Hi All, I'm looking for a bit of advice with a display I'm putting together for the Military Police. I'm fairly happy with what cap badges were worn by the Military Police and when but I don't really know anything about the cloth ones. I found the attached photo on ebay of a jacket for sale. I know it has the CMP shoulder title, then a div patch, then an arm of service then the rank badges, my questions are: Would it be correct to put the Tyne Tees patch on it rather than the shield on this one? That would be my local area so thought it might be good to use that one. Would it always just be the 1 arm of service stripe? I saw a website that had people wearing 2 and 3 of them but didn't know why. I haven't really looked into cloth patches before so don't really know anything about them. Any help would be great. Michael
As always it can be complicated but: A normal military police unit would have the shoulder title as on your photo. the formation to which the unit belonged. This could indeed be the Tyne Tees (50 Division), any division, corps, army or as on your photo 21 Army Group. One arm of service stripe is correct for CMP. Infantry could have one, two or three to indicate which brigade of a division they belonged to. Rank stripes. There were no privates in the CMP so all would have at least one stripe. Half the lance corporals were in fact acting and unpaid but the stripe conferred some authority. Of course a CMP uniform would always be immaculate. Good luck with your display. Mike
Thanks a lot for the help Mike. I wasn't sure if they were with every Div but clearly they were which makes it a bit easier. I presume from your explanation of the arm of service badge military police were always based at Div level rather than at Bde level which is why they just had one badge rather than two or three. Thanks again, Michael
Just for background and context. I find it helps to know how units were organised and how they fit into the larger picture. DIVISIONAL PROVOST COMPANY. War Establishment II/341/2. March 1944 Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal (non staff) 2 X subaltern Regimental Serjeant Major company quartermaster serjeant transport serjeant 5 X serjeant 4 X batman driver 2 X clerk 8 X driver IC 12 X corporal 72 X lance corporal storeman Total 111 The Military Police do not have privates. 50 % of the lance corporals have the authority of the rank but do not get the pay. Attached corporal vehicle mechanic REME 3 X cook ACC Headquarters Car 2 seater batman driver This vehicle is provided for the use of the Assistant Provost Marshal of the division and is normally at Divisional Headquarters. Motorcycle transport serjeant Car 2 seater Subaltern, batman driver Car 2 seater Subaltern, batman driver Car 4 seater Deputy Assistant Provost Marshall, batman driver, Car 5cwt 4 X 4 vehicle mechanic REME 15cwt GS 3 X cook ACC, driver IC Carries cooking set and rations 3ton 4 X 2 GS storeman, driver IC This organisation applies also to the Provost Companies attached to other headquarters. The main difference was the number of platoons that were deployed. A Corps Provost Company for example had nine platoons. The platoon was always the same. Sections were deployed according to the needs of the current situation but generally included - one at tactical headquarters, one at rear headquarters - one for traffic control on the centre line road - one for control at dumps and refilling points - one for Prisoners of War - two which could be switched according to need. Controlling traffic and erecting signposts were major tasks no matter if the division was moving or static. Section X 6 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) serjeant 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) corporal 15cwt GS driver IC Motorcycle 1 corporal Motorcycle 2 lance corporal Motorcycle 3 lance corporal Motorcycle 4 lance corporal Motorcycle 5 lance corporal Motorcycle 6 lance corporal Motorcycle 7 lance corporal Motorcycle 8 lance corporal Motorcycle 9 lance corporal Motorcycle 10 lance corporal Motorcycle 11 lance corporal Motorcycle 12 lance corporal Motorcycle 13 lance corporal Mike
