In 1873, the thirty sixth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, created a mounted force to bring law and order to the Canadian West. The Force provided a Canadian presence along the American border, stemmed the unscrupulous whisky trade, and established friendly relations with aboriginal people and early settlers.

On July 7, 1874, two hundred seventy five men set off from Fort Dufferin, Manitoba on the arduous trek west. Pulling two, nine pounder cannons, and encumbered by horses, cattle, oxen adn Red River carts laden with supplies, they marched across unsettled territory.

The troops rode a type of horse inappropriate for the duration and harshness of the trip. Boots made for riding did not survive the necessary walking, pillbox hats did not protect from the extreme weather. The men and livestock endured water shortages and inadequate food. On July 29 they left their mandated route and split into two groups.

The twenty individuals named on the Memorial stones constituted the north bound group which, struggling in ill health along the wilderness trail, passed this spot in late October, 1874 on the way to Fort Edmonton. The last seventy miles on this trail, named in honour of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, were the most difficult. The trail and river before you were just two of the many obstacles to the survival of these courageous men.