The Pipes and Drums of the Edmonton Police Service
and
the Helena, Montana Connection
First
Special Service Force
This elite WWII unit was formed in 1942 at the direction of
President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Their mission: Parachute into
occupied enemy territory and destroy vital axis installations. The “Force”
required a top-notch area for special training in mountaineering, skiing,
parachuting, demolitions and weapons. Fort Harrison in Helena was ideal. Rugged
volunteers from the United States and Canada came to Helena to train. Combat
casualties were high but the force never failed a mission. Named “The Black
Devils” by the Germans, their ferocious nighttime fighting ability was
legendary. The legacy of the FSSF proudly lives on today in the special forces
of both countries. For more information
on the FSSF click here.
One of the Canadian Army members who joined the FSSF was John
Izatt (photo on left). John later joined the Edmonton Police Department in 1948
and joined the Pipe Band in 1962. He later became the second Pipe Major of the EPS Pipes and Drums
where he
served until his retirement in as an Inspector in 1981. A memorial to the FSSF stands today in
Helena flying both the Canadian and American Flags.
In May of 2005, members of the EPS Pipe Band traveled to
Helena and toured the FSSF museum, played at the FSSF memorial and had the
opportunity to meet 85 year old Canadian FSSF veteran, Sgt. Joe Glass. Joe was
originally from Sarnia, Ontario and moved to Helena after the war.
Montana Police Officers Memorial
On May 15, 2005, the band also participated in the
Montana
Peace Officers’ Memorial Day ceremonies at the State Capitol along with
members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police from Alberta. The Montana law
enforcement community paid tribute to the four Alberta RCMP constables who were
killed in the line of duty in March of 2005.
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| Ft. William Henry
Harrison in Helena, MT, home of the First Special Service Force |
Sign at Ft.
Harrison for the First Special Service Force in Helena |
Pipers tuning up
outside our barracks at Ft. Harrison in 2005 |
Playing at the
Service Club at Ft. Harrison in 2005 |
Playing at the
Brew House in Helena (Great food!) |
Playing at Hap's
Bar in Helena |
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| Entertaining at
the Montana Law Enforcement Museum Banquet '05 |
Playing at the
First Special Service Force Memorial in Helena |
Monument to the
Canadian and US FSSF Veterans from WWII |
Group photo at
the memorial with WWII veteran and FSSF member, Sgt. Joe Glass |
Sgt. Glass at the
First Special Service Force Memorial in 2005 |
Band members
trading "war" stories with Sgt. Glass |
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| EPS Pipe Band and
RCMP members from Alberta lining up for the Montana Police Memorial Parade |
Band playing at
the Montana State Capitol for the Montana Police Memorial Ceremonies |
Pipers
the Montana State Capitol for the Montana Police Memorial Ceremonies |
Drummers at
the Montana State Capitol for the Montana Police Memorial Ceremonies |
Some of the
Montana Law Enforcement members at the Memorial |
RCMP members from
Alberta with Pipes and Drums in front of Montana State Capitol |
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Band members,
RCMP members and our host, Lt. Dave Jeseritz
from Helena PD, inside the rotunda at the state capitol in 2005 |
RCMP Constable
from Red Deer, Pipe Major McKee, and Chief & Mrs. Troy McGee from
Helena PD |
US Airborne parachute
demonstration at the 60th Anniversary Tattoo 2006 |
Playing with the
Silver Thistle Pipe Band from Helena at the Tattoo at Ft. William Henry
Harrison |
Members posing on
a M-1 Abrams tank in 2006 at Ft. William Henry Harrison |
Band members at
the monument to the
Canadian and US FSSF Veterans in 2006 |
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| Pipers with a
Devil's Brigade member and US Army soldier in 2006 |
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