Manuscript Collection MS COLL 00417 - Roger Pocock Papers

British soldier, writer, adventurer, member of the North West Mounted Police, founder of the Legion of the Frontiersmen. After serving on the training ship Wellesley, Pocock went to western Canada to serve with the Royal North-West Mounted Police. Reporting to Winnipeg in 1884, Pocock fought in the second Riel Rebellion and suffered such severe frost bite that he was discharged with a pension and position in the Civil Service. The quiet life did not suit him and within a year he was ready to resume his life of adventure. He decided to explore the region of the Rockies, planning a trip that would take him along the Rockies from Canada to Mexico. He travelled by train to British Columbia where he disembarked at Kamloops, where he outfitte himself for his travels. From Kamloops began his 3,600 mile, 200 day journey during which he made his way as journalist, missionary, trader, scout and prospector. An account of this journey including his extensive travels in western Canada can be found in his book, The Frontiersmen. In addition to this title, several of his works both non-fiction and fiction deal with Canada, particularly the west. Pocock's works are listed in Watters.