For Gallantry

ne Like the Soldier on the Battlefield, the Police Officer Oiten Faces Danger,
But with This Difference: He Is Often Alone—Bill Stewart Was Alone When
He Faced an Armed Maniac in the Town of Keremeos, British Columbia, One
Sunny Day in June, 1944—The Decision He Made Earned Him the Empire's
Highest Police Award, the Coveted King’s Police and Fire Services Medal.

LITTLE DID the man, bending over an
automobile engine that June day, think
that in the next hour or so, he was to
perform an act of such high courage as
to add new lustre to the motto on the
Arms of the Province of British Col-
umbia, Splendor sine occasu.

Const. William B. Stewart was an
unassuming man. Quiet and reserved, he
shunned the fanfare and glitter of pub-
licity. Many years of service had left
their “hall mark” of tact and firmness on
this veteran peace officer. “Duty” had
come to mean a great deal more to him
than a blatant platitude, it had become a
creed, a creed hidden under that calm
and efficient exterior. Courage is insep-
arable with a deep sense of duty, and
Const. Stewart was richly endowed with
both of these virtues.

Adjusting the engine of the police car
on that memorable day, June 13th, 1944,
at the police station in Keremeos, B. C.,
Const. Stewart was interrupted in his
work by the jingling of the telephone
beil in the police office. He wiped his
forehead as he entered the office and lifted
the receiver off the hook, making a mental
note that it was 1.45 p.m.

The call was from a merchant, who
told the attentive officer that there was a
little trouble at the house, and requested
him to come over. Const. Stewart knew
the merchant well, and told him he would
come right away. [Entering the store,
Stewart was told that there was a man
upstairs in the living quarters, who was
making some trouble with the family.
Const. Stewart preceded the merchant up
the stairs and entered a living room fol-
lowed by the owner. As there was no one
in this room, Stewart continued into the
next room which was the kitchen.

There a strange sight flashed upon
his astonished gaze. Two women were
cowering in the room, and in the centre

SEVENTEENTH EDITION

By J. WELLSFORD MILLS

there stood a young man, eyes aglitter,
and chin set in ruthless determination.
In his hand there was a black revolver
pointed directly at the officer’s breast. In
a flash, the entire situation became clear.
This was the young woman’s estranged
husband. His appearance boded ill for
his young wife and her mother who stood
mute and terrified staring at the drama
being enacted before them. Const. Stewart

“There was aman upstairs making trouble.”

was unarmed. He had not been told that
he would have to contend with a frenzied
young man, who, armed with a_ fully
loaded revolver stood at bay.

Knowing that if he retired before the
threat of the gun muzzle, two lives might
be snuffed out before he could return
suitably armed, he paused for only a

moment, then slowly began to walk to-
wards the hand tightly clenching the gun.
“Stand back” shouted the distraught
figure. Pausing only for a few moments
to speak in a calm, quiet voice, Const.
Stewart asked the young man to give
him the gun, and tried to reason with
him. The man was beyond reasoning,
and backing away, he again threatened
to shoot the officer if he advanced another
step.
InN Line or Duty

Undaunted, Stewart saw his duty. He

.Mmust gain possession of that instrument

of sudden death before any harm befell
the two women. At any moment the
gun barrel might swing away from the
officer and extinguish a life. Whatever
the cost, he had to get that gun. A pace.
Two paces. The gun wavered a trifle.
White knuckles became even more
blanched as the hand tightened. Stewart
continued to advance. Then suddenly a
roar, and hot lead struck the officer in
the groin. Then desperately lunging for-
ward, the wounded officer grappled with
his assailant as he pulled the trigger a
second time. The second bullet also found
its mark, shattering the officer’s ‘leg just
above the knee. Unable to stand, he
sagged to the floor, and painfully dragged
himself to the support of a lounge close
by. He had accomplished at least part
of his object. During the shooting he
had diverted the young man’s attention to
himself. Now, however, with the officer
lying incapable of movement, he again
threatened his wife, and asserted that he
would kill her if anyone approached him.

Const. Stewart, wounded and in great
pain, though incapable of physical action,
by dint of will power remained conscious
and spoke persuasively to the youth to
prevent him from doing his young wite
any harm. The merchant, father of the

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