LINKLATER, B.L. (Brian Laird)
The Gallery
The Nameplates
Troop Number and Year: TR. E 1965/66
The Bricks
The Stories
I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, specifically East Kildonan.
Following high school graduation, I was fortunate to begin working in the West Kildonan Police Department. This was prior to the amalgamation of the various municipal police agencies with Winnipeg Police Service. At the time the municipal agencies were small and because of that fact, advancement was limited. The Police Chief at the time was ex RCMP. He encouraged me to apply for the Force.
I took his advice and was sworn in at “D” HQ in Winnipeg on 30 July 1965. My Troop was “E” 1965-66. We Graduated in March 1966 and I was posted to “F” Division, Humboldt and Imperial Detachments, the latter being a 2 man post that is no longer there. From Imperial, I was transferred to “N” Division in Rockcliffe, Ontario, as a member of the 1968/69 Musical Ride. Early in 1968 I met a young Legal Secretary, Miss Cheryl Green, in Ottawa and we began dating.
In July of 1968 my Musical Ride colleagues and I headed south to Omaha, Nebraska, to begin our tour of the mid-western and southern United States. The final performance of our U.S. tour was in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. From there, we flew to Hamilton, Bermuda for our final performances of the 1968 tour, at the Bermuda Horse & Pony Show. This was the first time the horses of the musical ride travelled by air, three flights, 12 horses per flight. In November we returned to Rockcliffe for a short rest and re-set, as we began training for the 1969 tour to the United Kingdom.
By April of 1969, we were ready for the UK tour. We flew the horses via KLM airlines, in two flights consisting of men and horses. By April 28th we were all on the ground, at Combermere Barracks, in Windsor, England. Our first duty was to present our 1968 Lead File horse, Burmese, Reg # 484, to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle, on April 29th, 1969.
Our first ride performance was on May 2nd at the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agriculture Fair. We then returned to Windsor for the Royal Windsor Horse Show where Burmese performed with the Ride for the last time, ridden by Cpl. John Hossfeld, in the Lead File position. John carried the Queen’s pennon on his lance, allowing The Queen to easily follow Burmese throughout the performance. Whilst this was Burmese’s last performance with the Ride (an experienced lead file horse), three of her “B” horses also born in 1962 had lead file positions as well: #496 Beau and Corporal John Hossfeld in #1 of column one, #474 Brodie and Corporal Norm Medley as #1 of column 3, and I had the privilege of riding #470, Bun as #1 of column 4.
We then continued our tour, performing at ten more Agricultural Fairs and closing out our tour, performing at four military tattoos, including our last performance at the world-renowned Edinburgh Tattoo in Scotland, before returning back home to Canada in September.
On September 20th I married my life partner, Cheryl Green in her hometown, the big Nickle city of Sudbury, Ontario and we headed off on our first transfer: "F" Division, with postings at Carlyle, Esterhazy and Foam Lake Detachments. GD at those posts. We had 3 children while posted in Carlyle. Laird was born in Arcola; Deborah and Tracey were born in Regina. We obtained a compassionate transfer from Foam Lake to Selkirk Manitoba in "D" Division, Tracey had severe allergies, and the specialists indicated we 'get away from the farming communities'. Selkirk was great. I was assigned to Highway Patrol, took some training and became a traffic collision analyst/reconstructionist.
I took a lot of traffic related courses in Canada and the USA and became involved in training. I was fortunate enough to be transferred to the Canadian Police College (CPC) back at “N” Division in Rockcliffe, Ontario. I was promoted to Sergeant, taught the Collision Analyst course and developed the Collision Reconstructionist course for the CPC. I also introduced a commercial vehicle collision investigation course during my nine years at the CPC.
I took a lateral transfer to HQ Ottawa as Sr. Collision Analyst/Reconstructionist for the Force. Unfortunately, the position was eliminated after 9 months. Rather than travelling coast to coast coordinating road courses, I obtained a lateral move back to "D" where I was the Senior Collision Analyst/Reconstructionist for the Division. I was there for several years and then transferred back to Selkirk Detachment as the NCO i/c HP and collision analyst/reconstructionist duties.
In 2001, after 36 plus years I retired on the same date as our wedding anniversary, September 20th. That way we will never forget. My years of retirement have been great. Our son, Laird, was a Park Warden with Parks Canada at Riding Mountain National Park. He went to Calgary Police Service and has been there 8 years, and currently is a Detective with Robbery Homicide. We have two granddaughters in Cochrane, AB.
Deborah is living in Burlington, ON with our grandson and granddaughter. She is a part time stay at home mom and part time interior designer/home stager.
Tracey obtained her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Manitoba and was working in the bone marrow transplant unit at the Health Sciences Center. Unfortunately, she suffered some eye diseases and lost her vision. She cannot work, but is managing quite well on her own.
Cheryl retired in November 2008 and since then we have been doing a lot of travelling (grandchildren, you know) and enjoying the country.
Divisions Served: F, N, D, HQ
Medals and Honours: RCMP Long Service Medal Gold, Silver & Bronze Clasps
Regimental Number: #24150
Training Division: Depot
Troop Number and Year: TR. E 1965/66
Home Town: Winnipeg, MB
Engagement Date: Jul 30, 1965