"PERFECT MOUNTIE"

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1938, Page 10

"PERFECT MOUNTIE"

MECHANISED FORCE. WIDE REORGANISATION. SXR J. MACBRIEN'S DEATH. Known throughout Canada's NorthWest as the "Perfect Mountie," MajorGeneral Sir James Howden Macbrien died at Toronto recently. He had been head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police since 1931. He mechanised the force, provided it with 'planes and became a pilot himself. Men on lonely "beats" miles from civilisation never knew when the "flyin<» Commissioner" might descend on them from the skies. In looks, character and career, Sir James was the North-West ideal of a mounted policeman. He was tall and lean and even at 59 seemed 15 years younger. In Two "Wars. He first became a trooper in 1900, but left to serve in the South African War. Afterwards he ranged Victoria-, New South Wales and Queensland with the Australian Light Horse, joined Canada's; first war contingent in 1914, fought in France (where he won the D.5.0.) from 1915 until the Armistice, and acted as •chief of Canada's defence forces. Then he turned to the task of reorganising and expanding the "Mounties." By 1936 the 3000 "Mounties" were using nearly 500 cars and motor cycles, and only 226 horses. General jlacbrien, qualified pilot himself, also gave the "Mounties" an air force.

Hβ gave them canoes with outboard motors for the rives of the North-West and small cruisers for the northern seas.

In between all these activities he found time to study science, train himself as a lawyer, and establish training schools where young and promising con° stables might also study law" and science.