Material Type

Artifact

Date

1928

Materials

SILVER PLATE

No. Pieces

1

Length

58.5

Width

37.5

Description

BACK STAMPED "17" "HOLMES & EDWARDS INTERNATIONALS CO" "2/36" "ELECTRO PLATE B.M." OVAL SHAPED, FILIGREE EDGE-FRONT. HANDLE ON EITHER END. INSCRIBED FLORAL WREATHS & CREST ON EITHER END. ENGRAVED IN CENTRE OF TRAY "*PRESENTED TO*" SERGT. MAJOR T NICHOLLS BY THE N.C.O.'S AND CONSTABLES OF "K" DIVISION ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE R.C.M. POLICE *LETHBRIDGE ALBERTA* FEBRUARY 29TH 1928".

Subjects

SERVING VESSELS

DOCUMENTARY ARTIFACT

Historical Association

SAFETY SERVICES

COMMEMORATIVE

History

DONOR IS THE STEP-DAUGHTER OF THOMAS R. NICHOLLS. GIVEN TO THOMAS R. NICHOLLS, BY THE MEN OF THE ‘K’ DIVISION AT LETHBRIDGE, ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE ON FEBRUARY 29, 1928. THOMAS NICHOLLS CAME FROM ENGLAND TO JOIN THE ROYAL NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE IN JUNE 1889 AT ONLY NINETEEN YEARS OF AGE. HE COMPLETED HIS SIX WEEKS OF TRAINING IN REGINA. HIS FIRST POSTING WAS IN MOOSOMIN, NWT WHERE HE STAYED FOR 11 MONTHS. IN JULY 1899, NICHOLLS WAS TRANSFERRED TO "G" DIVISION FORT SASKATCHEWAN. HE MOVED ON TO EDMONTON AS AN ORDERLY ROOM CLERK TO COL. BELCHER. IN JANUARY 1903 NICHOLLS RETURNED TO FORT SASKATCHEWAN AND ON TO A DETACHMENT IN VEGREVILLE FOR A SHORT TIME. IN OCTOBER OF THAT YEAR NICHOLLS MOVED TO PEACE RIVER AND STAYED UNTIL 1904. FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO LESSER SLAVE LAKE WHERE HE REMAINED. IN JANUARY 1906 NICHOLLS WAS SENT TO REGINA FOR A THREE MONTH CORPORAL CLASS. ON MARCH 31 1906 HE RETURNED TO FORT SASCATCHEWAN AS AN ORDERLY ROOM CLERK FOR SIX MONTHS BEFORE GOING TO A DETACHMENT AT SEDGEWICK. IN SEPTEMBER 1906 HE TRANSFERRED TO REGINA AND FROM THERE WAS SENT TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE SPLIT LAKE DETACHMENT, AND TOOK THE FIRST MAIL TO FORT CHURCHILL WITH A DOGSLED THAT WINTER. NICHOLLS STAYED IN FORT CHURCHILL FOR FOUR YEARS AND WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT. IN MARCH 1910 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO "F" DIVISION WHERE HE WAS PROMOTED TO ACTING SERGEANT MAJOR. IN JUNE 1910 NICHOLLS ACCOMPANIED GOVENOR GENERAL EARL GREY, WITH POLICE ESCORT, FROM NORWAY HOUSE TO PORT NELSON AND BACK. IN THE SPRING OF 1911 NICHOLLS CROSSED LAKE WINNEPEG WITH A TEAM OF DOGS TO DELIVER MAIL FROM REGINA TO FORT CHURCHILL AND BACK. HE REMAINED IN REGINA FOR A SHORT TIME BEFORE PROCEEDING TO ENGLAND WITH THE CORONATION CONTINGENT. WHEN NICHOLLS RETURNED TO CANADA IN SEPTEMBER 1911 HE WAS SENT TO NORWAY HOUSE WHERE HE STAYED UNTIL 1915. HE WAS PROMOTED TO STAFF SERGEANT IN JANUARY OF 1915. IN AUGUST, NICHOLLS WAS AGAIN PROMOTED TO SERGEANT. MAJOR OF "B" DIVISION DAWSON. NICHOLLS STAYED IN DAWSON UNTIL JUNE 1919 WHEN HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO "K" DIVISION LETHBRIDGE. HE REMAINED HERE UNTIL JANUARY 1928 WHERE HE WAS GIVEN TWO MONTHS PENDING RETIREMENT. SERGEANT MAJOR THOMAS NICHOLLS LEFT THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE WITH A FIRST CLASS DISCHARGE JANUARY 1928 AFTER 28 YEARS OF SERVICE. HE WAS THEN APPOINTED CHIEF OF CITY POLICE BEFORE HE RETIRED DECEMBER 31, 1943.

Catalogue Number

P19860019000

Acquisition Date

1985-08

Collection

Museum

Less detail