True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: July 2014
Reg.#16602, Sergeant Thomas Woodhouse Foster
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
In a few weeks time, 'G' Troop 1964/65 will muster once again in Regina, SK. At 'Depot' Division, we will be among 'old friends whom we haven't seen for a long, long time.
Many, many years have gone by since our Troop was a rabble group of 32 men and we were about to begin Basic Recruit Training. But, in August, 2014 our Troop will gather around the Parade Square to celebrate fifty years since the commencement of Basic Recruit Training -- in 1964, a whole new world of experiences associated to becoming police officers began for us. At the time, it was like picking up a new novel and having no idea what the book would reveal or how it would end.
It really is hard to grasp that so many years have gone by since 1964. So many changes have taken place in all our lives. So many people whom we once knew at 'Depot' have also passed away. In the past year or so, three of our Troop mates have died; Reg.#23673, Brian Carline, Reg.#23688, Bruce Miller and Reg.#23693, Don Gavin.
Yet, our Golden Reunion at 'Depot' will be memorable as it is meant to be. Surely we will recall our Troop mates who could not be with us, and we will also reminisce about many of our Instructors with great fondness. We will honour our Instructors by recalling thetopics which they taught and by telling humorous stories about their unique personalities.
One such Instructor whom our Troop will fondly recall was Reg.#16602, Sergeant Tom Foster. As I reviewed my first notebook, I can recall that he instructed our Troop on a variety of topics; First Aid, Federal Statutes and the History of the Force.
Briefly, Sergeant Foster was born in 1915 and years later he served honourably with the Royal Canadian Navy during WWII. After the war, Tom Foster returned to British Columbia and, in 1949 he joined the BC Provincial Police. In 1950, the BCPP was absorbed into the RCMP and at merg-time, Tom Foster was a junior constable stationed in Crescent Valley, BC. As the years passed by, Tom served with the RCMP in various other postings throughout British Columbia. Then, in the early 1960's Tom accepted a transfer as an Instructor to 'Depot' Division in Regina, SK. Here, his lively and jovial personality excelled.
I recall that Tom was a perfectionist in many ways. He wore his RCMP uniform proudly and he was neat and very well groomed. He was extremely well prepared for his lectures and he was very knowledgeable. Each of the examples which he offered about policing was based on one of his own experiences. He spoke with determination and with the preciseness of a well seasoned judge. All in all, Tom enjoyed his role as an Instructor and, in our eyes, Sergeant Foster was an expert.
At the Sergeant-Major's Parade, Tom often led our Troop on the Square. Even though our Troop may have thought that Tom was somewhat old, he had the energy of a much younger person. He was spry and peppy as he marched. Many of his commands on the Parade Square were prefaced with the words: 'My young constables'. It was a popular refrain that our Troop would affectionately mimic time and time again.
Tom had a long relationship with St. John Ambulance and First Aid Training. He took a great interest in First Aid, primarily I suppose, because he knew of its valuable place in the police officer's skills kitbag. I can still recall his instructional methods with bandages. Tom had a great impact on my career in the Force -- as I too was interested in First Aid harking back to my high school days. I was always grateful for the interest he took in his lessons and the way in which he imparted knowledge to us. First Aid would play an invaluable part in my RCMP career as well as my Highway Patrol duties in the field.
But, perhaps most of all, Tom loved the Force. He was our principal Instructor for History of the Force. He was filled with interesting stories of years gone by and he retold each story with gusto. His sentences were precise and one could easily tell that he had studied the History of the Force so that he could instruct it accurately. There can be no question that Tom was one of the Force's strongest good will ambassadors. In an interesting way too, Tom wove the History of the Force into other topics. He was a very popular Senior NCO and a favourite among all the recruits at 'Depot'.
After Graduation from 'Depot' in May, 1965, I was transferred to the Lower Mainland of BC. I was fortunate to meet Tom againwhile he was posted to Vancouver Sub Division. We rekindled our friendship. He showed a keen interest in my career and asked great questions about all aspects of my work. Tom retired from the Force in 1971 and he moved with his family into the Fraser Valley.
Tom Foster enjoyed a long, rich career in the Force. I was sad to hear that he passed away in 2010. He was 95 years young. Tom was buried in Langley, BC. R. I. P.
Tom's name will be mentioned several times at our Troop's Reunion at 'Depot' in August, 2014. His memory will live on with us for many, many years. And, we will laugh again and again when we repeat Tom's favourite refrain, 'My young Constables'.
Good-bye, good, faithful and loyal friend.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
July 23, 2014
