Silvere Maurice Brochez

Divisions Served: “E,” “F,” “C,” “HQ”

Medals & Honours: Long Service Medal

Pillar Location: This Nameplate has not yet been mounted onto the Pillars, but is on display in the Centre in the interim.

Story: 

Born in Flanders, Belgium before the start of WWII. During Liberation Canadian troops of the Royal Westminster Regiment stayed at our home for a few days of R&R. One the soldiers later sponsored our migration to Canada in 1953.

Joining the RCMP was an ambition and became a reality in October 1959 when training began as part of a 32 man Troop. Training was rigorous and at times stressful but we all recognized there was a purpose to the program, though most of us often questioned why endlessly cleaning stables was beneficial to police training. The struggles we experienced as a Troop resulted in the formation of a strong bond which saw an original group of strangers marching at their Pass-Out Parade in perfect unity and ready to deal with the world of crime without Fear, Favor or Affection. We proudly carried the legacy of the Force upon our shoulders.

Reality soon set upon us when we all dispersed to postings across the country and realized that Police work was much more than cleaning kit, marching and studying Laws and crime scenarios in class room settings. Police work is not glamorous by any means and often entails long hours of exposure to not only harsh conditions but dealing with less than good-natured people.

In 1962 I was posted to the Musical Ride which toured our Western Provinces but also saw us as part of the Seattle World Fair and ended at the Cow Palace in San Francisco where Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were also performing. This coincided with the Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct. 62′ and raised some questions at train stations when passers-by saw the sleek black horses and some chaps guarding lances heading South. Following general duty in the Lower Mainland I transferred to the Security Service which turned into a transfer to Montreal in response to the ‘exigencies of the Force’ for the 1967 World’s Fair. It was a very demanding period with many long hours and days guarding visiting world leaders and saw the unpleasant side of constant disturbances and riots associated with Quebec separatist notions. It was interesting to be in front of the City Hall in Montreal when Charles de Gaulle made his infamous speech particularly when surrounded by a group of wildly cheering FLQ supporters.

In 1970 I joined the Foreign Liaison Section and was transferred to Madrid, Spain. There had been no opportunity or funds to learn Spanish which made for some interesting times for my wife and I and the children. It has often come to mind how unsporting of the Service to expect a spouse to organize a home and purchase food etc. for a family when language and cultures are a true barrier. We continued with the Foreign Service for the next 17 years which did not always see us in Grade ‘A’ postings and the glamour of diplomatic service was not evident. All in all, it was a great adventure, hard work and stressful at times and I thank my wife for being supportive and understanding when things were difficult.

A visit to ‘Depot’ has always been included when travels take us near Regina and fortunately we can still contact those troop mates who were part of one of the Greatest Troops to ever march the Parade square. Memories of our time at ‘Depot’ will never fade.

Thoughts and prayers to those who are no longer with us, F.C. Brodeur, D. Simonson, M. Pelletier, and R. Jones.