True and Fascinating Canadian History
RCMP Vet of the Month: April 2011
Part II: The Mad Trapper of Rat River:
RCMP then Inspector Alexander N. Eames
RCMP Superintendent, (R'td)
Now, the reader might be curious about the parcel which was delivered to our Ottawa home in 2009. First, let us recall Inspector Eames who played such a prominent role in the pursuit of the Mad Trapper.
In this particular drama and ‘The Monumental, Memorable Mystery’, the protagonist or central figure was A. N. Eames. The notes which follow were gleamed from his Service Record held at Archives Canada.
Alexander Neville Eames was born in Wales on December 26, 1883. We can deduce that Eames was a modest man for he never mentioned the social status of his family or the fact that his parents employed a Governess, a General Servant and a Grooming Servant. His family must have been fairly well-to-do.
There is no reference to Eames’ early schooling in Wales, however, it was noted that he was well read and confident in conversation. As well, his penmanship was excellent and his writing was noticed by his superiors from the earliest days of his RCMP career. It is thought that he may have been home schooled by the Governess in the employ of his parents. A letter of recommendation to the RCMP written on his behalf described Eames as being strictly sober, honest and extremely willing to work hard.
Eames arrived in Quebec City on August 5, 1913 as a passenger on board the ship ‘Sicilian’. He paid $22.50 for a one way train ticket from Québec City to Regina, SK.
Eames had a stellar career in the RCMP; he was an extremely hard worker and his perseverance was quickly noticed by senior Officers; he was prompt, fast to learn, reliable and trustworthy. He joined the Force with considerable experience and it was clearly noted on his application that he could ride a horse. It was not long before he came to the attention of senior Officers.
He established a solid work ethic in Regina which impressed his Inspector -- who requested of the RCMP Commissioner that Eames be paid .25$ more per day while Eames was employed as Quartermaster and as a Mail Orderly. The request for a raise was approved.
After Regina, Eames was then transferred to Red Deer, AB. His Commanding Officer recognized Eames as, “... one of our smartest and most-painstaking non-commissioned officers who was very efficient and always conscientious.” His superior Officers could rely on Eames and he was transferred several times wherever he was required.
In March 1917, Eames was promoted to Corporal and soon he became the Acting Quarter - Master Sergeant in Calgary, AB. In 1919, he was selected to open Pincher Creek Detachment. In this new role, he was granted $0.50 extra pay per day which was very timely as he was soon to marry.
In April 1918, Eames volunteered to go overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force of the Royal North West Mounted Police Cavalry. He was sent to England arriving on May 18, 1918, just six months before Armistice Day. He was then sent to France and it was reported that Eames saw real action during WWI.
He was awarded both the General Service Medal and the Victory Medal. Eames was discharged from the C. E. F. on March 14, 1919 and he returned home. Upon his return to Canada, Eames was recommended for promotion to Staff Sergeant, but to his consternation, 'HQ' declined his superior Officer's advice. Instead, he received his Commission on February 1, 1920 and he was promoted to Inspector. His annual salary was $1200.00 per annum.
A. N. Eames was transferred to Edmonton, AB. in 1920 and to Fort Norman, NWT in 1924, to Vancouver, BC in 1926 and to Herschel Island, YT in 1929. It was during this time period that Inspector Eames led the RCMP in the hunt for the Mad Trapper. The famous and well documented chase which took place over the winter of 1931 - 1932 was just one highlight of A. N. Eames’ long and distinguished RCMP career.
In April, 1943, A. N. Eames was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in Halifax, NS and he was designated as the Commanding Officer (CO) of Nova Scotia.
In July, 1946 Eames was awarded the prestigious Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) and on August 15, 1946 after a 33 year career in the RCMP, he retired to pension. His annual pension was calculated to be $3700.00. Assistant Commissioner Eames enjoyed retirement on Canada's west coast for almost 20 years. He and his wife had no children but they travelled throughout BC and becamereacquainted with old friends. A. N. Eames died at the age of 81 years on January 13, 1965 at his Vancouver home.
A religious service was held for A. N. Eames and according to newspaper accounts the ceremony was well attended by members of the RCMP as well as two elderly sisters from Wales. After the church service, his body was taken to Ocean View Cemetery in Burnaby, BC for cremation. Records show that Mrs Eames paid for the funeral service and for his cremation. Ironically, it is in the death of A. N. Eames that part two of our mystery unfolds.
After my retirement from the RCMP in 2001, I designed a very unique online database to record the discovery of all RCMP graves stretching back to 1873. Hundreds of volunteers from across Canada and from around the world have joined in to help me with the discovery of RCMP graves.
One day in 2009, I received a very curious message from a volunteer living in Calgary. He reported that he could not find the grave of A. N. Eames.
As soon as I read the name of A. N. Eames, I was startled to attention because I could not believe that one of the most illustrious members of the RCMP and one of my heroes seemed to be unaccounted for in death.
I thought to myself, “Did someone forget to bury Assistant Commissioner Eames?” It was a dilly of a question for Canadians familiar with RCMP history, and the saga of the Mad Trapper. I was determined to find A. N. Eames, but I kept my quest to find his urn a secret.
I learned from Eames’ Death Certificate held in Vancouver, BC that he had been cremated in January 1965.
I called Ocean View Cemetery in Burnaby, BC., and, although their records showed the date of his cremation, they could not find his urn. For several months leading up to Christmas 2009, Ocean View reported that they had no luck finding Mr. Eames’ urn. In January 2010, Ocean View called with very, very exciting news. A grounds keeper assigned to the search had finally found Eames’ urn -- about six long months after the search had first begun. Mr. Eames’ urn was found in a warehouse among many thousands and thousands of other forgotten and unclaimed urns.
After hearing the news of discovery, I wondered to myself, “How could Assistant Commissioner Eames’ final remains have been left untouched at Ocean View Funeral Home since he died in 1965 until their discovery in 2010 – or, for nearly 45 years?” I asked Ocean View if I could adopt Mr. Eames’ remains and give him a respectful burial. Ocean View said that the Eames’ urn would be shipped to me in Ottawa by Air Canada.
True to their word, Ocean View put the special parcel on Air Canada. I was very, very relieved as I finally took possession of Assistant Commissioner Eames’ remains. His wife, Margaret Louise Eames died in 1983 at the age 100 years. She had lived another eighteen years after Alexander Eames had been cremated -- but she had not buried him. That surely is another mystery - perhaps in her old age Mrs Eames forgot about him or maybe she couldn’t afford the additional expense.
I never guessed that I would someday meet one of my long time heroes under such unusual circumstances -- after all, the parcel was abruptly tossed to me in the doorway of our home by Canada Post much like a full, forward rugby pass. I buried Assistant Commissioner Alexander Neville Eames in a private ceremony at the RCMP National Memorial at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, ON.
It was a very, very special honour and an emotional, historical event for me to lower his urn into its final resting place.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
April 23, 2011
Part I : March 2011 The Mad Trapper: A Long Awaited Parcel Arrives
Part II : April 2011 The Mad Trapper: RCMP then Inspector Alexander N. Eames
Part III : May 2011 The Mad Trapper: The RCMP National Memorial Cemetery Service
Part IV : The Mad Trapper Was Not a Canadian: Forensic Anthropologist
