The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were formed in 1873 as the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP). They were then named Royal Northwest Mounted police (RNWMP) and then in 1918, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). In French this is Gendarmerie Royale du Canada (GRC).
May late father-in-law, Ted BRUE was a member of the British Columbia Provincial Police as # 873 from 1941 to 1950 and then served as # 16419 with the RCMP from 1950 until he retired in 1970 with the rank of Staff Sergeant (4 stripes). He is shown here earlier in his career when he was a Corporal. (2 stripes)
The RCMP are a national police force but Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland still have their own provincial police forces. Others such as B.C. and Alberta had theirs absorbed by the R.C.M.P.
Ceremonial duties include the RCMP’s Musical Ride and providing members in scarlet for VIP visits etc.
Sadly many RCMP member have lost their lives in service. A week after the photo above was taken, Constable Sarah Beckett was killed when her Patrol Car was hit on the driver’s side by a pick-up truck. (April 2016).
