant.
One would naturally suppose that during his five years with the Force that Sergeant Abich made friends among colleagues, socialized with community friends and neighbours and met other Canadian families. They would have placed their trust in him.
Yet, Sergeant Abich was reputed to be a disagreeable sort. He was not happy with the police officer's lot, so he 'Purchased his Discharge' in 1911 and soon afterwards he was hired with the Department of Immigration in Winnipeg, MB. During his spare time, it became apparent that he travelled throughout Canada's western provinces.
One would naturally think also, that during his travels, that Sergeant Abich saw the beauty of the Canadian landscape, the endless, broad skyline, the colourful forests, all sorts of free, roaming animals and the vast gold wheatlands of the prairies.
But, Canada's beauty or his friends or his association with colleagues in the Force seemed not to matter to Sergeant Abich. At one point, it was reported that former Sergeant Abich returned to his native land of Germany. Then, he did the unthinkable. At some point after 1914, Abich made the shocking decision to join the enemy forces of WWI. Betrayal was in bloom.
According to reports from the front line which reached Canada, former member Ablch was recognized by a Canadian soldier also formerly from Edmonton, AB. In the trench, the two stared at each other in disbelief. For the Canadian soldier, it was not solely a stare of disbelief, but a stare of betrayal. Of evil.
In a flash, it was over. As soon as the Canadian soldier recognized his enemy, Albich was killed. As the Canadian soldier stood there, he searched his heart for reasons. Why? To himself, he asked, 'How could another Canadian and a former member of the RNWMP ever decide to become a soldier for the opposite side?'
A newspaper report of Abich's death said, '...during one of the recent Canadian raids, a party of Dominion troops, including a member of an Alberta battalion, a soldier from Edmonton, who had had some trouble with Abich at the time the latter was with the R.N.W.M.P. at Edmonton, bombed a German dugout.
When, before dawn the Canadians attacked the enemy's trench, immediately that they entered the German dugout, this soldier recognized Abich, the officer commanding the German party, and in the fight that followed Abich was killed'. He was not the only soldier to died, as hundreds of soldiers were also killed while fighting for Canada.
Former RNWMP Sergeant Abich died in Verdun, France on October 24, 1916. He was buried in the Military Cemetery, Upper Court-lès-Broville, France.
It could never have been foretold that a member of the Force would give up voluntarily the world renowned and highly respected Red Serge for a khaki uniform of a soldier and then fight against one of his own -- a Canadian soldier.
In the end, Sergeant Abich turned his back on Canada, the Force and all his Canadian friends.
And most sadly, he turned away and betrayed the RCMP Red Serge.
Reporting from the Fort,
J. J. (Buffalo Joe) Healy
November 20, 2013
