Samuel Steele

Sergeant-Major Steele, shortly after enlisting.

Samuel Benfield Steele already had military experience when he signed up with the NWMP. He was energetic and enthusiastic, with great physical strength. His officers often commented that Steele could do the work of two men.

At twenty-four, he arrived at Lower Fort Garry with the first recruits and threw himself into the task of training them. He headed west as part of A Division.

Steele was well-liked, and admired, by both officers and men alike. He provided much of the morale and energy for A Division's successful trek to Fort Edmonton. He gradually moved up the ranks, becoming Chief Constable in 1875, Sub-Inspector in 1878 and Inspector in 1880.

Steele was an adventurous spirit and often Steele was an adventurous spirit and often found himself at the site of any action. He was responsible for the peace during the construction of the railway. He served in the north, enforcing law and order during the Yukon gold rush.

Sam Steele and his men at a railway camp.

As the west became tamer, Steele looked for other challenges. In 1899 he commanded the Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment in the South African (Boer) War. He remained in Africa to help establish the South African Constabulary on the NWMP model. When he returned to Canada in 1907, it was to an annoyingly quiet life. At age 64, Steele wanted to fight in the First World War. A little too old to fight at the front, Steele was made a Major-General and placed in command of Canadian troops in Britain. He died there in 1918.