Monthly Feature         December 2002
Canadian Oil Companies Ltd.
 

White Rose Police
( Petrolia, 1940 ) Refinery Police Dept. is on constant guard against sabotage.
L to R;  R. Johnston, R. Trapp, L.B. Patterson (Police Supervisor),
Wm. Brickenden and R. Sargeant    --Vol. 1,  No. 3 ,  1940  White Rose News
 

With World War 2 looming, sabotage was a major concern at many key industries.
 Canadian Oil Companies Ltd. Police Department was organized in 1938 and
consisted of the Police Supervisor, 4 Police  Officers, and about 16 guards .
Official Canadian Oil Co. police were identified by a badge worn on their hats.

  Disbanded in 1945 with the end of the war, security guards remained on duty.
 Long-time employees were often promoted to these highly respected positions.

 The Police Dept. was re-organized in 1951 / 52 with the opening of the new refinery at
Corunna (Sarnia), Ontario.  Again, this may have been linked to the war in Korea .

My "White Rose Special Constable" badge is a newer design than shown in the 1940 photo, but
 is identical to the badge worn below by W.T. Spencer , who began his Canadian Oil  Co.'s career
at the Petrolia Refinery in 1913, before transferring to the Sarnia Refinery as a Plant Security-
Guard in 1952.  He was honoured  for the accomplishment in Vol. 14 - No. 4, Christmas 1953
 issue of the White Rose News. Measuring about  2 3/4" high and quite heavy, these badges
no longer adorned the hats, instead were pinned above the left breast pocket of their jackets.

 It is possible that badges were later redesigned with the White Rose "wedge" logo.

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