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An Everlasting Bond: The Birth of the Toronto Police War Veterans Association.
Written and Researched by Matthew Scarlino. Toronto, 2021. Revised 2022. It was on the evening of a mild September 14th, many years ago, that a group of Toronto police officers who had returned from the Great War met downtown at the County Orange Building. That social club, better known as Orange Hall or the Victoria…
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In the Beginning…
The Influence of Military Veterans in the Early Toronto Police Force Victorian-Era Toronto was a town filled with affluent merchants, colleges and universities, cathedrals and parks. It was also home to more unpleasant by-products of the industrial age – slums and poverty. Religious divisions inherited from the British Isles added to instability and civil disorder…
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Coppers and Gunners
The links between Toronto Police and Toronto Artillery Note: The following is a prepared speech from Matthew Scarlino, Historian – Toronto Police Military Veterans Association on occasion of a charitable donation to the Toronto Artillery Foundation, 9 May 2022. Unfortunately, a COVID-19 infection kept the author from delivering the speech, though it was ably presented…
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Victory at a Cost: Toronto Police’s World War 2 Fallen
Written and researched by Matthew Scarlino Seventy-seven years ago, Nazi Germany was defeated after almost six long years of war. PC Harry Connall celebrates the end of the war with citizens on Bay Street. On May 8th 1945, Torontonians of all backgrounds came together in this city to celebrate “Victory in Europe Day”. The Fourth…
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Robert Alexander, DCM
Researched and written by Matthew Scarlino. Note: This article was originally written in September 2020 for the Toronto Police Military Veterans Association On the 2nd September 1918, 102 years ago today, a young Toronto Police Constable, Robert Alexander (badge no. 264) of the Old No. 9 Police station at Keele & Dundas, performed actions during the…
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Alvin Sproule: Black Devil
Researched and Written by Matthew Scarlino. The Black Devils, officially the First Special Service Force, was a unit that struck fear into the hearts of the enemy during the Second World War. One of the original members of this elite unit was a Toronto Police constable. Alvin Armstrong Sproule joined the Toronto Police Department in…
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A Whirlwind Week: A Toronto Policeman in the Battle of France
Researched and written by Matthew Scarlino. This article was originally written in June 2020 for the Toronto Police Military Veterans Association. Eighty years ago this week, a small number of Canadian soldiers landed at Brest to participate in the Battle of France, in what is now an obscure and little-known operation that took place in…
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Profiles in Courage: Toronto Police on D-Day
Researched and Written by Matthew Scarlino. This article was originally written in June 2019 and versions were published in Blue Line Magazine and featured on TPS News. It was spring 1944. The Second World War had been raging for four and a half years. Most of Europe lived under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler. Millions…
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Service and Sacrifice: The Toronto Police Service and the First World War
Researched and Written by Matthew Scarlino. This article was originally written in November 2018, with a version featured on TPS News. One hundred years ago, the people of Toronto and its police service would experience the crucible that was the First World War. It was perhaps the most trying time the Toronto Police Service has…
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Remembering a Humble Hero: Henry Earl Scott MM
Researched and Written by Matthew Scarlino. Note: This article was originally written in September 2017 and a version was featured on TPS News. Throughout this 150th year of Canadian Confederation, Canadians look through our past to identify our greatest heroes and celebrate those qualities which have made and continue to make this country an amazing…
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Remembering Our Vimy Fallen
Written and Researched by Matthew Scarlino. Note: This article was originally in written in April 2017. Versions of this article were published in Blue Line Magazine and featured on TPS News. On Sunday, April 9th, 2017, Canadians will mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which took place during the First World…
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The Khaki and Blue Project 