True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: August, 2025
Reg.#3099, Constable John Henry Parry:
A Pauper’s Grave, A Pioneer’s Legacy
Sometimes, history leaves its truest stories buried. This account, written by my friend BC RCMP Veteran Curt Tugnum, tells of his journey to find and finally honour the resting place of his great grandfather, Reg.#3099, NWMP Constable John Henry Parry, lost to time but not to memory. (J. J. Healy)
Dear Joe;
"Some months ago, you and I exchanged emails about the gravesite of my Great Grandfather, John Henry Parry, Reg. #3099. At that time, I shared with you that I had located his previously unmarked grave at Hillside Cemetery in Medicine Hat, Alberta. It was my hope then to ensure he received a proper gravemarker. I’m writing now to let you know—that task has been done.
John Henry Parry joined the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) in 1894 and he purchased his discharge from the Force for $50.00 on April 30, 1898. He returned to his farm, but his final days were marked by hardship. In 1908, and suffering from advanced tuberculosis, he was transported from Lemberg, Saskatchewan to the hospital in Medicine Hat—reportedly the only hospital in the region equipped to treat such a condition. Having already lost his wife to the same illness the previous year, and with his homestead abandoned, his children dispersed, and his youngest—only five years old—also ill, he passed away within two days of his arrival. John Parry left the world alone and destitute.
With no means and no family nearby, he was buried as a pauper in February 1908. The cost of his burial was recorded as $3.00. His grave, though documented, was never marked—unknown to his family and long untended by the Force. A letter from the Mayor of Lemberg identifying him to the Commissioner of the NWMP was apparently misplaced and not acted upon until the 1940s, when an assigned Member was finally able to confirm that my Grandmother was indeed his daughter.
For years, his resting place remained hidden in the shadows of family lore. But in September 2024, with support from an archivist and the cemetery staff in Medicine Hat, my wife and I were able to locate and visit his grave. The experience was deeply moving.
On June 18th, 2025, a proper gravemarker was placed to honour him at long last. The RCMP Veterans Association, Cypress Hills Division, provided exceptional support—both with logistics and their presence. Over 30% of their membership attended the ceremony, which was led by RCMP Chaplain, Archdeacon Ken Wells. My cousin, recently retired RCMP Corporal Geordie Simpson, attended alongside another cousin I met for the first time that day. My friend, Lt. Col. Charlie Miller (Ret'd), also attended—wearing a period-correct NWMP uniform, in honour of the era.
It’s important for me to reflect on something that’s become clearer through this journey. Unbeknownst to him, JHP began what has become a four-generation legacy in the Force—seven RCMP members in total. And yet, from everything I’ve learned about him, I don’t believe he had the temperament of a police officer—not then, and perhaps not now. He was a man of quiet conviction—committed to his faith, his family, and his community. But not, ultimately, to the life of a constable. He chose to purchase his discharge, cutting his police service short and surrendering his right to a land grant. His departure from the Force was well thought out and deliberate.
The seven RCMP members named here are all part of John Parry's lineage; Reg.#18845, S/Sgt. Don Haubrick, Reg.#27243, Cst. Garth Haubrick, Reg.#46273, Sgt. Shawn Haubrick, Reg.#47252, Cst. Shannon Haubrick, Reg.#46942, Sgt. Geordie Simpson, plus my son Reg.#51986, Corporal J. M. Tugnum and me (Veteran Curt Tugnum).
More than a century after his death, Constable John Henry Parry is no longer forgotten—his legacy endures, not only in granite, but in the hearts of generations of RCMP who remember.
I’ve attached a few photos for your consideration. Please feel free to draw from these details what you think appropriate to add to his John Parry's database profile."
Joe, with sincere thanks, Curt Tugnum BC RCMP Veteran
And, reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
June 22rd, 2025
