David Allison Coleman

Divisions Served: “G,” “B,” “H”

Pillar Location:

Story: 

David Allison Coleman, Regimental #14763, was born on July 11, 1925, in Joggins, Nova Scotia. In 1943, at the age of 17, he joined the RCAF. In 1944 he was posted overseas and served with the #6 Bomber Command until the end of the war.

In October of 1946 he joined the R.C.M.P. and trained at Depot in Regina. His first postings were with G division, where he spent 3 years in the Aklavik subdivision.

In 1950 David was transferred to B Division (In 1949 Newfoundland joined Canada, so officers were sent there to help the Rangers, who were responsible for policing at the time). It was while stationed in Grand Bank that Dave met his future wife, Millicent King, a recent nursing graduate from neighboring Fortune.

In 1951 he joined the Dog Section and was transferred to H Division. While stationed in Truro, he had the opportunity to meet Princess Elizabeth, our future queen.

In 1953 he returned to G Division with his wife and first of five children. David and Millicent thoroughly enjoyed three years in the north, where Millicent was in charge of the nursing station in Coppermine, and Dave was in charge of the detachment. While there, they met and hosted a number of distinguished visitors. Prince Philip made history as the first member of the Royal Family to travel above the Arctic Circle. Lady Nye, wife of the British High Commissioner to Canada, flew in for the naming of Lake Nye. Another highlight of Dave’s time there was making a patrol with the late L.H. Nicholson, and local guide and interpreter Noel Avadluk. Nicholson was the first R.C.M.P. Commissioner to complete a 500 mile patrol north of the Arctic Circle by dog sled.

After being promoted to Cpl and a year in Fort Norman, David and Millicent and their two children left the north. They moved to Nova Scotia where he would remain for the rest of his service. While in H Division, he was stationed in Pictou and in charge of detachments in Baddeck, Port Hawksbury and Parrsboro. While in Port Hawksbury he chauffeured Prime Minister John Diefenbaker from Sydney to Port Hawksbury. Promoted to Sgt in 1966, the family moved to Glace Bay, from where he retired in 1971. During this time he escorted the Queen Mother on her visit to Sydney.

David, Millicent and their five children, Dale, David, Dawn, John and Scott moved to Amherst where he worked for the provincial government as a safety education officer for the next 17 years. His son John later joined the R.C.M.P.

Dave cherishes his 25 years in the force. He met many wonderful people and has great stories and memories he loves to share. To this day, he takes great pride in being a former member of the R.C.M.P.