The first field formation created following the establishment of
the Canadian Provost Corps in 1940 was No.1 Provost Company RCMP
which was mobilized to support the Canadian Active Service Force
(CASF). This unit was the model from which all other Provost
companies would be organized both during and following WWII. Many
Provost companies operated in forward areas in major battles
during WWII, deploying in support of both Canadian and British
divisions throughout continental Europe. Many members of the
Provost Corps, not unlike any other soldier in battle, became
casualties of war, and others were taken prisoner.
One of the most important duties carried out by Provost during
WWII and the Korean conflict was traffic control -route signing,
control of the movement of military vehicles, manning of traffic
and information posts, mobile patrols of the main supply
routes(MSRs), manning defiles and conducting VIP escorts
throughout their sectors of responsibility. Provost also
controlled refugees and stragglers in forward areas, ensuring
that established routes were not blocked by refugees moving to
safer areas and soldiers separated from their units were directed
back to their lines. Disciplinary patrols in rear areas, as well
as investigations into crimes committed by servicemen, were other
specialist tasks performed by the Provost units in theatres of
operations.
Following WWII
and the Korean Conflict, Provost personnel served in numerous
Canadian Army deployments in support of UN and NATO operations,
including: the Congo, Egypt, Cyprus, Germany and Belgium. When
deployed with UN formations, Provost members usually worked in
multi-national Military Police detachments, working side-by-side
with their Finnish / Danish / Indian / British /Irish /
Australian and Austrian counterparts under UN colours. Many a
Provost has a story to tell about being on mobile patrol early in
their tour with a foreign patrol partner where sign language was
the order of the day. Regardless of the language barriers, of
which there were really only a few, members of the Canadian
Provost Corps led the way in many of these operations.
Each of Canada's
infantry regiments was assigned a "Regimental Provost Element".
For each battalion of an infantry regiment, the Regimental
Provost Element consisted of a Provost Sergeant and four Lance
Corporals who were on established strength to the battalion for
usually a three - five year tour. Also, a Provost sergeant was
posted to each armoured regiment in much the same capacity as the
Infantry battalions. In these Regimental roles, the Provost
became a member of the regimental family provided he earned the
respect of the majority of the unit's members, which was by no
means an easy task to accomplish. Regimental Provost members
earned this respect by performing their Regimental Police duties
with the utmost fairness and ensuring that the welfare of the
personnel of the unit was their result. This Site's Administrator
served a five-year tour with 1 Battalion, Royal Highland Regiment
Of Canada (Black Watch) from 1965 to 1970, deploying to Cyprus
with the Battalion in 1967. My many experiences, some unique to
say the least, as a member of the 1st Bn "Black Watch" was a
great foundation upon which to build my career as a Military
Policeman.
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