Corps of Military Police

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Phil Spencer, May 28, 2020.

  1. Phil Spencer

    Phil Spencer Member

    I have successfully traced my Dad's WW2 service to when the 39th LAA Regiment was dispanded in Italy on 28th February 1945. He was then transferred to the 13th LAA and I am waiting for the National Archive at Kew to reopen to obtain copies of their war diary. I know from his Service & Casualty Form that in August 1945 he transferred volutarily to the Corps of Military Police. The record says he was posted to X{4A} CMP Depot & TRG Estab. However I can find no links or references allowing me to obtain the same detailed information I have on his previous service. In fact any iformation on the CRP other than a general history appears to be non exitent.

    I would appreciate any suggestions/help from others on this forum as to where I might find the detailed information I am seeking.

    Thanks in advance

    Phil Spencer
     
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  2. hutt

    hutt Member

    I'm not sure how much is available for late 45 but for earlier years I wasn't finding much until it dawned on my that they were also referred DSC07311.JPG to as Provost Companies so I included 'Provost' in the search. My interest was to find evidence of traffic control and convoy routes and have had some limited success but there are more diaries to explore
     
  3. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

  4. Phil Spencer

    Phil Spencer Member

    Thank you both for your prompt response and useful suggestions. Will follow them up.

    Kind regards Phil
     
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  5. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    Hi Phil,

    My uncle was in the CMP too, from September 1945 - 1949. I didn’t know anything about his CMP service, as it had only been a family rumour that he had been a Redcap, but I found him on here with a name search:

    RHQ RMP - Search our Database

    I then sent them an email via the blue “please click here to contact us” link asking if they could provide any further information and, whilst they don’t hold full service records there, I received a charming and very helpful reply from the museum with an image of my uncle’s CMP tracer card and quite a detailed bit of information on where he served, which Provost Company and when. Certainly way more than I knew before I asked.

    I was lucky in that apparently my uncle’s tracer card was one of the most detailed the curator had seen, but you never know your luck, so might your Dad’s be.

    Give it a try.
     
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  6. Phil Spencer

    Phil Spencer Member

    Hi Martin

    Thanks very much for this and I will certainly give it a try.

    Kind regards

    Phil
     
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  7. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Hello Phil,

    For a more detailed view of a war-time Provost Company (notwithstanding it being very much concerned with the Airborne side of things) I would highly recommend the book pictured below (it is one I feel privileged to have a copy of). It's rare as hen's teeth, but well worth it if you can find one. The authors did a cracking job.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.

    P.S. And, for our eagle-eyed humourists present (should they feel tempted);

    A) I did not nick it.
    B) I was not under close arrest.
    C) I was in the right place at the right time (freely visiting, not on parole) when the stamp was being wielded, and was asked if I would like it, to which I replied "yes" very quickly.

    That day I was indeed lucky Jim.

    TPP front.jpg

    TPP back.jpg

    TPP contents.jpg
     
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  8. Phil Spencer

    Phil Spencer Member

    Thanks Jim. Looks like an interesting book that you were very lucky to find.

    Kind regards

    Phil
     
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  9. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Hello Phil,

    Had been a good few years since I first read the book so have been re-reading it today in the hope of finding you any references relating to duties that may be in accord to the duties your Dad would have carried out.

    Here are a couple of examples I've found so far from North Africa and Italy (Airborne connection notwithstanding!)

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.

    TPP Duties extract North Africa.jpg


    TPP Duties extract Italy.jpg
     
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  10. Phil Spencer

    Phil Spencer Member

    Thanks Jim.

    Since my first post I've discovered that after his initial CMP training in Italy his unit was transferred to Greece. I imagine however that the duties will be similar in most overseas wartime postings.

    Kind regards

    Phil
     
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