Reg.#1683, Cst. Charles J. Lennox, NWMP

Reg.#1683, Cst. Charles J. Lennox, NWMP

Good Evening Joe!

Attached please find digital photos of the above for inclusion in the rcmpgraves database. I personally visited both grave sites today. Access to the Lennox site is through private property and a Crown lease. The landowner and Lessee, Mr. Roy Scammell was most co-operative and can definitely be deemed a "Friend of the Force." What follows is my report on both grave sites:

Historically, the Sounding Lake route was used by the NWMP for travel between Fort MacLeod and Battleford. The actual site of the grave and memorial marker for Cst. Lennox is located at the East End of Deadman's Lake (The Lake has been known locally as "Deadman's Lake since at least 1955) on Crown Land leased by Roy Scammell at NW3-38-4-W4th which is precisely 5 miles South and 1.5 miles West of Cadogan, Alberta and 3.5 miles precisely North of the most northerly point of Sounding Lake. Mr. Scammell has lived at the area since 1955 and has leased the land where Cst. Lennox is buried from the Crown for decades.

He and his wife Edith and sons Neil and Dean were most co-operative and are willing to guide anyone that asks to this burial site. The surrounding land is used to pasture their cattle consequently they have erected a cattle guard around the marker to prevent damage to it from livestock. Prior to the marker being erected by the Spencer Historical Site Society in 1981, a long-necked beer bottle turned upside down and pushed into the grave site marked the location. Mr. Scammell informed me that several years ago he found remnants of what he believed was a wooden cross marking the grave site. Squared off pieces of lumber were found nearby which is consistent with the existence of the cabin referred to in an excerpt from a local history book.

There is a reference to Cst. Lennox in an Alberta History Book titled "A Treasury of Memories" which covers Special Areas #4 which includes Monitor and Sounding Lake. The specific excerpt is entitled, "A Cabin And A Grave:"
.... In 1891 NWMP records stated that regular patrols went out as far as Sounding Lake... There is little reason to doubt that other travellers used this preferred route across the plains as well. Wandering Indians, trappers and others probably passed through. One person at least must have chosen this area as a place to live, for in 1896, an Indian hunting at Sounding Lake discovered a cabin about seven miles north-west of the Lake. Nearby was a grave. An investigation by Sergeant Mills revealed a carefully prepared grave on a ridge about 75 feet from the cabin. The headboard indicated that Charles Lennox, an ex-member of the N.W.M.P. was buried there. A note in the cabin said that a man, Adsik, had arrived at the Lake in October and left for Medicine Hat on April 10. Lennox had died March 1.

Death Date: From the above account it is apparent that the date of death for Lennox was March 1, 1896 not March 1, 1897 as is currently listed in the database;

Place of Death: Deadman's Lake

City: Cadogan

Prov: AB

Country: CA

Grave Location: Legal Land Description NW3-38-4-W4th, East End of Deadman's Lake

Condition of Plot: Poor. Overgrown. Bronze plaque needs cleaning;

Inspection Date: November 4, 2009

Comments: Grave site located on leased crown land. Contact Roy Scammell (780) 753-6423 for access

Picture Link: As attached

With thanks to: Roy & Edith Scammell and sons Neil and Dean Scammell

Reg. No. 5953, Cst. William Bennett Holtsbaum, RNWMP

Death of Date: Pending from son in Calgary, William Brian Holtsbaum (403) 242-9345

Place of Death: Pending from son;

Cemetery Name: Provost Cemetery

City: Provost

Prov: AB

Country: CA

Grave Location: Plot 326

Condition of Plot: Good

Inspection Date: November 4, 2009

Picture Link: As attached

A publication is located in the Alberta Legislature Library entitled, "Our Bill: William Bennett Holtsbaum: the biography of a unique and honorable man, 1893-1958;" authored by Lois Reid-Holtsbaum and William Brian Holtsbaum

Once I acquie futher information from Cst. Holtsbaum's son, I will pass it along.

With Kindest Regards --- Dave
Insp. David A. Guy (Ret'd)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
David A. Guy
Guy & Associates Ltd.
P.O. Box 360
Edgerton, Alberta T0B 1K0
Bus: (780) 755-2502
Fax: (780) 755-2503
Cell: (780) 806-3416
E-Mail: daguy@wy-com.ca


'Maintain Out Memories