Vets of the Month: October 2008
Sgt. Jimmy Coughlin
by Daniel B. Lemieux
and
Cpl. Steven Hugh George Margetts
by Jack White
Sgt. Jimmy Coughlin
by Daniel B. Lemieux
and
Cpl. Steven Hugh George Margetts
by Jack White
Introduction:
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 stories which follow are told by great friends whom I have known
for over 40 years -- 'E' Div. Vet. Dan Lemieux was a Chief Instructor in 'Depot' in 1964. He now lives in North Vancouver. I met Jack White while he was
posted with GIS in New Westminister Sub/Div about 1966. Jack lives in Kamloops, BC. Thank you!
We pause and give a tip of the Stetson to deceased members Sgt. Jimmy Coughlin and Cpl. Steven Margetts, RCMP
Reg. #12511, Sgt. Jimmy Coughlin - Boxing Instructor - 'Depot'
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 Competion. 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 engined 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 'basketcase' 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!
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.
Yours truly,
Vet Daniel B. Lemieux
Reg. #9826, Cpl. Steven Hugh George Margetts
Dear Joe;
Here's a wee item for your Vet of the Month segment. Let's just call it 'Going Overboard for Duty'!
Actually, it's a short story about Reg. # 9826 Cpl. Steven Hugh George Margetts who served the RCMP from 1921 to 1946.
In 1930, Cpl. Margetts was enroute north to Pangnirtung Detachment on Police Marine Vessel 'Beothic'. Thinking ahead, he decided to take 2 live pigs
with him for food at Christmas. However, after he boarded, rough weather arose. The crates broke open and washed his two pigs overboard! After being alerted,
Cpl. Margetts dove into the icy water and luckily managed to rescue one pig. The other pig swam in the opposite direction.
No doubt, after then rescue his lone pig was well protected and cared for after they had both taken an unexpected polar pig-dip!
This was Cpl. Margetts second or third trip north as he was the NCO i/c Pangnirtung Detachment beginning in 1923. Over the years, he also served
in 'HQ', 'N', 'G' & 'H' Divisions. During WWII, (November 1, 1939 to November 17, 1944) he enlisted with the Provost Corps, rose to the rank of
Captain with service Reg. # C.41957.
The RCMP was in the family. Cpl. Margetts father was Reg. #7373, S/M James Margetts, his brother was Reg. #13021, Cst. James Victor Margetts
and his grandson, Reg. #41013, Cpl. Stephen Margetts is currently serving in the Force.
Cpl. Steven Hugh George Margetts died in 1982. He is buried in Ottawa, Ontario.
Yours truly,
Vet. Jack White
Kamloops Vet.
Reg. # 16721
Kamloops Vet.
Reg. # 16721
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