Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Staff Sergeant Harry Keenan, one of the original members of the North-West Mounted Police

North West Canada 1885, no clasp, unnamed; Imperial Service Medal, E.VII.R., unnamed; Royal Canadian Mounted Police L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., robed bust (H. Keenan) mounted court style, nearly very fine (3) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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I.S.M. London Gazette 30 June 1905: ‘Keenan, Harry, Staff Sergeant, North-West Mounted Police, Dominion of Canada’.

L.S. & G.C. awarded 25 July 1934, and notified in the Canada Gazette of 12 January 1935.

Harry Keenan was born at Carp, Ontario, on 17 March 1847, and was one of the original members of the North West Mounted Police when he enlisted at Toronto on 3 November 1873. He went with the 1st Contingent of 150 members to Winnipeg in 1873, and subsequently served at Fort Garry, Prince Albert, Moosamin, Wood Mountain, Duck Lake, Regina, Tagish, and Forty Mile Post in the then North West Territory and Yukon, where he carried out general police duties. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in September 1874, to Sergeant in January 1875, and to Staff Sergeant in July 1887. During 1885 he participated in the Riel Rebellion while stationed at Prince Albert, principally at Duck Lake and Batoche, for which he was awarded the medal.

During 1888 Keenan was posted to Alameda and Wood Mountain area to patrol the border with America at the time Sitting Bull and the Sioux Indians were engaged with the United States Cavalry. He served in the Yukon area during the Gold Rush period and was transferred from the north in 1901 due in part to failing health. In August 1902 he was commended by the Commissioner for work in connection with the re-arrest of a prisoner who had escaped from the Prince Albert Gaol. He retired from the force on 1 September 1903, and died at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, on 29 December 1934. In 1931 he had received a $300 grant for his services in the Riel Rebellion. At the time of his death he was believed to be the last of the original members of the North West Mounted Police. Sold with comprehensive copied service records and news cuttings.