True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: September, 2018
Reg.#11036, Staff Sergeant R. E. J. Dobson
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
Robert John Dobson was born in Cooksville, Ontario on February 2, 1905. Not long ago his children recalled that their father was determined to join the RCMP from a very early age. After his early education, and some work at a few odd jobs to earn some money, Robert John Dobson joined the Force at Toronto, ON on September 11th, 1931. Soon afterwards, he was sent for Recruit Training at 'Depot' in Regina, SK.
Over the span of his long RCMP career, R. J. Dobson happened to meet a few well known politicians and celebrities. As well, he was involved in some historical events which required the need for the RCMP and high levels of police security. These famous people and these events made an impression on R. J. Dobson and the memories would stay with him all his life. He also had the opportunity to travel to England and France. Robert John Dobson's children recalled that he always spoke favourably about his times in the RCMP.
Robert John Dobson spent the majority of his active police service years in Manitoba, but he was frequently called upon by senior RCMP Officers whenever his expertise was required. His reputation was well known and his dependability reflected back on the esteem in which he was held.
With the recent help of Robert John Dobson's children, a few incidents in his life are highlighted in this short piece.
R. J. Dobson could lay claim to many experiences which most other RCMP did not have theopportunity to share. In July 1936, he had only five years of service when he was chosen to be among a small contingent of RCMP to travel to Vimy, France and to represent Canada as part of the Vimy Pilgrimage. The RCMP members were able to pay tribute to Canada’s dead at the site of the WWI battle that many Veterans consider to be one of defining points in Canadian history. During the Commemorative Ceremony, Constable Dobson stood in silence with other RCMP at the Vimy Monument.
R. J. Dobson would want the other members of the Vimy Contingent to also be identified.
The other RCMP sent to represent Canada at the Vimy Ceremony were; Reg.#11569 Sergeant C. E. J. Widgery, Reg.#10437 Corporal H. Wilkins, Reg.#5524 Lance Corporal R. W. Warrior, and Constables Reg.#11511 B. Dowling, Reg.#9972 A. Harness, Reg.#10915 S. J. Leach, Reg.#10447 P. T. May, Reg.#11616 W. V. MacKinnon and Reg.#9902 J. Cullen.
Constable Dobson and the other RCMP never forgot their involvement in the memorable Vimy Pilgrimage. After returning home from France, each of the RCMP members received a Vimy Pilgrimage Medallion. The presentation of the Vimy Medallion was an honour which Constable Dobson never forgot.
Constable Dobson was also involved in another career high lite -- the planning and security for the Royal Train which involved a stopover in Portage la Prairie, MB in 1939. It was widely aclaimed that the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was a show of confidence prior to World War II and as a way to emphasise the independence of the Canada from Britain. The Tour covered every Canadian province as well as the Dominion of Newfoundland. Constable Dobson was in a perfect position to see the Royals close up during the stop in Manitoba.
In the midst of WWII, Robert John Dobson was also part of the Force's Contingent sent to Quebec City in 1943 for the Quebec Conference. The Conference was a highly secret military planning reunion held between the British represented by Sir Winston Churchill, and the Canadian Prime Minister WilliamLyon Mackenzie King, and American President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
There was a need for high level security and protection of the VIP's so RCMP members from all across Canada were called to Quebec City for the duration of the Conference. R. J. Dobson's children recalled their father saying that one of his duties was the guarding of Sir Winston Churchill's room while Mr. Churchill was in meetings with the other VIP's.
This intimate position inside the Chateau Frontenac Hotel and its corridors gave Robert Dobson the advantage of seeing all the VIP's close up. Looking back over the years, he spoke fondly of his unique police assignment with the RCMP in Quebec City.
Over the years, Robert Dobson was promoted through the ranks, and he thought that he had been justly rewarded for this faithful service to Canada and the RCMP. After a long career in Manitoba which spaned threedecades, and high lighted by memorable experiences such as the Vimy Pilgrimage, and mixing with world leaders, he retired in 1960 at the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Staff Sergeant Robert Dobson died in 1970. He was buried in Dauphin, MB.
The photos in the piece are courtesy of RCMP Vet George Dobson. 2018
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
September 23, 2018
