True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: November 2013
Reg.#3156, Sergeant Major Harry Henry Lett, SAW
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
The life and times of Sergeant Major Harry Henry Lett as a police officer can well be described as varied and colourful. He was born in 1864 and he immigrated to Canada from County Wexford, Ireland. In 1882, he joined the British Army. He was wounded in Egypt. Later, he served with the Royal Horse Artillery both in India and in South Africa during the Matabele / Mashonaland uprisings during which time he was again wounded.
S/M Lett joined the Force in 1896 at the age of thirty. After a short stint at 'Depot', he was posted to Saskatchewan. He appeared in Service Court on two occasions not unlike many of his colleagues who had also found solace in the sauce. On August 17, 1899, he was found to be drunk and fined $10 then reduced to the rank of Constable. On February 3, 1902, he was again found to be drunk and fined another $10.
In 1900, Lett served in the South African War with the Royal Canadian Rifles.
Constable Lett's Service Court activities were in the past. At least for the time being. Promotions came his way. He did not allow Service Court to interfere with his ability to perform good police work as the following example demonstrates. In 1903, a well known American gunslinger by the name of 'The Idaho Kid' crossed the Canadian border and made an appearance in a small south eastern Saskatchewan town. He was looking for trouble.
'The Idaho Kid' began to shoot at street signs posted around town while also daring anyone to interfere with his unlawful game. Sergeant Major Lett was called to attend. He wrested the pistol from 'The Kid' and successfuly made the arrest. The so called 'Idaho Kid' found himself behind bars at the call of S/M Lett.
He went on to serve with 'B' Squadron which was dispatched to Siberia.
As the years passed, S/M Lett was promoted through the ranks. By 1918, he had attained the rank of Sergeant Major. It was about this time that he retired from the RCMP and joined the Saskatchewan Provincial Police (SPP).
While in the SPP, he was charged once again in Service Court. This time it was for running a police car without oil and for incurring a bill of $79.10. He was reduced in rank from Sergeant to Corporal. His career with the SPP spanned eight years.
On June 1, 1927, Sergeant Major Lett was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in Regina, SK. He successfully held the position of Sergeant At Arms until his death.
S/M Lett died in 1934 following appendicitis surgery.
He was buried in Regina, SK. R. I. P.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy,
November 23, 2013
