True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: February, 2024
Reg.#6607, Constable Harry Woolfe. WWI.
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
Harry Woolfe led a very memorable, and long life beginning with his days with the Royal North West Mounted Police (RNWMP). Years later, after he served in WWI, he gained greater fame while he was employed in the early American movie business.
It is truly sad that the official RCMP Service File for Harry Woolfe was destroyed some years ago, and it cannot be accessed and referenced, however, Ottawa RCMP Veteran Dave Jeggo found a lengthy and informative article about Harry Woolfe entited, Constable Harry of the Northwest Mounted in “The Journal of the Jewish Historical Society of BC by author Sarah H. Tobe. She interviewed Harry Woolfe on two occasions in 1994. The following short story about Harry Woolfe is summarized from Sarah Tobe’s journal article, and I am grateful to her.
“The Woolfe family originally hailed from Russia, but in 1894 they immigrated to London, England where Harry was born on April 29th, 1899. Interestingly, the family name was originally spelled Velvel, but the Immigration Officer had difficulty translating the family name so he changed it to Woolfe. In 1905, Harry’s father Jacob immigrated to Canada, then Harry and his mother followed in 1909. The Woolfe family settled in Calgary, AB.
Jacob Woolfe opened a gun shop in Calgary, and before long he found financial success due to his talent with wood making. He produced highly valued and beautiful wooden pistol grips. Jacob also produced small leather fobs representing a pistol in a holster, and Harry sold the souvenirs and local newspapers on the street corner to make spending money. It was 1912. For relaxation, Harry took an interest in scouting and he was awarded a Kings Scout.
Over time, Jacob Woolfe’s gun shop gained popularity, and members of the RNWMP in Calgary often visited the shop to have their weapons repaired. The presence of the RNWMP in his father’s shop had a favourable impression on Harry, and he decided to join the Force as a Trumpeter. It was 1916. Harry Woolfe lied about his age. He was only 17 years of age.
After Basic Recruit Training at ‘Depot’ Division in Regina, Harry Woolfe was posted to Yorkton, SK. His salary was .50c a day. It was wartime and in 1919 the RNWMP was in need of volunteers to go overseas to fight. Harry joined a special Regiment of the Lord Strathcona Horse as a Private. He was sent to Belgium, France and Germany. Although he was not wounded during the war, he developed a serious infection, and it was necessaryy that he be hospitalized. Harry was awarded a Service Medal, and the Overseas Medal from WWI. After all the weapons of war fell silence, he was demobilized from the RNWMP Overseas Cavalry Canadian Expeditionary Force and given an Hounourable Discharge.
After the war, Harry returned to Calgary. He found employment with the Paramount Film Company at $18 a week. In 1923, he accepted a new job with Universal Studios in Cincinnati, Ohio, but the firm soon transferred him to Kentucky. Travel by train was awkward and slow, so he bought a horse. He also purchased a pistol for company and reassurance which he safely stored in his saddle bag. About that time, his mind turned to marriage. He had met Debbie Marks prior to joining the RNWMP, and Harry recalled amusingly that, “I wore the red uniform, and was a respected individual. You know, she fell in love with that yellow stripe down my pants.” (p.16). Harry and Debbie were married in New York in 1925.
In 1938, Harry was offered a new job in Calgary as Branch Manager for RKO Films. It was here that their first daughter Dianne was born. In 1943, Harry and his family moved to Vancouver, BC. He gained a promotion as Head of Distribution for United Artists, a company that had been established by well known artists including Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks. He remained with United Artists for 25 years, and in the movie industry for a total of 50 years, He retired from films in 1969, but he continued on his own in business for another 16 years.
In 1966, Harry joined the newly founded Variety Club of Western Canada. In 1990, he was awarded the Variety Pioneer Award. By 1994, at the time when author Sarah Tobe interviewed Harry and Debbie Woolfe, they were one of Vancouver’s oldest Jewish couples.” (p.17).
Harry Woolfe died in 1994. At the time of his death at 95, Harry Woolfe was the older living member of the RCMP. Harry and Debbie intended to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary in 1995.
Harry Woolfe was an outstanding Canadian. He led a very honourable and honest life which had begun many years ago with the Royal North West Mounted Police. He dedicated much of his life to Canada, and he risked his life when he volunteered as a solder in WWI. According to author Sarah Tobe, Harry and Debbie retained their sense of homour even into their advanced age. I would like to have met Harry Woolfe years ago, and to listen to him recall the 'ole days of the RNWMP.
Harry was buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Vancouver, BC.
Tobe, Sarah H. Constable Harry of the Northwest Mounted. The Journal of the Jewish Historical Society of BC. Volume XIV. No. 2. pps 15-17. September, 1995.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
February 09, 2024
