The Canadian Provost Corps
by LCol (Retired) James D. (Jim) Lumsden, CD
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In September 1939, the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police(RCMP) recommended to the Minister Of Justice
that authority be granted to form a "Provost" company from RCMP
volunteers. Approval was granted for the organization of No. 1
Provost Company (RCMP). This Company would provide military
police support for 1 Canadian Infantry Division.
As subsequent formations were mobilized and moved overseas
to the United Kingdom, each was accompanied by its own Provost
company. Similar units were also established at more senior
formations such as Canadian Military Headquarters (London), HQs 1
and 2 Canadian Corps and at Reinforcement Units. In addition to
the Provost companies, a Detention Barracks, training depot and
special investigation sections were also established. Across
Canada, 18 provost companies were located in the various Military
Districts and Commands and A-32, the Canadian Provost Corps
Training Center was established.
On 15 Jun 1940 Privy Council Order 67/3030 authorized the
Canadian Provost Corps as the frame or overarching body
responsible for the development of a "Home" or point of reference
for all who were assigned police duties as their primary role in
war. As the Corps developed that role included duties such
as:
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Movement plans both in forward, rear and lines of
communication areas;
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Provision of advice on:
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the capacity and adequacy of
routes;
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the degree and type of traffic control required; and
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resources required and whether available resources
were adequate.
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Supervision and enforcement of discipline outside unit lines;
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Operation of the formation prisoner of war cage;
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Movement of prisoners to prisoner of war camps in Canada;
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Control of refugee movement;
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Collection, control and disposal of stragglers;
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Operation of Detention Barracks; and
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Liaison with other civilian and military police.
These duties were performed in Canada, the United Kingdom,
Northwest Europe, Italy and Asia. The demand for military police
support in the various theatres of action, the United Kingdom and
on the home front in Canada saw the Corps grow from its sparse
numbers at the commencement of the war to a strength of 6,120
in 1945. |
Some of
the more significant engagements in which the Corps participated
as an integral service within a formation include the detachment
of 8 men (1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal and six Lance Corporals) that
accompanied the Canadian Army Contingent (The Winnipeg Grenadiers
and The Royal Rifles Of Canada) to Hong Kong on that ill-fated
mission in late 1941. The members were taken prisoner on
Christmas Day 1941 and faced four years of brutal treatment,
horror and pain unequalled in modern warfare. Three of these
Military Policemen died while prisoners of war.
On 18 August 1942, 41 members of the Corps participated in
"Operation Jubilee", the raid on Dieppe. Their role was to
provide for control on the beach and to secure prisoners of war.
On the following day, after this tragic "Reconnaissance In
Force", only 22 of the original 41 disembarked on return to the
United Kingdom. Of the remaining nineteen, Lieutenant Peter
Oliver was killed in action and eighteen were taken prisoner.
Twenty -five sustained wounds.
Corporal Bob Prouse of the Corps was among those who went
ashore at 0540 hours. He was taken prisoner. Bob, in his book,
Ticket To Hell Via Dieppe relates that after a
morning of hell "it was about half-past one on a sunny afternoon,
and for us the war was over. In 1956 the late Captain Nick Pete
presented the "Oliver Memorial trophy" to the Canadian Provost
Corps School in memory of Lieutenant Peter Oliver who fell at
Dieppe. The trophy is awarded annually to the "outstanding" level
3 (basic Military Police course) Military Police graduate at the
School. The tradition of that trophy continues at today's
Canadian Forces Military police And security Academy
(CFMPSA).
The Corps played a significant role in the invasions of
Sicily and Italy in 1943 - 1944. This campaign was fought over
difficult mountainous terrian where roads were narrow, winding
and often unpaved with many switchbacks. In spite of this the
Corps ensured that road movement, so vital to the success of the
campaign, was effectively coordinated and implemented. This
earned a comment from Field Marshal Alexander that he was not
once delayed on the roads in the Canadian area. The Italian
campaign culminated in Goldflake, the transfer of all Canadians
in Italy to Northwest Europe in Feburary and March 1945. The
Corps played a significant role in this most remarkable of
military moves.
On 6 June 1944 six sections of 4 Provost Company landed on
the beaches of Normandy. They were followed by 13 Company on 29
June and many others in the ensuing days, weeks and months. The
Corps provided police services and a multitude of duties
throughout the many fierce battles as the Allies moved across
Northwest Europe leading to the final unconditional surrender on
8 May 1945.
In 1946 the strength of the Corps was reduced to 117. The
challenge in the immediate post war era was to provide a Provost
service to an Army of 25,000 and secure innumerable military
installations emptied of soldiers but remaining replete with
attractive material items. The statement of one member indicating
that "we did the best we could" encapsulates the dedicated
efforts of all members of the Corps who served through this
difficult period of passage from a war footing to one of a
peacetime economy.
The Korean Conflict and the establishment of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the early 50s precipitated
military expansion and a consequent requirement for an increased
military police capacity. The Corps was tasked to perform both
the conventional field roles and a greatly expanded policing role
on Defence Establishments across Canada. In the latter mandate
members served in a municipal police role as well as carrying out
security tasks. The operation of a military prison and Service
Detention Barracks was also a function assigned to the Corps.
Beyond their direct military duties, Corps members were called
upon to provide aid to the civil power and assistance to Federal
Penitentiaries in support of Government programs and policies.
Members of the Corps also served in United Nations (UN) missions
such as the Gaza Strip, the Congo and Lebanon among others. Some
served in the military component Canadian Delegation in
Indo-China. |
The
rapid expansion generated a requirement for a greatly enlarged
training capability. The Canadian Provost School provided
recruit, trades, specialty and leadership training. The Corps
produced a series of Canadian Army Manuals Of Training (CAMT's)
in the period 1957 - 1962 to codify Provost doctrine, methods and
techniques. Much of their content as doctrine for military police
operations remains valid to this day.
The School served as the focal point for all members of the
Corps wherever they served throughout Canada and the world. It
also engendered pride in the Corps and developed a sense of
affiliation in a broader order by preparing members to
participate in Army-wide sports and other competitions, such as
first aid and small arms proficiency, and to participate in
motorcycle and unarmed combat display teams which performed for
the public throughout Canada. The School combined realistic
training with service to the surrounding community by providing
traffic control at events such as international ploughing
matches. Its band, although not likely to be invited to the
Aldershot Tattoo, is remembered fondly by all who passed through
the School at Camp Shilo.
Throughout this post war period, reliance was placed upon
the Reserve component of the Army. Militia Provost Units were
formed in most major centers across Canada. These units served to
support other militia units in their area as well as many events
held in their respective communities. They were also the source
of leaders who went on from their militia units to serve with
distinction in the regular force.
An ever growing level of operating and maintenance costs,
together with the cost of technological advancements in military
equipment and weapons, made it imperative in the eyes of the
Government of the day to seek to remedy the ever increasing
defence budget. On 1 February 1968 theCanadian Forces
Reorganization Act resulted in the unification of the
Navy, Army and Air Force into a single service known as the
Canadian Armed Forces(CAF). As a consequence of this Act all of
the service support corps, including the Canadian Provost Corps,
ceased to exist. Corps members became members of the Security
Branch of the CAF.
It is not proposed to examine the advantages /
disadvantages of unification which have accrued over the years.
Suffice to say that as of that date (1 February 1968) the
Canadian Provost Corps, together with many other Corps that had
served and supported the Canadian Army, ceased to be an entity.
The history of Military Police service in Canada would evolve no
further in the embodiment of the Canadian Provost Corps.
Members of the Corps served with distinction in all
theatres of the Second World War and subsequently in the Korean
War. A number of members were recognized by the awards of
decorations, honours and commendations, including 81 Decorations
and Honours, 107 Mentions- In-Dispatches (MID) and 9 Chief Of
General Staff Commendations. Decorations from the Netherlands,
Belgium, France and the United States Of America are among these.
The distinguished service of two members of the Canadian Forces
Security Branch whose military roots were in the Canadian Provost
Corps resulted in their being awarded the Meritorious Service
Cross in 1985. They are the first officer and non-commissioned
officer in the Canadian Forces to receive this Decoration.
In the wake of war there is one predictable consequence
-some will fight and die. One hundred and twenty-three members of
the Corps died in the Service of Canada during the Second World
War. A Roll Of Honour commemorating this sacrifice is displayed
in Heritage Hall, CFMPSA at Canadian Forces Base Borden.
Members of the Corps supported and served the new military
institutions that arose from unification. There was great concern
over the inevitability of a proud history of service and
sacrifice lapsing from conscious memory. To prevent this the
history and tradition of the Corps have been preserved in the
Canadian Provost Corps Association. The good fellowship, spirit
and dedication to duty that made our Corps one to be envied
continued in our association.
As our Association ceases its formal existence,
preservation of the record of the contribution of the Canadian
Provost Corps to Canadian military history will be perpetuated in
Colonel Andy Ritchie's book"Watchdog" - A History Of The
Canadian Provost Corps. As noted earlier, it is the most
definitive Canadian history of the need for and the tasks
assigned to the police components of Canadian military forces. It
will foster and maintain the traditions of the Canadian Provost
Corps and those who served in it, not only for historians for it
will also recall the comradeship enjoyed by its members as they
meet over the years in informal remembrance of the Corps and the
comrades they served with.
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- The End
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Click below to view an early photo of members of the Provost Corps,
Canadian Provost Corps Photo
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