From the News

Dated: January 30, 1919

Former Commander of Southwestern District Passes Away After Two Months Illness - Was Prominent Figure in West for Many Years - Commanded Strathcona Force in South Africa

London, Jan. 30

General Sir Sam Steele K.C.M.G died at Putney, London, today. He had been ill about two months, but the end came rather suddenly.

A Notable Career

By the death of Major General Sir Samuel Renfield Steele K.C.M.G, C.B., M.V.O., who died at his residence in London, England, today, Canada, especially Western Canada has lost a man who in the long life of 70 years has seen more service, and been more in the public eye than almost any other military men in Canada.

General Steele was the fourth son of Captain Elmas Steele, R.N., who served in the Royal Navy as early as 1807, being then a midshipman on board the Leopard when that vessel fired on the Chesapeake to enforce the right of search, the claim to enforce which by Great Britain led to the war of 1812 with the United States. After leaving the navy Captain Steele was given land grants in County Simcoe, and for which county he sat as a member from 1841 to 1844.

Born at Purbrook, in the County of Simcoe on January 5, 1849, General Steele had just completed his three score years and ten, and his friends in Canada looked forward to seeing him spend quite a few more years in the west, which he loved so well, as up to two months ago, he enjoyed vigorous health, and his figure was as upright and his step as light as that of a man of half these years.

Vigorous as Ever

In letters to friends in Calgary received only two weeks ago, General Steele mention the fact that he was just recovering from an attack of influenza, but he seemed to be in good spirits and his mentality was as vigorous as ever. The news of his death, received by cable today, will come as a great shock to many.

General Steele received his early education at Orillia, and later studied at the British-American Commercial College at Toronto. He was appointed an ensign in the 25th Regiment in 1866 qualifying at the Royal Military School, Toronto with the 17th Regiment, and served during the Fenian raid, of that year. In 1870, General Steele took part with the rank of sergeant in the Red River expedition under the late Field Marshal then Sir Garnet Wolseley in which expedition Sir Redvers Buller was also an officer. Returning to the east after the expeditionary force was broken up in Winnipeg, he joined A Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1871, taking a long course certificate of qualification under Lieut.-Col. Sir George French.

In 1873 when the North West Mounted Police force 300 strong, was organized under Colonel (afterwards Sir George) French he was made regimental sergeant-major, and held that rank until 1878, when he was made an inspector.

In 1883 he was in command of E Troop at Calgary, the late Major Dowling being his junior officer at the post.

Commissioner of Police

In 1884, when the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, had the province of British Columbia, Inspector Steele was selected by the late Sir John A. Macdonald to hold the position of commissioner of police, and enforce law and order over 150 miles of railway construction, from the summit of the Rockies to a point on Shuswap Lake.

The recent completion of the Northern Pacific Railway had sent a swarm of gamblers, murderers and other criminals into British Columbia where they followed the railway during the construction, preying on the workmen. With 28 men in the old scarlet tunics, Inspector Steele made life and property as safe as it was on the Prairie.

With the rank of major, Inspector Steele commanded a body of police and scouts under Major-General Strange in the Northwest rebellion of 1885, being present at Trenchmen's Butte, and Loon Lake later going with a mounted force in pursuit of Big Bear and the Wood Crees.

In 1887, Superintendent Steele was sent with D troop into East Kooteney, to overawe the Kooteney Indians, the headquarters of the force being at Fort Steele, on the Kooteney River near the town of Cranbrook

In the Yukon

When the gold rush to the Yukon was at its height in 1888, Superintendent Steele was sent there from Macleod where he was in command of two divisions of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, and where he repeated on a still larger scale his work of 1884-1885 in British Columbia. In addition to his duties as police officer in command in the Yukon he was also a member of the council three and in that capacity rendered invaluable service to the government. His work in South Africa, at first in command of the Lord Strathcona Horse for which he was mentioned in dispatches by Lord Kitchener and General Sir Redvers Buller on no less than five locations, as also by Field Marshal Lord Roberts. For these services he received promotion the Queen's medal with three clasps, the Order of Commander of the Bath and Member of the Victoria order.

South African Constabulary

Upon the conclusion of the war he reorganized the South African Constabulary, which he commanded during the remainder of his stay in South Africa, suppressed Chinese outrages on the Rand and disarmed the natives of the North Transvaal, who under Chief Sekuguni were causing much trouble.

Upon his return to Canada in 1907 he was given the command of Military District 13 with headquarters in Calgary from which place he was transferred to Winnipeg in command of military District 10

Early in 1915 Colonel Steele was sent to England with the rank of major-general in command of Canadian units in England, with headquarters in Folkstone.

Didn't go to France

General Steele hoped to get a command in France, but possibly his age stood in his way, although until his last illness he was vigorous and active, and his mind was as clear and acute as ever.

He was placed on the retired list a few months ago and purposed returning to Western Canada during the coming spring, to spend the last years of his life here.

He is survived by his wife, who is a daughter of the late Robert W. Harwood, seigneur of Vaudreuil, P.Q. and his two daughters, Flora McDonald and Gertrude, and one son, Harwood , who has served through the war in France, and now holds rank as a captain.