"Sergeant 331" (NWMP Book)

[Coal Creek Griff]

I read an interesting memoir written by a member of the North West Mounted Police.  The full title is, "Sergeant 331: Personal Recollections of a Member of the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police from 1879-1895".  (Aren't 19th Century book titles great?)  The author is F.J.E. Fitzpatrick (Frank Joseph Emile) and it was published in 1921.  See the attached service records.

I found the book to be interesting.  It contains a fair amount of sometime sarcastic humor, which made it even more fun to read.  It is rather short, but includes some of his memories about his daily activities.  It's available for a free download in several formats at the following web address.  I've mentioned before that I got an inexpensive e-reader just so that I could read some of these out of print books.  This site is very useful for that.    IT's worth taking a look.

https://archive.org/details/sergeant331perso00fitz

CC Griff

[PJ Hardtack]

If you enjoyed that, look for a copy of:

"Trooper  in the Far North-West" by John George Donkin.  Recollections of Life in the Northwest Mounted Police, Canada, 1884-18888.

Published by Prairie Books. ISBN 0-88833-246-7  Originally published as: Trooper and Redskin in the Far North-West.

There was a time the iconic rcmp was an exemplary organization. Now it is held in contempt by many people for it's blatant anti-gun policies and actions.

[Coal Creek Griff]

Thank you, sir.  I'll take a look at that one.  It is available on Archive.org too: https://archive.org/details/cihm_30148

CC Griff

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[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

Another one is Forty Years in Canada by Major General, Sir Samuel B. Steele.  Sam Steele is probably the most notable NWMPoliceman of that era.  His regimental number is 3.

Published by Prospero Books, Toronto, ON  ISBN 1-55267-142-9

[Coal Creek Griff]

That one's there too! https://archive.org/details/fortyyearsincana00stee

I'll have enough reading to last me several years...

CC Griff

[PJ Hardtack]

Only if you read by using your finger ..... you'll gobble up those books PDQ.

The book by Sam Steele shows how the gov't empowered the NWMP to make up gun laws as they went along. The same tacit agreement exists today.

After service in the Boer War, Steele was seconded to the South African Police Force where he implemented "gun control", confiscating firearms, disarming the Chinese, blacks and unrepentant Boers. He issued 'firearms permits' to "reliable" people for hunting and self protection.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Sir Sam Steele's papers are now at the University of Alberta.

http://steele.library.ualberta.ca/index.html

[Coal Creek Griff]

I find a lot of good used books on Half.com.  I may decide to buy an inexpensive copy of that book; I prefer to read print books if they're available.  I use the e-reader for books that are no longer in print and/or are expensive.

http://product.half.ebay.com/Forty-Years-in-Canada-North-West-Mounted-Police-2001-Hardcover/2649828&tg=info

CC Griff

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

When you finish those, try 'Sitting Bull's Boss" by Ian Anderson, ISBN 1-895811-63-5.  It's about James Morrow Walsh, another one of the iconic NWMPolicemen of the era.  He was the main Mountie involved with Sitting Bull and the Sioux that escaped into Canada after the Custer/Little Bighorn episode.

[Coal Creek Griff]

Thanks!  I love good book recommendations!

CC Griff

[hp246]

Great thread.  Thanks for posting these titles. 

[38OVI]

also try www.abebooks.com  for hard to get or out of print books.  Just picked up a 1920 history of WW I from them and a 1916 medical manual for one of my presentations.