GATES, G.M. ((George McIntyre Gates))
The Gallery
The Nameplates
Pillar Location: Pillar: 10 - X, Row: 11, Column: D
Troop Number and Year: Apr 23, 1918
Pillar Location: Pillar: 10 - X, Row:11, Column:D
Troop Number and Year: Apr 23, 1918
The Stories
The story of our grandfather and father George McIntyre Gates, and his enlistment with the Calvary Division of the RNWMP
On Apr 6, 1918, the Canadian Government announced approval for the RNWMP’s (Royal North West Mounted Police) request to begin recruiting for a Cavalry Draft* to be sent to the Western Front of WWI. Recruiting began on Apr 18th and was open to existing members of the RNWMP and applications from civilians were also sought. Of the 768 men who applied to the newly established RNWMP Cavalry Force, 273 were existing members of the RNWMP and 495 were civilians.
Enlistment records for the RNWMP indicate that George became a constable with Force Regiment #6898 on April 23rd. On his enlistment papers, he gave his address as Readlyn, SK and indicated he was a farmer.
The recruits were housed in bell tents first, at the RNWMP Depot Barracks, and later on the new Saskatchewan Legislative grounds in Regina. George signed his attestation papers in Regina on Apr 27th and his service began May 15th with Regiment 2683889, Rank Private of the RNWMP unit Cav RD.
He set sail from Montreal as part of the newly established Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) on the ship H.M.T. Bellerophon on June 3rd and arrived in England on June 21st. His service at Shorncliffe, England began on June 24th.
Following the disappointing announcement to the CEF that there were no horses for this regiment of the Cavalry in Europe and that the men were being dispersed to existing regiments where they were needed, George was transferred to the Tank Corps on Oct 7th.
His primary duties while overseas were those of an army cook. At the time of his enlistment, his height was given as 5 ft 11 in, but later in his service papers, it was given as 6 ft. He was a solid, barrel-chested, strong man who liked to share the story of a day when King George was inspecting the Canadian Troops. When the king got to him, he remarked, "My you have some big men." George was very proud of this compliment!
He returned to Canada on the SS Olympic on May 10, 1919, and left the service on Aug 5th of the same year. His daughter Blanche recalled that, when they were children, Mounties stopped by the farm on more than one occasion to try to encourage him to re-enlist. He never did.
George returned to the Readlyn district after the war and worked as a farm labourer until he and his new wife were able to start their own farm.
Pillar Location: Pillar: 10 - X, Row: 11, Column: D
Regimental Number: 6898
Troop Number and Year: Apr 23, 1918
Regimental Number: #6898
Troop Number and Year: Apr 23, 1918