GURKHA MILITARY POLICE

[engr9266]

Just had some good fortune. I brought a very nice GMP A/A badge,marked FIRMIN LONDON FOR £27 Sterling
Jerry.

[Praepositus]

Oh the knotty issue of Gurkha Military Police cap badges! From RMP sources of 1957, one Major B Bonniface TD, published a short article in the RMP Corps Journal describing the new Gurkha MP cap badge to be worn by members of the relatively recently formed Gurkha Military Police (Gurkha MP), which is the type shown by Hugh King (KK2092] although he states incorrectly that it is for British Officers' wear only. I say incorrectly, as the KK example is the silver version, which Bonniface explains was worn by NCOs, with Officers wearing a version in gold & silver. Bonniface states that the badge had ben designed by the then current Gurkha MP CO (sic).

Gurkhas served in the CMP from about 1941 onwards with CMP (India). On 1 Jun 1950, 17th Gurkha Division Provost Company (consisting of 4 UK & 2 Gurkha Sections) was formed, which had been under training since 1949 in Jahore. In late 1952, it was re-organised into 6 integrated British/Gurkha sections and soon after one section was assigned to each Gurkha Brigade. On 28 Sep 1955, the Gurkha MP was constituted as an intregal part of the Brigade of Gurkhas, following the pattern set by Gurkha Engineers, Signals and ASC. In 1959, 2 brigade provost units were formed for service with 63 & 99 Gurkha Infantry Bde Groups, 5 Gurkha Dog Company was created in 1961, and 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade Provost Unit was formed in Jul 1962. On 1 Jan 1963, a HQ & Training Establishment was formed, but in 1964, Gurkha MP was virtually disbanded with manpower posted to ERE with the Dog Company. Sadly, on 1 Jan 1965, the Gurkha MP ceased to exist officialy and was disbanded bringing to an end a long and honourable partnership with RMP. Now to the cap badges!

On the 1st August 1957, the then PM(A) published in his notes to the 3rd Quarter Journal the following:

"DRESS IN THE GURKHA MILITARY POLICE: The Provost Marshal FARELF has pointed out that as the dress of the Gurkha Military Police described in Major Bonniface's article in the last issue of the Journal has not yet been officially approved, the article was premature and the dress therefore, as yet unauthorized".

Subsequently, on 6 Aug 1958, the WO Dress Committee approved the pattern of dress and embellishments of the Gurkha Military Police, which is the version shown in Gaylor plate 55 (although by 1970, the Gurkha MP had ceased to exisit for 12 years).

[Gurkha]

Welcome Praepositus,
dont forget us British Indian Army types, we colonials live at the bottom of the page with the Kiwi's & South africans. There is a post there on the GMP.

When did you leave the Redcaps? or is it just an interest

Regards

steve

[Praepositus]

Thanks for your kind words of welcome Steve.

I am still serving with the RMP (Colonel now) - with still 4 years or so to serve - at which time I would have completed 37 years of service - and other than RMAS etc., - all with the RMP.

Started collecting as a kid, but only just returned to it seriously recently. I will certainly look at the 'Colonial' sites/threads - I served in RSA with the first BMATT - so I have an interats in SACMP, but really I just focus on Brit MP - thinking it would be a finite hobby that is that until I discovered this excellent site and realised how complex badge collecting is and how many variables there are.

Regards,

Jeremy