Uniforms of the NWMP, 1876
"In the little Crimson Manual it's written plain and
clear,
That who should wear the the scarlet coat shall say good-bye to fear...."
- Robert Service, Clancy of the Mounted
Formed in 1873, the North West Mounted Police were 300 men "of good character, who could read and write, and knew how to ride". The primary inspiration for the force was the Royal Irish Constabulary, and the primary need for the force was the violence and danger growing in the Canadian west. The first Mounties were lead by Col. G.A. French, who left his position as Commander of the Royal Artillery School in Montreal to organize and lead the NWMP.
While they are a police force, the NWMP was set up more as a division of mounted infantry than a traditional police force. Officers and men used military rank as much or more than their "police rank". They trained (and train still) in military drill, both mounted and dismounted. When they marched west, the force took with them a pair of 9 pounder cannons; nicknamed the "horse killers" by the troops due to their weight.
Uniforms of the NWMP, 1876
The uniforms were intentially designed with as little ornimentation as possible, but it was thought that the red serge was essential, since the natives had been used to dealing with the red-coated army and there was a measure of respect already part of that relationship. Also, the other option of blue was not thought to be a good idea, since the natives crossed the US-Canada boundary at will, and had a great deal of animosity for the "long knives" -- the blue-uniformed American military.
The uniform itself was quickly changed once the force was stationed in the west and the far more disciplinarian Col. French had left for Ottawa. It was found to be more practical to adopt clothing that was more civilian in tone, looking more like mountain men in winter time, than the spit-n-polish force they were while the Colonel was around.
Colonel George Arthur French - First commander of the NWMP. Left his post as commander of the School of Artillery to take over the fledgling police force. His influence is what gave the force its military bearing and discipline, and also its completely unsuitable mounts for the march west.
Major Walsh - Took over the force after they arrived in the west and Colonel French returned to Ottawa. Later promoted to full force commander after French resigned. Major Walsh inspired great loyalty in his men and was a popular and successful leader of the NWMP.
Jerry Potts - While not a member of the force, Jerry Potts was an essential contributor to their success. A Blackfoot Metis, Potts was one of the best guides and scouts on the plains. He was also influential in keeping the Blackfoot nation out of the 1885 Riel uprising and on the side of the British.
Sam Steele - General Sir Sam Steele was one of the original Mounties who headed west with the force in 1876. He started out as a corporal, dispite having service that could easily have seen him an officer -- he lied about his past so he could be just "one of the men". Sam worked his way up through the force, in a variety of postings, from Saskatchewan to BC and back again. "Steele's Scouts", his unit of casually attired and mounted scouts played a pivotal role in the 1885 Riel uprising.
The NWMP were arranged into Divisions. On the original march, every attempt was made to mount each division on like colored horses that were wholy unsuited to the harsh conditions of the march. On arrival at their destinations, the poor Arabians were little more than skin and bones having logged thousands of miles on poor rations, bad water and hard riding.
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The North West Mounted Police