True and Fascinating Canadian History
WWI. B Squadron
Mountain View Cemetery. Vancouver, BC
RCMP Graves Vancouver Lower Mainland (VLM)
By Murray Macham. Vets Vancouver, BC.
As one walked through the main gates at 'Depot' for the first time years ago, you likely heard loud shouts and you immediately knew that an inspection was happening on Sleigh Square. You soon learned that inspections would become a huge part of your daily life at 'Depot', and that inspections would often occur many, many times a day. Inspections are just a part of the RCMP way.
Then years after your retirement from the RCMP, and after your death, there comes another inspection. This time, it is an inspection of your own grave and it is being carried out by other Veterans who volunteer to care for the graves of deceased RCMP. Hopefully, the Vets will clip the grass around your grave marker or headstone much like the close haircut you had once been given at 'Depot' years ago.
Over the past year, I took over the responsibility of Graves Coordinator for Vancouver's Lower Mainland (VLM), and one of the first graves which I cared for was that of Commissioner Lawrence William Herchmer -- the RCMP's fifth Commissioner. In 1915, he was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver, BC.
Accompanied by another RCMP Veteran, John Schneider and I visited the Commissioner's marker in Mountain View. Once upon a time, John was a bit of a stone mason, and he soon realized that the Commissioner's stone marker was very fragile due to its age and Vancouver's inclement weather. Mr. Dennis Fabbro, Mountain View Cemetery Manager, agreed that we could clean Herchmer's marker with a power washer provided that it would be non-intrusive of the stone. But, we needed a hot sunny day to clean it.
The photo (below) shows the amazing transformation of the Commissioner's grave. At some point, vandals had removed the cross which once had sat on top of the Commissioner's monument. We met a stone expert from J. B. Newell Monuments who told us that the stone was too fragile to work with, as the vibration of the granite saws might cause the whole stone to crumble. So, we offered a final salute to Commissioner Herchmer and until the next inspection Sir, rest well.
Commissioner Herchmer's grave was found in the Masonic Section of the Cemetery which caused me to wonder if he and I shared a Masonic connection. Records of the Grand Lodge of BC and of the Yukon showed there were no records of his membership.
However, an Historian at the Grand Lodge agreed with me that the Commissioner's fraternal membership was most likely in India where he once served with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles. In those days, many soldiers who served in India had joined various Masonic Lodges, but without knowing in what jurisdiction or what Lodge they belonged it would be very difficult to verify their Lodge records.
Working my way through Mountain View Cemetery, I noticed several graves in need of repairs and I documented most of them. Some RCMP graves which require repairs had already been recorded.
I intend to make a working spread sheet listing all the cemeteries in Vancouver's Lower Mainland (VLM) and the veterans deceased in each cemetery. Next spring and summer (2017) I will ask for volunteers to help survey each cemetery. Several RCMP Veterans and spouses have already sent requests to be included in these walks. If you want to add your name to the list, simply email me and I'll add your name.
During the cemetery "walk abouts" volunteers will also identify the grave location with a GPS marker so in years ahead the inspections will not be a hide and seek venture.
There is a certain amount of pleasure and humour being caught while trimming the grass around a grave marker, and then trying to explain to another person what you're doing. Who ever knew that I too had the skills of a 'Depot' Division barber?
Courtesy of Murray Macham
RCMP Vets Vancouver Division
Gravesite Inspection Coordinator
November, 2016.
in the RCMP Cemetery at 'Depot' Division
