Merritt RCMP Sgt Brock Hedrick display's two plaques of Cst. Percy Carr and Cst. Frank Gisborne who were killed in the line of duty on May 23, 1934. (image credit - Q101 Merritt)

By Roger White / Q101 Merritt

FALLEN HEROES

Fallen Heroes to be honoured by Merritt RCMP

Jun 1, 2024 | 7:50 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — Two police officers killed in the line of duty 90-years ago, will be recognized this weekend with the unveiling of two plaques at this Saturday’s RCMP Regimental Ball in Merritt

On May 23, 1934, Constable Percival (Percy) Carr of the B.C. Provincial Police and Constable Francis (Frank) Hartley Gisborne of the Dominion Police of Canada were killed while responding to call about an incident on the Canford Reserve.

Sgt. Brock Hedrick of the Merritt detachment of the RCMP, who researched the event, spearheaded the project to have the two fallen officers recognized.

“When I transferred to the Merritt detachment nearly fourteen years ago, I came across the story and was very shocked that these officers were not properly memorialized in the city,” Hedrick explained. “This month marks the 90th anniversary of the murders and I took the initiative to reach out to the families of Cst. Carr and Cst. Gisborne with hopes that we could get come up with a suitable way to recognize these heroes.”

Hedrick said that the families were more than responsive, sending him personal items and photos of the fallen officers.

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“It’s the least we could do for these officers, to have them on display so that we never forget their sacrifice,” Hedrick noted.

The plaques were created by Etched Just Jan on Quilchena Ave. in Merritt and will be unveiled during a special ceremony during this weekend’s Regimental Ball at the Merritt Civic Centre.

Following the regimental ball the plaques will then be displayed in the (Merritt RCMP) detachment lobby.

Learn more about that tragic event by visiting Nicola Valley Museum and Archives at 1675, Tutill Court.