Item 2008.1.1.1.3.8.2 - Ketchen to SBS: 18 Jun 1912

H.D.B. Ketchen, (May 22 1872-1959) was a Canadian soldier and politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as a Conservative representative from 1932 to 1945. Born in India, Ketchen came to Canada in 1894. His association with SBS dated back to their both being members og the N.W.M.P., and serving together with Lord Strathcona's Horse during the Boer War. Ketchen saw active service in Worl War 1, commanding the Sixth Canadian Infantry Brigade in France from 1915 to 1918. He wrote regular letters from the French Front to SBS in England during the First World War, and they maintained a life-long friendship. Ketchen obtained the rank of Major-General in the Canadian Army and retire in 1929. He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1932 provincial election for the constituency of Winnipeg and was re-elected in the 1936 election. Ketchen served as Leader of the Opposition in the Manitoba legislature from 1941 to 1943, and did not run for re-election in 1945.

Samuel Benfield Steele was born at Purbrook, Medonte, County Simcoe, Ontario on 5 January 1848 to Captain Elmes Steele and Anne MacIan Macdonald. His father served under Nelson and other Admirals in the Napoleonic Wars, moving to Canada in 1832, with his first wife and family. After the death of his first wife, Captain Steele married Sam's mother, and they had six children, Sam being the eldest.