The 2nd President of this Division was Reg. # 12150, Joseph Michel Thomas Maurice Pelletier. Maurice was born in Kamouraska/Riviere-Quelle, Province of Quebec. He graduated from College Doyer, Montmagny, Province of Quebec as an accountant and joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on April 1, 1932 in Halifax on a month-to-month basis. He was discharged on September 30, 1939 and transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy. After WWII ended, he re-engaged in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on September 25, 1945.
Maurice served in “H” Division, Nova Scotia and “C” Division, Province of Quebec. He served as Chief Test Inspector at Sackville Downs Race Track and was a member of the Wanderer’s Lawn Bowling Club and the Naval Officers’ Association.
During the war, he served on the cruisers Fleur-de-lis, Scatarie, Baroff, Cruiser No. 4, Alachasse, Unla, Laurier and MacDonald.
He re-enlisted after the war in the Marine Division of the RCMP and served on the French and MacBrien and was the skipper of the Madawaska, Chaleur and at Marine Depot.
‘Skipper’, as he was known to his friends, served two separate terms as President of the Nova Scotia Division of the Veterans’ Association, 1957/1958 and 1968/1969.
Maurice was awarded the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal on February 1, 1948, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant before retiring from the Force on August 31, 1953.
He was a Charter member, joining the Association on March 20, 1956, serving on the first Executive and he was a Life Member.
Maurice passed away on July 21, 1982 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and he is buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. His obituary is on file at the Nova Scotia Archives # 6175 and in the RCMP Quarterly, Volume 48(3).
NOTE: If anyone knows of a close relative who might be interested in receiving some service information on Maurice, please have them contact Garry A. McCay at (902) 435-5928.
Not for publication but for your own information. The following: I have this person’s personnel file on disc which was obtained through the Freedom of Information office. I believe this file no longer exists in the RCMP Archives. There may be a family member interested in obtaining the file and they are welcome to have it. That is the reason for the above request.
Submitted by Garry A. McCay
Director of History & Artifacts
“H” Division Executive