True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: July, 2016
Reg.#9818, Constable Leo Francis Cox.
Honour Roll#47
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
The death of RCMP Constable Leo Francis Cox occurred many, many years ago, but his memory lives on in the hearts of friends and family even to this day.
After high school, Leo Cox first gained employment with the Canadian National Railway. Later, he joined the Dominion Police in Ottawa, ON. In 1920, the Dominion Police was absorbed into the RCMP, and Leo Cox was assigned the rank of Constable.
On June 25, 1925, after completing his investigation in Abitibi, QC., Constable Cox was invited to travel back to La Sarre, QC aboard a large motor launch owned by the Abitibi Pulp and Paper Company.
When the vessel was one mile from La Sarre it was forced to stop because the boat was unable to pass under a bridge because the water level in the river had risen too high. All of the passengers got off the vessel and began to walk the rest of the way to town.
Instead of walking, Constable Cox decided to join three others in a canoe that had been tied to the larger vessel and paddle the rest of the way. As they were paddling, the canoe struck a sunken log with such force that all four of them were thrown into the water. The water was cold and running swiftly. The people were fully clothed.
When Constable Cox saw that Mrs. Gauthier was in trouble he swam over to assist her but the two of them were pulled under water and they both drowned.
Only one person in the water from the group of four made it to shore alive.
The following day RCMP members conducted a dragging operation in the area and recovered the bodies of the three drowning victims.
Constable Cox's remains were transported to Ottawa, Ontario where his wife and three children attended his Regimental Funeral.
His wife, Margaret Haley Cox, never remarried and passed away in 1969. The two of them now rest in Notre Dame Cemetery in Ottawa.
The boating accident which took the lives of Constable Cox and the other people was viewed as a tragedy to the village of La Sarre, QC as well as a great loss to the RCMP community. Constable Cox was considered a hero by having tried to save Mrs Gauthier, he was a valued and dependable member of the RCMP and he was reputed to be a top notch criminal investigator.
Constable Cox and his wife had three children: Kathleen, Leo and Lorne. It is known that Lorne married Mary Rita Cullen. Lorne died in 1974 and Mary Rita died in 2011. Lorne and Mary Rita had six children: Colleen, Leo, Lorraine, Patrick, Shaun and Debbie.
Less is known about the other two children (Kathleen & Leo Jr.) of Constable Cox except that they had seven children between the two of them.
Today, his daughter Kathleen and his son Leo Jr. must be in their late 80's if they are still alive. However, most of his grandchildren must still be alive and there is a good chance that some of them are in the Ottawa area. Every effort is being made to find them. Perhaps one day, they will read this short story about Leo Francis Cox.
Contact
A family friend Mr. Gilles Paradis is trying to contact Constable Cox's relatives. If anyone knows the direct descendants of Constable Cox -- possibly living in the Ottawa area, they are asked to write to Mr. Paradis at: [gparadis22@gmail.com].
I wish to thank Mr. Paradis for helping me to compose this short story about the life ofConstable Cox.
About Mr. Gilles Paradis
Hi Joe; I am not related to Constable Cox. I served in the Canadian Military for 25 years and when I learned that my home town of La Sarre, QC was planning to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2017, I contacted the Planning Committee and suggested that a monument be erected to honour the soldiers who died during war or on Peacekeeping Operations. It was quickly decided to also include police officers who died on duty. That is how I came to dig out the story of Constable Cox.
E-mail: [gparadis22@gmail.com]
Constable Cox is listed as Honour Roll#47 in the RCMP's Book of Remembrance & Reflection which lays open at the entrance to the Chapel at 'Depot' Division.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
July 23, 2016
