True and Fascinating Canadian History
Honour Roll #170
Upper Island Cove Cemetery, NL
RCMP Graves Newfoundland & Labrador
by Robert Medd & Dave Tipple. Vets NL.
Honour Roll #158
All Saints Cemetery. Gander, NL.
Dear Joe;
By far the vast majority of RCMP graves in Newfoundland and Labrador have been located, inspected and reported since the inception of the National RCMP Graves Database and Website many years ago. In Newfoundland and Labrador, a total of 144 graves have been found, recorded and inspected.
Of the total number, about 57 RCMP graves are located in St. John's & Mount Pearl area, 10 in Corner Brook and the remainder of the RCMP graves are located in various cemeteries throughout the province.
Gander is the final resting place for Reg.#30791, Constable Lindberg Bruce Davis, Honour Roll#158. On January 8, 1979, Constable Davis was killed when his police cruiser was struck by a train while on duty at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Constable Davis was returned to his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador to be buried. The condition of Constable Davis' grave is excellent
Reg.#36327, Constable Douglas Ambrose Mark Butler, Honour Roll#170 is buried in Upper Island Cove. In 1982, Constable Butler's police cruiser was struck broadside by a fleeing carwhen he was killed. Constable Butler's grave site is also excellent.
It seems that new graves of RCMP members are discovered each year in Newfoundland and Labrador.The grave of Reg.#19929, Cst. Frederick Dale Charles Albota was discovered by NL Vet Ken Lebreton. Cst. Albota died in Ottawa in 2006.
ccording to family, Constable Albota was cremated and his ashes were spread on his father and mother-in-law's (Philip and Estelle Thorne) grave. The Thorne grave is located in the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Torbay. Unfortunately, there are no obvious markings to indicate Cst. Albota's final and exact resting place.
In another case, Reg.#S/8720, Special Constable Frank Matthews served on the Patrol Vessel St Roch about 1942. With the help of Volunteer Mr. Dick Pulisfer of Nova Scotia, Frank Matthews' grave was found in the Anglican Cemetery in Port Aux Basques, NL.
In conclusion, the vast number of RCMP graves in Newfoundland and Labrador have been well maintained. The inspection work is a credit to all NL Vets but especially to Vets George Powell (C/Supt. R'td) and Dave Tipple (S/S/M R'td). They both deserve extra recognition.
George Powell had been stationed in Newfoundland going back to the 1950's and 1960's. His knowledge was very helpful in researching and providing background information on our deceased Vets. George saved us a lot of uncecessary footwork.
Vet Dave Tipple has been the principle driving force behind locating and photographing all the graves in NL and reporting on them in a timely fashion. All their dedicationis very much appreciated.
St. Patrick's Cemetery. Torbay, NL.
