BOZEK, G.T. (George Thomas)

Regimental Number: #19117

Troop Number and Year: TR. G26 1955/56

Location: "B" RT OF CTR

I was born on August 1, 1936, the son of Emily & Thomas Bozek. My five siblings and I were raised in the small town of Broadview, SK.

In 1953 I left home to join the Canadian Reserve Army and two years later at 19 years of age, I joined the RCMP, and was assigned Regimental #19117 as a member Troop G26, 1955/56.

Training in those days was in two parts, six months at Depot Division in Regina, SK, followed by two months at N Division in Rockcliffe, ON before graduating in June 1956.

My first posting was to “B” Division, NFLD and my first Detachment was Harbour Breton, one of the largest & oldest fishing communities on the south-west coast of NFLD. As a prairie boy, this was a wide-eyed experience, seeing the big water, “Harbour Breton”; no patrol car, no electricity, no telephone, and all patrols on the coast were done by police boat, the RCMP MP 84 Burin, in the summer. In the winter, larger boats were necessary because of the harsh winter conditions on the ocean and MP 14 - McBrien and MP 13 - Irvine filled the bill. Both ships had been acquired from the RCN out of Halifax. And of course, I also had to learn how to move around in a dory. My second posting was a short stay, with St. John Highway Patrol.

Harbour Breton was a quiet community, the people were friendly and welcoming, and I was thoroughly enjoying the culture and pristine wonder and originality of the entire province. However, something stronger was drawing me back home. Just one year after arriving in NFLD, I purchased my discharge, returned home to the girl I left behind. Miss Arline Green and I were married on June 5, 1957. The best decision I ever made.

I drove truck for the next year and in November of 1958, I re-applied to the Force and was accepted once again. Now a married man, Arline and I were transferred to D Division, so we headed East to our first family posting; Portage LaPrairie, Manitoba. We remained there long enough to complete our family of two girls, Robyn & Debra and two boys, Bradley & Daryn.

Portage Detachment consisted of both rural and city general duties, as well as highway patrol; my favourite, riding the Harley Davidson motorcycle.

In July of 1963 our family of six was off to our second posting, this time, back to Depot Division in Regina, SK, as a P.T. & Self Defence Instructor. I was promoted to Corporal. In those days, we were averaging twenty-six troops a year, I got to know a lot of members and my reputation preceded me.

In 1968 I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant as NCO i/c of Self Defense. During my tenure at Depot, I had the privilege of coaching & playing on several hockey teams, recruits and serving members. We won numerous championships and to be honest, no one wanted to play the RCMP team because of our prowess.

Depot holds a special place in my family’s heart. Our kids grew up with recruits and officers' kids. And after work we were one big family.

Because of their experiences growing up, two of our children, Robyn & Bradley became civilian members serving in F Division as telecom operators and Bradley served 32 years with CSIS, with postings in Canada and overseas.

In July 1970, I was transferred to F Division and the family was posted to Unity, SK Detachment, taking up residence in the attached family quarters.

During our time in Unity, my wife and partner, Arline, would answer the telephone and radio, relaying messages to the members on patrol. Because of this integral service provided by Arline and over 450 wives serving in rural Detachments and outposts, they were recognized and awarded commendations by the Force, for their valuable, unpaid role in rural policing: The Second Man Award.

Being the NCO i/c of a small-town Detachment came with various challenges and rewards. Being an active part of the community helped me and my team solve most crimes brought our way, from theft to murder.

Between October 1970 and May 1971, I was involved in the manhunt searching for Wilfred Stanley Robertson: Murderer of two members -  my friend Sgt. Robert Schrader and Constable Anson, who were responding to a domestic dispute. My team from the North Battleford Sub/Division was on the scene when he was found deceased under a pine tree, along with numerous weapons and rounds of ammunition.

We also resided in Meadow Lake, Saskatoon, and Cochin 'Ocean'. Arline was always involved in the community, including the Canadian Figure Skating Association, Power Skating, School of Dance, Brownies, Community Theatre, the Cochin Art Club, Embroiders Guild, and of course, her beloved choirs.

In 1980, I retired as a regular member but was soon back on the job again, as an RCMP Special Constable assigned to court duties in North Battleford for the next eight years. From there I rounded out my career as a mediator for the Saskatchewan Government for another five years.

After moving around a couple of times, Arlene and I returned to Unity in 2014 where we finally settled down as empty nesters in retirement. Sadly I lost my loving wife, friend and partner on January 17, 2018 and I miss her every day. We were blessed to have seen our family grow to include 9 grand children, and 13 great grand children.

To this day, I very much enjoy reconnecting with retired and serving members, attending veteran’s events and getting around town with the group at the Unity Detachment.

I am very proud of my family, and my service as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Canada’s only great icon!

 

Submitted Nov. 19, 2024

Divisions Served: B, D, Depot, F

Medals and Honours: LONG SERVICE MEDAL

Regimental Number: #19117

Training Division: Depot & N

Troop Number and Year: TR. G26 1955/56

Home Town: Broadview, SK

Engagement Date: Sep 22, 1955