.jpg)
Hello Joe,
It was with great pleasure and some relief that my partner and I read the article on you in one of the latest "Frontline" magazines. You see, Cst. Dan Martin and I have undertaken a little project but we have run into a couple of roadblocks.
We are currently posted to Cambridge Bay in V-Division on the infamous Northwest Passage.
In January of 1960, Cst. Colin Lelliott (Reg.# 19731) was shot and killed on duty by a man named Jimmy Ayalik. We have found out that Cst. Lelliott is buried in Hatley Memorial Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. However, we have been unable to locate any family members for him. Personnel at the funeral home say they have no information on his family and do not recall anyone coming to visit the grave recently.
At the time of his death, Cst. Lelliott's co-worker was Cst. Dominic French, great grandson to George Arthur French who was the First Commissioner of the NWMP. I located Mr. French at his home in Manitoba. He, of course, remembers the events surrounding Cst. Lelliott's death quite well. Unfortunately, he was unable to provide any contact information for people we need.
Also at the time of the shooting, Csts. Lelliott and French were supervised by Cpl. Bob Milmine. Mr. French thinks he might be buried in British Columbia but is unsure as he passed away in the mid-1980's.
Dan and I are planning to have a commemoration of the death of Cst. Lelliott on or about January 12th 2010, 50 years to the day since the tragic event. We will be having some sort of ceremony to mark the occasion, how the actions of one person do not represent the feelings of the public, and how the RCMP and the Inuit have depended on one another for so many years.
The event in January, in whatever form it takes, will ring somewhat hollow if we can not have some representatives from the Milmine or Lelliott families involved. Mr. French has already stated that since his wife is quite ill, he will not be making the trip. It is hoped he will contribute in other ways. There are still many relatives of the Ayalik family in Cambridge Bay, including his many brothers and sisters.
We would appreciate any assistance you can give us in locating any family members for Cst. Lelliott, the grave for Cpl. Milmine, his widow, and/or any family.
Thank-you in advance for your assistance.
Cst. G.L. (Greg) DEAGLE, Reg.#51083
General Duty Investigator
D.A.R.E. Instructor
Cambridge Bay RCMP
P.O. Box 700
Cambridge Bay, NU., X0B 0C0
ph: (867) 983-0123
fx: (867) 983-2498
Hi Greg,
ReplyDeleteGreetings from the south!
I'll do what I can to help.
First, I copied your note and sent it to Vet. Frank Richter who publishes a weekly news letter to all Vets out of Kelowna, BC. I suggest you drop him a note to follow-up that Frank does publish your request in this weeks newsletter. Frank has been contacted.
Secondly, I have already checked the 'RCMP' Vets’ web which is a private site run by RCMP Vet Jim Forsyth out of Victoria, BC. Jim has been contacted.
I see that there are several Vets listed on Jim's web with Reg.#'s near the Reg.# of Cst. Lelliott. You will want to collect these associated Reg.# and e-mail them as surely some of them will be Troopmates to Cst. Lelliott.
Thirdly, I suggest you write a note to Vet Dan Lemieux in Vancouver area ...he is the boss and brains behind Vet contacts and graves in 'E' Div. Dan has been contacted.
Next, check out the Ottawa Vets Web page at http://www.rcmp-grcvetsottawa.ca
See the ‘Link’ page at top of page and here you will find all the links to all the Vets across Canada…copy their url’s and get your letter out to them ASAP as your idea is to give this wide, wide publicity.
I’ve also sent your note to other Vets, Lack White in Kamploops, BC and Jack O'Reilly in Toronto who have a wide list of contacts… stand by to see what evidence they have to offer.
Let me know if these ideas bring you 'hits'. Congrats on your work in the memory of Cst. Lelliott and please send me some photos.
I have also published your letter on the BuffaloBlog which you can access by www.rcmpgraves.com
Keep yur stick on the ice!
Yours truly,
Joe
#23685
On the 1st of March 2010 I attended at the Hartley Cemetery and located Cst Lelliott's grave and found some flowers on the headstone as well as a Union Jack flag stuck in the ground beside the headstone. Obviously some of our retired members in Victoria have made the effort to pay respects to this deceased member. I have walked through the cemetery many times as it is near my daughters home but did no realize a member who had been killed on duty was interned at that site until reading the messages on the Vets Net. I will certainly make sure on my part to regularly visit the grave site to ensure it is in good order. The folks at Hartley could not be more co-operative. The grave is immediately to the right upon entering the cemetery about 20 yards into the internment area. The entrance is from the Sooke Rd.
ReplyDeleteCollin Adams (retired)
#24940