The 3rd President of the Veterans’ Association, Nova Scotia was Reg. # 9973, Frederick (Fred) Donald Campbell Cordwell. Fred was born in Melbourne, Cambridgeshire, England. He immigrated to Canada with his family in April, 1923.
He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on August 3, 1923 in Dauphin, Manitoba. He served in “Depot” Regina as a recruit and also served in “K” Division, Alberta at Lethbridge, Calgary, Banff and Drumheller. Fred also served in “E” Division, British Columbia at Radium Hot Springs and Vermillion Crossing.
Fred received further postings to Maritime District Headquarters; transferred to “L” Division, Prince Edward Island at Charlottetown; “J” Division, New Brunswick in Fredericton and St. Stephen and “H” Division, Nova Scotia in Halifax where he served as Chief Clerk, CIB, until his retirement.
Fred was ‘invalided to pension’ on February 3, 1954 and held the rank of Sergeant.
Fred joined the Veterans’ Association on March 20, 1956 and was a Charter Member. He served on the committee that organized the Veterans’ Association in Nova Scotia and served as President of Nova Scotia Division of the Veterans’ Association in 1959 and 1960.
Fred was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal on May 6, 1935; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal on April 1, 1945 and bronze and silver clasp on August 2, 1953. He was a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veterans’ Association, Nova Scotia and a Life Member of Ashlor Lodge AF and AM, Calgary, Alberta.
Fred passed away on December 5, 1974 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and is buried in the Springfield West Baptist Cemetery in Springfield, Prince Edward Island.
His service record is published on the National RCMP Gravesite website and his obituary is on file in the Nova Scotia Archives, # 6043. His obituary is also published in the RCMP Quarterly, Volume 40(4).
Submitted by Garry A. McCay
Director of History & Artifacts
“H” Division Executive