Newfoundland Rangers
Encyclopedia
The Newfoundland Ranger Force is a defunct police force of the pre-confederation Dominion of Newfoundland
, which provided law enforcement and other government services to outports
. It existed from 1935 to 1950, at which point it was merged into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP). 204 men served as Rangers during its existence, though at any given time the force did not exceed 72 members.
The Newfoundland Commission
decided to model the Newfoundland Ranger force on the RCMP and not the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
which at the time were in operation at St. John's
.
Training, which included paramilitary
marching, battle drill
and small arms
practice, was administered by a Canadian sergeant major.
The uniform, similar to that of the RCMP, consisted of a khaki tunic and breeches with a brown stripe, fur caps as winter attire. The dress uniform was of blue serge and accompanied by swords.
The crest was of a caribou head inscribed with the motto ubique, meaning everywhere.
Rangers were armed with .38 Colt
revolver
s.
and Bonavista
peninsulas while the Rangers would service remote areas of the island and Labrador
.
The force was placed under the Department of Natural Resources, though served all six of the Commission's departments, under the control of Major Leonard T. Stick, an officer of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
The former estate of Sir Robert Bond
, the Grange, located at Whitbourne
was used as training facilities. Amongst the training in law enforcement they were also trained in how to record vital statistics and submit monthly reports.
When World War II
began in 1939, the Dominions Office was forced to declare the Rangers an essential service, thus disallowing members to enlist in other armed services, after thirty-four Rangers had left the service. Those members who had departed joined a variety of military forces, including the Newfoundland Heavy Artillery, the Royal Air Force
, the Royal Canadian Air Force
, the Royal Canadian Navy
and the Royal Navy
.
The force was called upon to attend political meetings and also act as observers and during the 1948 referendum they operated the polling stations.
April 1. 1949, the Newfoundland Rangers amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
.
Harold Horwood
's novel White Eskimo is based upon Frank Mercer, a Ranger who in 1936 travelled across the Kiglapait Mountains
in the middle of the winter to investigate a murder and retrieve the body back to headquarters, a feat that was celebrated in the media of the time.
Dean Bragg made a similar feat when he travelled over 140 miles to the interior of Labrador and back to investigate a plane crash.
Earl Prilgrim's novel Will Anyone Search for Danny? gives an account of Dan Corcoran who had left his detachment at Harbour Deep
to go to Port Saunders
and became lost and eventually found many days later.
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
, which provided law enforcement and other government services to outports
Newfoundland outport
An outport is the term given for a small isolated coastal community in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally the term was just used for coastal communities on the island of Newfoundland but the term has also been adopted for those on the mainland area of Labrador as...
. It existed from 1935 to 1950, at which point it was merged into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP). 204 men served as Rangers during its existence, though at any given time the force did not exceed 72 members.
The Newfoundland Commission
Newfoundland Royal Commission
The Newfoundland Royal Commission or Amulree Commission was a royal commission established on February 17, 1933 by the Government of the United Kingdom "to examine into the future of Newfoundland and in particular to report on the financial situation and prospects therein."In November 1932, the...
decided to model the Newfoundland Ranger force on the RCMP and not the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is a police force in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It provides policing to the communities of St. John's and the Northeast Avalon Peninsula, Corner Brook, Churchill Falls, and Labrador City....
which at the time were in operation at St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
.
Operations
Recruits had to be male, single, between the age of 19 (though men as young as 17 managed to join) to 28, have attained Grade 11, stand at least 5 feet 9 inches tall and weigh not more than 185 lbs.Training, which included paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
marching, battle drill
Battle drill
An Infantry battle drill describes how platoons and squads apply fire and maneuver to commonly encountered situations. They require leaders to make decisions rapidly and to issue brief oral orders quickly....
and small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
practice, was administered by a Canadian sergeant major.
The uniform, similar to that of the RCMP, consisted of a khaki tunic and breeches with a brown stripe, fur caps as winter attire. The dress uniform was of blue serge and accompanied by swords.
The crest was of a caribou head inscribed with the motto ubique, meaning everywhere.
Rangers were armed with .38 Colt
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
s.
Duties
They were responsible for carrying out policies of six government departments;- Department of Finance, collection of customs duties and other fees and act as wreck commissioners.
- Department of Natural Resources, inspection of logging camps, enforcement of game laws, issuing game licenses and directing the fighting of forest fires.
- Department of Public Health and Welfare, issuing relief payments, arranging medical treatment and hospitalization and escorting mental patients to hospital in St. John's.
- Department of Justice, enforcement of criminal law, investigation of suspicious deaths and in some areas acted as deputy sheriffs.
- Department of Home Affairs and Education, acted as truant officerTruancyTruancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to medical conditions...
s and organized adult education programs. - Department of Public Utilities, supervising the maintenance and construction of public roads, wharves and breakwaters.
History
The force was recommended by Deputy Minister of Justice Brian Dunfield in 1932 to the Amulree Commission. The Newfoundland Constabulary was to remain as the police force for the major centers on the AvalonAvalon Peninsula
The Avalon Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the southeast portion of the island of Newfoundland.The peninsula is home to 257,223 people, which is approximately 51% of Newfoundland's population in 2009, and is the location of the provincial capital, St. John's. It is connected to the...
and Bonavista
Bonavista Peninsula
The Bonavista Peninsula is a large peninsula on the east coast of the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador....
peninsulas while the Rangers would service remote areas of the island and Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
.
The force was placed under the Department of Natural Resources, though served all six of the Commission's departments, under the control of Major Leonard T. Stick, an officer of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
The former estate of Sir Robert Bond
Robert Bond
Sir Robert Bond was the Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1900 to 1909. He was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, as the son of merchant John Bond. Bond grew up in St. John's until 1872 when his father died and left the family a good deal of money...
, the Grange, located at Whitbourne
Whitbourne, Newfoundland and Labrador
Whitbourne is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in Division No. 1.Whitbourne, Newfoundland’s first inland town, is named after Sir Richard Whitbourne, one of the most colourful early settlers of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador who wrote a book about...
was used as training facilities. Amongst the training in law enforcement they were also trained in how to record vital statistics and submit monthly reports.
When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began in 1939, the Dominions Office was forced to declare the Rangers an essential service, thus disallowing members to enlist in other armed services, after thirty-four Rangers had left the service. Those members who had departed joined a variety of military forces, including the Newfoundland Heavy Artillery, the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
, the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
and the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
The force was called upon to attend political meetings and also act as observers and during the 1948 referendum they operated the polling stations.
April 1. 1949, the Newfoundland Rangers amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
.
In popular culture
A lasting tribute to the Rangers is a poem that appeared in the Ranger Bulletin (No.6, 1943) entitled Courtesy is the Best Policy, it reads in part:To be a real policeman
Be big and strong by heck
But let the strength be always found
Just above the neck.
Harold Horwood
Harold Horwood
Harold Andrew Horwood, CM was a Newfoundland and Labrador novelist and non-fiction writer and onetime politician. He was a Member of the Order of Canada.-Early life:...
's novel White Eskimo is based upon Frank Mercer, a Ranger who in 1936 travelled across the Kiglapait Mountains
Kiglapait Mountains
The Kiglapait Mountains lie east of Nain, in northern Labrador, south of the Torngat and Kaumajet Mountains. Not as high as those ranges, they still boast very rugged terrain and many peaks with high prominence values....
in the middle of the winter to investigate a murder and retrieve the body back to headquarters, a feat that was celebrated in the media of the time.
Dean Bragg made a similar feat when he travelled over 140 miles to the interior of Labrador and back to investigate a plane crash.
Earl Prilgrim's novel Will Anyone Search for Danny? gives an account of Dan Corcoran who had left his detachment at Harbour Deep
Great Harbour Deep, Newfoundland and Labrador
Great Harbour Deep was an incorporated town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, situated on the east coast of the Great Northern Peninsula. Harbour Deep, as it is customarily called, is a logging and fishing community that lies in a sheltered harbour on the south shore of...
to go to Port Saunders
Port Saunders, Newfoundland and Labrador
Port Saunders is a community of 876 located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It had a population of 336 in 1940 and 522 in 1956.- History :The town of Port Saunders got its name when three British war ships returned from Battle Harbour, Labrador...
and became lost and eventually found many days later.
Chief Rangers
Chief Rangers who had served with the force;- Major Leonard Stick, 1935 - 1936
- Fred Anderton, 1936 - 1939
- E.W. Greenley, 1939 temporary replacement for a few months
- Ray D. Fraser, 1939 - 1944
- Edward LeDrew Martin, 1944 - 1950