WW2 Military Police Armband
 

Hi All,

Can anyone tell me what sort of dates the Military Police wore the black armband with the red MP on it please?

I know it was used in WW2 but when did they start wearing it and when was it replaced with the red one with black letters?

Thanks for the help,

Michael

I'd be keen to know as well! South African MPs wore black on red within SA in WWII and their 1934 Dress Regs specified black on red but are understood to have worn British type red on black overseas. This may have been to blend in and reduce the chance of being a target or may simply have been a matter of supply. In 1960s and since South African MPs have worn black on chilli red.

Found this online , can't guarantee how accurate it is.

"The British brassard for the Corps of Royal Military Police is relatively unchanged from that used in World War I when red letters on a dark blue background was used by the Corps of Military Police.

During 1940 the background changed to a black background. It is somewhat smaller than a US brassard.

In 1968 the colors were reversed from red lettering on black felt and is now of red felt material and 3.5 inches in height, with black lettering, 1.5 inches in height."

http://home.mweb.co.za/re/redcap/brassard.htm

I believe that the red on blue MP armband changed to red on black in 1940.......

Echo......echo.......echoooooo.....
I must learn to type snipe faster and stop duplicating other people's posts......

Hi All,

I have a picture of the armband in question in my album:

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ctureid=162864

I found out from a Military Police group that people were wearing these into the early 1960's depending on new supply reaching them.

Can't access that album , can only see your RBL one .:confused:

A couple of examples:

Tim

Thanks everyone ! I visited that website before too but somehow missed that bit! I also recall something about black and white armbands in WW 1. Maybe someone can shed some light on that too?
Thanks for images. I'll attempt adding some NZ and SA ones soon.

It should be on there now Mike, I had marked it as private as I was first creating it but forgot to change it.

Michael

SA 1960s/70s

South African brassard in chilli red worn since late 19 70s and beret official since 86 for wear when not on police duty

NZ 1990s

Here's an interesting little comment I found in a 1915 Military Police war diary:

1915

FEB 6 RED CAP COVERS - AAF AGREED THAT RED CAP COVERS WERE BOTH UNDESIRABLE AND UNNECESSARY AND THE FORMER ISSUED AN ORDER TO BASE COMMANDS THAT THEY WERE TO BE DISCONTINUED.

MAR 4 NOTES ON VISIT TO ROUEN, HAVRE AND PARIS

LEFT ABBEVILLE 2.00 PM WITH PROVOST MARSHAL, BY MOTOR.

PASSED THROUGH DIEPPE AT 3.30.PM, NOTICED THAT POLICE WERE WEARING RED INSTEAD OF BLACK ARMLETS.

APM RAISED THE QUESTION OF THE WEARING OF RED CAPS BY MP.

PM SAYS THAT AG HAS DECIDED THAT THEY ARE NOT TO BE WORN AND IT IS USELESS TO RE-OPEN QUESTION. IT APPEARS THAT THE CUSTOM WAS STARTED IN ROUEN AND THE OTHER BASES COPIED IT.