- "Watchdog: A History of the Canadian Provost Corps" - Colonel Andrew Ritchie (Ret.), Canadian Provost Corps
Prior to the First World War, here was nothing remotely resembling a modern military police element. During the first years of the war, RPs (Regimental Police) were the only police element in the Army.
In October, 1917, the Canadian Military Police Corps was formed, 850 all ranks. The CMPC school was formed at Ottawa, 1 June 1918, and closed 11 March, 1919. The CMPC was disbanded on 30 June, 1920.
"The Field Marshall Commander in Chief expresses his satisfaction with the work of the Military Police... The orderliness which has prevailed behind the front is directly attributed to their efficiency and devotion." - The Adjutant General, British Expeditionary Force, 1918. In 1885, the NWMP (North West Mounted Police) fought in the Riel Rebellion. During the Boer War 1899-1902, 290 all ranks served in various cavalry units in the Canadian Army. The RNWMP provided a cavalry squadron in World War I, and a RNWMP squadron served with the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force 1918-1919. On September 13, 1939, the RCMP requested and received permission to form a Provost Company, 1 Provost Company (RCMP), of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Active Service Force.
"The Battle of Normandy and subsequent battles would never have been won but for the work and co-operation of the Provost on the traffic routes." - Field Marshall B.L. Montgomery, 1945.In mid June, 1940, the Canadian Provost Corps ( CProC ) was born. The Canadian Provost Corps Training Center operated from November 1942 to May 1946, training 1897 all ranks. Of the 41 members of the CProC on the Dieppe Raid, 18 August 1942, 22 returned to England, 1 was killed, 18 were taken prisoner with 7 of them wounded. By September, 1945, the CProC numbered 6,120. The Canadian Provost Corps School was formed at Camp Borden in the late 1940s.
By 1948 there was at least 5 Militia Provost Companies. 25 Provost Detachment headed to Korea in 1950. In 1955, the Provost Detachment was disbanded a total of 264 all ranks of the Corps served in Korea.On 23 November, 1951, the 27th Brigade Provost Detachment located in Hanover, Germany with NATO ( North Atlantic Treaty Organization ). In November, 1958, the 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group rotated into Germany, and from that point the name remained. The Provost Platoon in Germany became No 4 Provost Platoon.
In March of 1964, the United Nations authorized a force to serve on the island of Cyprus. Since that time, members of the Military Police served on Cyprus until Canada pulled out in 1992. On the 1st of February, 1968 the Provost Corps ceased to exist, when all branches of the Canadian military were unified into the Canadian Armed Forces.
"The Feldgendarmerie (German MPs) have fulfilled the psychological purpose. Their actions have rapidly gained them a reputation... their help and support were much sought after." - General der Flieger Speidel, 1945. With the disbandment of the Canadian Provost Corps, the Security Branch was formed. This Branch mainly consisted of the Military Police and the Intelligence trade. With the Corps gone, Military Police platoons were integrated with the Service Battalions. It was deemed that the Service Battalions would provide all support, including MP support, to the units in the Brigade. At this time, the Provost Corps School was renamed Canadian Forces School of Intelligence and Security ( CFSIS ).
In 1971, the Regular Force MP units left the Service Battalions and were established as independent units. In 1989, the Canadian Government decided to pull the Canadian Military out of Germany, and 4 Military Police Platoon was disbanded. On the 1st of April, 1997, the Canadian Army will be restructured, allowing the Reserve Military Police Platoons to become independent units operating in support of the Brigade.
Information for this history was obtained from: