True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: February 2014
Reg.#12511, Sergeant Jimmy Coughlin
RCMP Veterans Vancouver, BC
As a general rule, police officers are most frequently called into tragic or desperate situations involving some aspect of a sad humanity. It might be a robbery, a family dispute or a traffic accident.
But, there's also a comic side to policing. Not every day perhaps, but very often something will happen that will leave the police officer scratching his or her head or wondering what else the shift will bring!
There's no doubt that every police officer has wonderful yarns to tell. The short story which follows is told by a great friend whom I have known for over 40 years -- Vancouver Veteran Dan Lemieux was a Senior Instructor in 'Depot' in 1964. Thank you!
Here, we pause and give a tip of the Stetson to deceased member Sgt. Jimmy Coughlin.
Hi Buffalo Joe;
"I visited your website this morning and I found it to be very interesting! I read the web page where you told the story about 'G' Troop 1964/65 digging the grave for deceased Sgt. Jimmy Coughlin. I was also an instructor in 'Depot' with Jim Coughlin and I attended his funeral at the Chapel. I have a story about Jim and it came to mind because I'm an 'aircraft history buff', a pilot and l love to fly.
As many Vets will recall, Jim was a first class and long time boxing instructor at 'Depot'. Well, about 1954, a young man was recruited into the Force who was a Canadian Golden Glove Champion. Sgt. Coughlin and the recruit were detailed to fly to Toronto so that the recruit could take part in a Golden Glove Competition. Jimmy was assigned to be the 'corner man' for the young recruit boxer. And, although Jim was a dedicated and superior boxer, everyone knew that he hated airplanes and he was especially nervous in the air.
Jim and the recruit flew from Regina to Toronto in an RCAF Dakota (DC3). Jim hated every moment, but orders were orders so he toughed it out. After the competition, Jim and the recruit took a bus to the RCAF Station at Trenton to fly back to Regina. Jim was dreading the return flight all the while that he waited to board.
At the very last moment, an airman approached Jim and the recruit. He asked them to follow him. The airman took them to a nearby hangar where Jim and the recruit were each given a parachute. They were told that the regular flight Dakota was unserviceable and they were going to have to fly in a Boxcar!""
Boxcars were a twin boomed, twin engine transport aircraft. Commonly known as the C-119, Flying Boxcars were also noisy, slow and very uncomfortable. I think they were also had difficulty getting off the ground. Jim said..."why do we need parachutes?" The airman replied "everyone had to wear a parachute as Boxcars tend to crash a lot"!
Poor Jim was a 'basket case' when he got back to 'Depot'! He said he would never, never fly again! As I recall, it was a week or several days before he was back to his normal self!
Yours truly,
Daniel B. LemieuxRCMP Veterans. Vancouver, BC
February 23, 2014
Reg.#12511, Sergeant James Coughlin who died on August 22, 1964.
I visit Regina each time there is an AGM (Annual General Meeting). As I wander the 'Depot' grounds, I always recall an old friend and boxing instructor Sgt. Jimmy Coughlin.
Reg.#12511, Sergeant James Coughlin died on August 22, 1964. He was buried in the 'Depot' Division Cemetery
J. J. Healy
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
February 23, 2014
