The Mystery of Sergeant-Major Hall. 'Busted'?

by

J. J. (Buffalo Joe) Healy

For many years, Mr. Reg Keatley of Calgary, Alberta has researched gravesites of deceased members principally in the Calgary area.

During one of his excursions, he noted a 'mistake' on a headstone of North West Mounted Police (NWMP) Sergeant-Major George B. Hall.

Mr. Keatley wrote: 'Sergeant-Major Hall is buried in Union Cemetery, Calgary, AB. However, his headstone mistakenly reads 'Constable Hall'!

Surprised as I was, I replied to Mr. Keatley partly shouting: 'Holy long-shank spurs!

Would any Sergeant-Major lie peacefully knowing he'd been busted in rank? Surely, the Sergeant-Major's gravestone ought to corrected so that SM Hall might finally and fully forgive us?

J. J. (BuffaloJoe) Healy
Reg.#23685

Shining New Light on Ranks in the original
1873 North West Mounted Police

Preface

We can agree there's confusion enough in the early history of the Force with regards to assigning Regimental Numbers to the Officers and enlisted men. Seems there is also some confusion about the assignment of rank designations.

In the case of NWMP member Hall aforementioned, it was noted that the rank on his gravestone was 'Constable' when he in fact he retained the rank of 'Sergeant Major'.

Not long ago, an interesting and helpful letter was received from Mr. Doug Pack. Mr. Pack's research shines new light on ranks in the original 1873 North West Mounted Police. Mr. Pack's letter follows.

Dear Mr. Healy:

I am sending this letter from my home e-mail because it is easier to send you the link of one reference. I think I can provide a possible reason for Sergeant Major Hall being identied as Constable Hall.

The notion that 'Sergeants Major' were once termed 'Chief Constable' is mainly from the NWMP Project currently undertaken by the Library and Archives Canada. (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca)

Library and Archives Canada list NWMP NCO ranks as: Chief Constable, Constable and Sub-Constable. Also, the Encylopaedia of Saskatchewan: (http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/steele_samuel_benfield_1849-1919.html) lists Sam Steele as a Chief Constable prior to his being commissioned to Inspector. The Canadian Biography online: (http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?BioId=41844) also lists Steele's rank as 'Staff Constable' and says that it is the equivilent of a Divisional Sergeant Major!

In his autobiography, "Forty Years in Canada", Steele himself says he was promoted to Sergeant Major. Now one explanation for this discrepency is the known fact that many of the Officers and men felt they were more a military unit than a civil police unit. For example, despite being the Commissioner of the Mounted Police, Arthur French preferred his Army rank of Lt. Colonel to that of Commissioner. Many others were the same, and it became common place for the North West Mounted Police to retain their previous or in some cases assumed rank names of their military counterparts.

Eventually it seems the Mounted Police or the Government gave up trying to change things and by the 1880's, the NWMP had established ranks of: Constable, Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant and with the appointment of Robert Belcher as the RSM for 'Depot' Div., a Regimental Sergeant Major.

Officers on the other hand were to remain in their civil police ranks although some still used their former military rank as did Commissioner McLeod who was referred in official correspondence as "Colonel McLeod". Commissioner Perry too, as late as 1923, maintained this practice as he was promoted to Major General and was known in retirement as "General Perry".

So, the bottom line is, who knows what was right or what was really the terminology used?

It would seem that things were as messed up back then as it is now. God knows that they complained about the lack of funding in the 1870's just as we do now. Perhaps that's the real reason for the missing words on the markers of S/M Hall and the D/Comm'r. who was listed as Commissioner - perhaps they were cynical efforts to save money!

I hope this helps.

Doug Pack
retired S/S/M doug.pack@hotmail.ca

I'd like to thank S/S/M Pack very much for his letter. It provides a new slant on the Mix-up and Mystery of Sergeant Major Hall. S/S/M/ Pack's explanation, based on historical research, is very helpful and it provides a solid explanation to the rank mix-up on S/M Hall's grave marker. Once again, thank you S/S/M Pack!

Website Sources:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/008004/f2/H-31_en.pdf

Libray and Archives Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca)

---

Click Here : Buffalo Blog

Fort Healy, Canada. Circa 1874

BACK TO TOP

'Maintain Our Memories'

www.rcmpgraves.com