a

Through nine eventful years, Mr.
Brookhouse piloted the fortunes of
our magazine until he received the
call which awaits us all. Beginning
as an idea in 1938, the first issue was
published in October of that year,
and was at once acclaimed a major
contribution to the field of police
publications. From the start, Mr
Brockhouse felt that he would have
to maintain a high standard in keep-
ing with the best traditions of the
Force, and through eighteen issues
this standard has never been Jowered,
on the contrary, there has been con-
siderable improvement according to
the many favorable letters received.

Published as a hobby, Mr. Brook-
house devoted all his spare time to
our magazine, sitting far into the
night in his study at 1872 Parker
Street, Vancouver, reading manus-
script, writing editorials, checking
copy, and doing all the multitudinous
‘things necessary to a successful prod-
uction.

A member of the staff of the
“Vancouver Sun’ for many years,
“Brookie’’ as his many friends called
him, retired from business shortly
before he passed away. It had been
his intention to continue publishing
the “Shoulder Strap’ after his re-
tirement. He felt that he must have
some association with the craft he had
followed for a lifetime, and besides.
he was reluctant to drop the friendly
relations with many members of the
Force which had developed through
the years from a feeling of mutual
good-will and understanding.

A pleasant, fatherly man, of quiet
and studious nature, ““Brookie’’ al-

ways had time to speak to a police-
man, whether a member of the Force
or of some other organization. He
was in close contact with most of the
police publications on both sides of
the Atlantic. Through his efforts
our magazine became widely known,

NOOEMIE HOUSE

CARIBOO ROAD

@ LODGE

Coffee Shop - Garage

@ STORE

IMPERIAL OIL AGENTS

100 MILE HOUSE
(Exeter Station)

et

Page One Hundred and Twelve

British Calumbie

In Memoriam

and could number among its sub-
cribers people in such distant places
as India, Australia, the Straits Settle-
ments, the British Isles, and many
points in the United States.

Exchange priviliges on material
published in the “Shoulder Strap”
was freely accorded to other police
journals upon request, and there 1s
no doubt that ‘““Brookie’’ did much

The late Albert Brookhouse

to promote international goodwill
for the Force, He believed that
nothing short of excellence should
be the goal of the official organ of
the British Columbia Police.

Through the difficult period of
war, with concurrent paper and labor
problems, to the post-war problems
of rising costs of publication,
“Brookie’’ pursued his task of pub-
lishing the magazine twice annually.

It cannot be conceived under what
handicap he had to operate. Many

a time he was short of material suit-
able for the high standard he had
established and wished to maintain.
So he had to prod and weedle some
of the old “‘stand-bys’’ for more copy
so that the magazine could be pub-
lished in time.

“Brookie’ will long be remem-
bered by his associates and many
friends as a man of character, friend-
liness and devotion to principle. And
in this, the first issue to be published
without his hand at the helm, we
still feel that it is his spirit and in-
domitable perserverence, which is
making possible for us to ‘‘carry-on’’.

Peace and rest to you. “‘Brookie’’
after a full and useful life’.

George Cassidy a! Ladysmith
CONT. FROM PAGE 20

Bill) Cody, and several members of
Jesse James’ gang. He was asked to
go with General Custer when he was
forming the expedition against Chief
Sitting Bult but refused. George
often said afterwards that he had
saved his own life by refusing when
the Sioux Indians wiped out the ex-
pedition.

In the late 70’s George came to
B.C. to visit a cousin that Cassidy
District was named after. While in
the province, he met Cathrine Grace
Michael, a member of the pioneer
Craigflower family, and in 1881 set-
tled on the farm in North Oyster
where they both lived until she died
in 1945. George continued to live
there with his daughter, Mrs. H.
Wright, until his own death.

Although blind for several years,
George kept up to the times through
the radio and his mental faculty was
unimpaired right up to the day of
his death. He was always glad to
hear from any of his old cronies, and
especially members and former mem-
bers of the Police Force. Among his
regular. visitors until the last was
Inspector “‘Bobby’’ Owens who al-
ways dropped in for a chat when-
ever possible.

Burnaby Ambulance Service
3373 Kingsway

asd Emergency and Private

Oxygen is carried in all cars and

qualified FIRST AID men are

always in attendance.

Phone DE xter 4411-12

(DON SAYLOR)

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THE SHOULDER STRAP

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