Newfoundland Ranger Force
| Newfoundland Ranger Force | |
|---|---|
Badge of the Newfoundland Ranger Force
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| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1935 |
| Dissolved | April 1, 1949 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
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| Map of Newfoundland Ranger Force's jurisdiction. | |
| Population | 526,702 |
| Legal jurisdiction | Dominion of Newfoundland |
| Governing body | Her Majesty in Right of Newfoundland |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Colonial Building |
| officers | 420 |
| civilians | 125 |
The Newfoundland Ranger Force was the police force of the Dominion of Newfoundland before its confederation with Canada. It provided law enforcement and other government services to outports for 15 years. It existed from 1935 to 1949, at which point it was merged into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). 209 men served as Rangers during its existence, though at any given time the force did not exceed 72 members.
The Newfoundland Commission decided to model the Newfoundland Ranger force on the RCMP and not the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary which at the time were in operation at St. John's.
Recruits had to be male, single, between the age of 19 (though men as young as 17 managed to join) to 28, have attained Grade 11, stand at least 5 feet 9 inches tall and weigh not more than 185 lbs.
Training, which included paramilitary marching, battle drill and small arms practice, was administered by a Canadian sergeant major.
The uniform, similar to that of the RCMP, consisted of a khaki tunic and breeches with a brown stripe, fur caps as winter attire. The dress uniform was of blue serge and accompanied by swords and sometimes hickory batons for riot control.
The crest was of a caribou head inscribed with the motto ubique, meaning everywhere.
Headquarters were located in the basement of the Colonial Building in St. John's and the forces men were housed in temporary barracks in a tent in Whitbourne, which later became permanent HQ from 1936 to 1942 In 1942 HQ moved to Kilbride, Newfoundland and Labrador and remained until the force was disbanded in 1950.
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