September 28th 1919 R.N.W.M.P. ‘C’ Squadron Arrives in Brandon
9/28/2010 at 8:26 AM
On this day Brandonites betook themselves to the Canadian National Railway Station located behind the Prince Edward Hotel on Victoria Ave. and Ninth Street to welcome one hundred and sixty members of the red coated Royal North West Mounted Police “C” Squadron.
While the train arrived at the platform the band of the Salvation Army played. A trumpeter sounded the “fall in” to denote the time to disembark four carloads of Mounties who formed into teams and marched to the equipment cars.
Here the men laid down their rifles and broke into work parties. Sixty Western Broncos were removed and ridden to the newly remodelled barns located in the Wheat City Arena located on Tenth Street and Victoria Avenue.
At the Armoury located next door, the men were assigned quarters which was followed by a meal that was prepared by an advance party. In the mess room were two long tables set with new cups and saucers, the main course was roast beef and potatoes.
Note #1: In May of 1873 the then Canadian Parliament established a central police force. Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald modeled this police force on the Royal Irish Constabulary, and they came to be known as the North West Mounted Police, (N.W.M.P.) One hundred and fifty new recruits were dispatched to Manitoba.
Note #2: In 1904, King Edward VII granted the Force the prefix ‘Royal’ in recognition of its many services to Canada and the Empire.
Note #3: The Royal North West Mounted Police had their headquarters for Western Canada in the Brandon Armoury from 1920-22 before moving to Regina after a fire destroyed their barns in the Wheat City Arena located across the street from the Armoury.
Source: Brandon a City by G. F. Barker. Redcoats on the Prairies by William Beahen and Stan Horrall.
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