Questions about WW 1 CMP Titles and Cap Badges

[John Cameron]

From my research, I've been able to determine that during the Great War, some Canadian Military Police wore British pattern MP cap badges and shoulder titles. There are a number of known fakes on the market; viz the large CMP titles and the Military Foot Police cap badge. The only reference I have on Brit metal titles is Ray Westlake's "Collecting Metal Shoulder Titles", which has some reasonable images, but no real details on period of use, date of adoption etc.
Question 1:
As the Corps Of Military Police was formed in 1926, were the large (1 3/4 inch) CMP titles adopted only post 1926?

Question 2: Westlake states that a smaller version of the CMP title was worn by officers. Depending on the answer to question 1, when was the small title brought in to British service? I have photos of the small CMP title being worn as a collar badge by Canadians during the war.

The top title is hallmarked Tiptaft B'ham.
The middle title is not hallmarked.
The bottom Canadian Military Police Corps title is hallmarked Birks (all of the CMPC titles I've seen are so marked).

Question 3: Both of the titles below are not hallmarked and have flat hexagonal (six sided) lugs. Do these conform to known repros ?(I suspect)


Any help, questions, comments or rude remarks would be appreciated.

[Rockape]

John I can only answer q.3.

The titles have spade lugs or flat lugs as Bosleys military auctions call them. Spade lugs are indicative of shoulder titles made in that era of use. D shaped lugs and spade lugs are what I would look for in purchasing OR shoulder titles. Attachment of these appendages is something I would closely at though.

Garry

[badjez]

Hi,
Have found this reference today which may be of interest.
WO 359/19. Ordnance Records of Change etc. 1932-39.
31.07.35. Titles ‘MFP’ & ‘MMP’ replaced by ‘CMP’.
This may just have been an administrative entry to tidy up the records though.

Regards, Steve.