1919 – Information is scarce about the role of Canadian women in the Legion of Frontiersmen during the Great War. The following is a description of the role of women in conjunction with the Legion in New Zealand.

“Information was received from London headquarters that the proposed formation of the Circle Cross League had been approved and New Zealand given the power to commence the establishment of this new organization. The Circle Cross League is for ladies who have been assisting the Legion during the war, and who are prepared to organize for the purpose of doing such working future as they carried on for the past four years, establishing nursing classes, etc. The league will have its Empire headquarters at the London headquarters of the Legion, and its badge will be a small replica of the center of the Legion badge, surrounded by a circle of blue enamel, the arms of the cross being carried out in white. The constitution of the league as drawn up by Miss M.E. Compton, of Hastings, president of the committee of ladies which rendered such splendid service to the legionaires (sic) on active service, has been adopted.”

Indications later in the article are that during the four war years the “Ladies Parcel Committee” under Miss M.E. Compton’s leadership sent comforts and packages to the NZ legionnaires.

1920 – The final ceremony of the 210th (Frontiersmen) Battalion took place on Wednesday, January 28, 1920 at 5:30 pm at St. Andrews Church in Moose Jaw when the Depositing of Colours took place. Unfortunately the Church and 210th’s Colours were destroyed by fire in 1963; however, the staff heads survived and were refurbished. The Saskatchewan Dragoons, a reserve army unit, perpetuate the 210th (Frontiersmen) Battalion today.

1920s – The Legion was decimated by the war was a decade long process to recruit a leader with solid organizational skills. Throughout the 1920s the organising secretary was S. Bozman of Looma, Alberta. It appears that little headway occurred until Larry B. Blaine of Croydon, United Kingdom came to Edmonton in the 1920s and began to promote the Legion of Frontiersmen (see 1926 on this timeline).

1922 - A partial copy of Orders issued by Legion Captain E.A. Hoare, Adjutant, Legion HQ in London confirm Major Seymour Rowlinson as a Squadron Leader for Victoria and Vancouver Island to be working independently under the direct supervision of Headquarters.

1922 - Elsewhere in the British Empire, Frontiersmen claimed to have taken part in the suppression of rebellion in Johannesburg, South Africa, although there could be some dispute over this as it could be claimed that the Frontiersmen were engaged in strike-breaking. General J.C. Smuts showed his appreciation by becoming a Trooper in the Legion of Frontiersmen and later accepted a position on the Governing Council of the Legion.

1926 – It was reported that Major Leitch of Winnipeg had written an article for the official journal of the Army and Navy Veterans of Canada "Khaki Call". More information about the Legion of Frontiersmen in Winnipeg at that time is not available at present, although we have photographs and details of their activities in the 1930s. Major Leitch had been an officer in the 25th Bn. Royal Fusiliers (Frontiersmen) in East Africa where he had been badly wounded.

1926 – June 27th 1926, Larry B. Blain 9006 102 Avenue held a Smoking Concert as a farewell to Sgt (Major) R.H. Darke. Larry Blain had been originally a member of "E" (Croydon and Purley) Sqn, England. Eventually he recruited the highly effective Lt. Col. Louis Scott DCM, former WW1 Princess Patricia officer and former CO of the Edmonton Regiment (49th Battalion).

Author’s note: Larry B. Blain is believed to have been the 19th Alberta Dragoon’s RSM Lawrence Blain photographed mounted in the scarlet and helmeted ceremonial 19th Alberta Dragoon uniform for the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada.

1928-'29 – Lieutenant Colonel Louis Scott DCM had the skills to establish Western Canada Command HQ at 715 Tegler Building Edmonton (one of Edmonton’s most prestigious buildings of the day). As well as Louis Scott DCM, there was Capt. M. Robertson Arlidge, Capt. C.G. Flavin, Transport Officer 2/Lt A.M. McGavin, Chaplain Rev. G.G. Reynolds, Treasurer Lt. E.C. Taylor, Hon Legal Advisor Frtn. E.C. Darling, Hon Auditor, Frtn. G.D.K. Kinnaird.
A Sqn Edmonton, Capt. H.S. Reynolds c/o Edmonton City Police.
B Sqn Lt. H.H. Sterns, V.D., 8603-104th St.
R Sqn Signals, 2/Lt H.G. Hearn, 11647-97th St.

Author’s note: G.G. Reynolds was an officer in PPCLI and post war became a much-respected minister as well as chaplain to the Legion of Frontiersmen. The eccentric H.S. (Horace) Reynolds, a Royal Flying Corps veteran, was the City of Edmonton Police accountant whose duties included involvement in police investigations at times.

1928-'29 – "A" Sqn Quebec sent Paul Bedard and Charles Pouliot on a 3 month RCMP course at Regina. These were the first Frontiersmen ever admitted to one of these courses. Involvement in community or auxiliary policing was beginning to evolve as role for the LF through the decades of the 1930s to the early 1960s.

1929 - While Canadian renewal is just beginning, a report from commands and units illustrates the revival of interest in the Legion goes beyond Canada. The N.Z. command reported 83 new members plus 295 renewals for a total of 378 members (Auckland having 65 of those members). In Egypt headquarters are established in Cairo and activities include access to facilities for riding, shooting and soccer (a match of Legion against the Welsh Guards was reported).

After 25 years, the Legion of Frontiersmen had gathered eccentric characters, patriots, rogues, heroes and royalty; and all who were able answered the “call to arms” in 1914. The price paid was a near extinction of the association. Eventually, veterans and patriotic citizens once again worked to rebuild an association; although the days of irregular mounted rifles, guides and scouts were in the past. New leadership and new challenges were sought.

Under Lieutenant Colonel Louis Scott DCM the Legion of Frontiersmen began to flourish during the 1930s culminating with a gazetted affiliation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The onset of another World War in 1939 would once again increase LF numbers and then challenge the LF with a loss of leadership and manpower to the regular forces. After war’s end in 1945, Louis Scott DCM had the daunting task of once again rebuilding an association depleted by war.

God Guard Thee.
Will Shandro. (Senior Canada Historian, CMO)

Index to photographs:
A. Vancouver Frontiersmen c.1912 (CMO Legion of Frontiersmen photographic archives)
B. Frontiersmen in Canada. (CMO Legion of Frontiersmen photographic archives)
C. Frontiersman Harry Bawn of Edmonton c.1914 (CMO Legion of Frontiersmen photographic archives)
D. Winnipeg Frontiersmen 1915 (CMO Legion of Frontiersmen photographic archives)
E. Troopers of the Canadian Legion of Frontiersmen (from Canada’s Fighting Troops, Roger Pocock, “The Rally of Empire”, Geo. Newnes 1914/15)
F. Badge of 210th (Frontiersmen) Bn. (CMO Legion of Frontiersmen photographic archives)
G. Shoulder title of 210th (Frontiersmen) Bn. (CMO Legion of Frontiersmen photographic archives)
H. Moose Jaw Frontiersmen join PPCLI at Ottawa1914 (from “Two Years of War” published by "The Civilian" 1916)
J. 210th Bn. Frontiersmen leaving Moose Jaw (Courtesy Moose Jaw Archives)
K. Officers of 210th Bn. Frontiersmen (Courtesy Moose Jaw Archives)
L. 210th Bn. Frontiersmen, some senior officers and n.c.o.s. (Courtesy Moose Jaw Archives)
M. 210th Bn. Frontiersmen at Bramshott, Hampshire, England before leaving for France. (Courtesy Moose Jaw Archives)