True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: April, 2019
O.322, Superintendent Howard Hooper Cronkhite
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
Born around 1898, Howard Hooper Cronkhite served in the 82nd Battalion of 1st Canadian Machine Gun Corps during WWI. Military life suited his taste, and after the War he set his mind on finding new adventures and travel.
Upon his return to Canada, Howard Cronkhite joined the RNWMP. It was February 5, 1920. Although Howard Cronkhite sought new adventures, he might never have expected that his RCMP career would take him to numerous posts all across Canada as well as long stints in Canada's high north. He began his career at 'Depot' in Regina, SK.
On March 1st, 1920, Howard Cronkhite was transferred to Rockcliffe, ON as part of the 160 man Contingent of RCMP when the Force relocated its ‘HQ’ from Regina, SK to Ottawa, ON.
As a young Constable, Howard Cronkhite was selected in 1920 as a member of the RCMP Musical Ride. A tale is told about the Musical Ride travelling a distance of 78 miles from Ottawa to Prescott to put on a single display of horsemanship. After the performance, the Mounted Troop rode back to Rockcliffe. This little snippet was mentioned in his Service Rerecords.
From the day he joined the RCMP, Howard Cronkhite showed aptitude for the ways of the Force. With only three months service in the RCMP, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal.
He remained at Rockcliffe until he was transferred back to Regina on July 1st, 1922. Strangely enough, but on that very same day, Cronkhite was also ordered transferred to Dawson City, YT. He was a single man at the time so he apparently took frequent and unexpected transfers all in good stride.
On February 5th, 1924, Corporal Cronkhite was transferred to Whitehorse. It was a harsh life but he was reputed to be dependable even when he worked without the company of an RCMP partner. While in the northland, he performed patrols and duties as directed by the Officer Commanding Whitehorse District. He remained in the North for the next twelve years.
On April 1st, 1928, Howard Cronkhite was promoted to Sergeant and a few months later, he married Katherine Veronica Barton, a Victoria Order Nurse (VON) whom he met while she was working at the Dawson General Hospital.
On July 7th, 1935, Cronkhite was transferred to ‘E’ Division (BC), and while he was in Vancouver he was selected as one of the background horse riders in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie 'Rose Marie'.
The film was partially filmed in the Lynn Canyon area of North Vancouver, BC. For the film as well, Cronkhite acted as the “stunt-double” for the Hollywood star of the movie, Nelson Eddie.
On November 1st, 1940, Howard Cronkhite was Commissioned to Sub-Inspector and two years later to full Inspector. At that period of time, Cronkhite also appeared as an extra in the 1941 movie title “49th Parallel”.
Then on July 1st, 1942, he was transferred back to the north where he remained for only one year with just a short transfer as Officer Commanding Swift Current Sub-Division.
After Swift Current, Cronkhite was transferred back to ‘G’ Division (NWT) and on May 1st, 1949 he was promoted to Superintendent. Soon after, he was moved to Ottawa where he fell sick. It is not known for sure, but perhaps the harshness of the north over many years was a factor in his early death.
Howard Hooper Cronkhite died unexpectedly on December 28th, 1949. At the time of his death, he was an active and serving member of the Force. He was 51 years of age.
On May 23rd, 2019 and the 146th Anniversary of the founding of the Force, the Ottawa Veterans' Association held a Vigil and Day of Remembrance at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. A Walking Tour of Beechwood Cemetery was provided to the visitors, spectators, and guests. A number of preselected graves of deceased RCMP were identified and the group stopped along the Walking Tour at Superintendent Cronkhite's grave to pay respect to him.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
April 23, 2019
was buried in Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, ON.
Photo courtesy of Canadian Grave Marker Gallery
& Merle Armstrong, RCMP Vets London, ON.
