WW2 RCMP Canadian Provost Corps badge -real? - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

capbadge · #1 08-02-10, 03:53 AM

Hey guys,

I have been offered this badge after it didn't sell- I'm pretty sure its WW2, has a marking on the left side of the interior. Any ideas if its real?

engr9266 · #2 08-02-10, 10:41 AM

This is a ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE badge and not a Provost corps badge as far as I know. Unless this was worn by the military??

Alan O · #3 08-02-10, 10:46 AM

It was indeed worn by the military in WW2 as well as the RCMP. I used to have a genuine one and it looked remarkably like the first one.

LLWill · #4 08-02-10, 12:20 PM

While the RCMP did in fact serve during WWII (and in limited numbers WWI), the badge shown would not have been worn by members of the military. The MP's or Provost corps had/have their own badge. A member of the RCMP that had "joined" the military will have worn the Provost badge, a member of the RCMP working as the RCMP for the deployed Forces of Canada would have worn the RCMP badge - Clear as mud!!!! Anyway there is a era specific RCMP badge that was worn during the war years (in and out of Canada)

Larry

Bill A · #5 08-02-10, 12:30 PM

Not quite Larry. No 1 Provost Coy was recruited from RCMP members and wore RCMP insignia during WW2. This included the RCMP cap badge and the unique RCMP shoulder titles . See my article in the CSMMI Journal, Fall 2009 and in The Formation Sign, Issue 233 March 2009. There are many photos of the members of No 1 Provost Coy wearing the kc RCMP cap badges. Archive documents indicate that the cap badges for the unit were provided by the RCMP.

Jibba Jabba · #6 08-02-10, 12:42 PM

All answers you seek are here......

http://mpmuseum.org/collect.html

I`m so happy to say i was caught out by one of the knock off shoulder titles......before I knew better.

Phillip Herring · #7 08-02-10, 01:50 PM

A well loved badge collector and former bibliographer of the Military Collectors Club of Canada, the late Bill Pickerell was career RCMP and served with No1 Provost Company during the Second World War.
I believe Nicholson's Battledress Patrol gave the entire account of No 1 Provost Company (RCMP) with rolls.

Phil

Bill A · #8 08-02-10, 02:01 PM

Found an image of the No 1 Provost Coy doing mc maintenance in the UK circa 1941.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

boots and saddles · #9 08-02-10, 03:33 PM

Bill A is right on, 1st Provost Co. only. But nothing like a picture to prove it. I knew a fellow by the name of Milne that was in the 1st Provost co. Knew him when I lived in Toronto & associated with my daughters figure skating, He was about 6' 4" & a real smooth skater.

servicepub · #10 08-02-10, 04:02 PM

As the CProC grew during the war, original members of 1 Provost Company were transferred and/or promoted out of the Company. They continued to wear their RCMP badge in their new positions.

LLWill · #11 09-02-10, 12:44 AM

Were the members of the Provo company members of the RCMP or the Military. did they sign the enlistment papers of the military or were they "seconded" to the Provo's?? The same question goes for the CEF era. Did the RCMP members get out of the force and sign the CEF attestation papers or was it kind of a transfer???? Either way the badge has a legit history of being worn during both wars. One thing that more than likely is true - - no member of the Provost Corp that was not RCMP wore the RCMP badge.

Bill A · #12 09-02-10, 01:02 AM

Good quesiton Larry. From the history Battle-Dress Patrol, (Nicholson, 1992) it appears the members of the RCMP who volunteered for the Canadian Provost Corps were granted a leave of absence. They then enlisted in the Canadian Army.

servicepub · #13 09-02-10, 03:31 AM

Here is a picture of Capt G. Ball, CO Cdn Detntion Barracks, Witley, Hants., April 1941.

Dwayne H · #14 10-02-10, 01:13 PM

I have also seen film footage of an RCMP with the 3rd div Occupation Force during the Kurt Meyer trial.

Dwayne

LLWill · #15 10-02-10, 09:03 PM

In several places within the book "A Call To Arms" [David W. Love] the RCMP is commented on. The book gives the RCMP enlistment numbers, serial number (Can light Horse- RCMP -2683711-2685710) plus a snippet of other info. So - - we have a member of the RCMP who joins the CEF (is given a serial number) who wears the hat Badge of his previous affiliation. As I said before - As clear as mud!! However this conversation started about the badge. The RCMP badge is rightfully included in the CEF and WWII badge list.