RCMP abbreviated cloth title

[John Cameron]

Views of one of the patterns of abbreviated cloth titles worn by No.1 Provost Company (RCMP) in the image Bill A posted in the Photographs thread. The serifs in the lettering are very evident on this one. Another pattern without serifs was made, so far I haven't managed to acquire one. Yet.

[Bill A]

Nice title John.
Here is the example from my collection.



As well, here is the example of the armband from my collection.



Both of these items were obtained several years ago and came from Bill Pickerill, a former member of No 1 Coy C Pro C. Bill was a badge / cloth collector. His accumulation of RCMP material was just auctioned off at Marways.

[Bill A]

While doing some research this morning I came across the following memo:



It appears that the title in question was not approved until at least May 8, 1942. Unfortunately, the pattern in question is not identified. (The document is on microfilm and the sample is not attached.) I suspect that the title referred to, is the Royal / Canadian Mounted / Police pattern.

[John Cameron]

Hi Bill,
From my files:


I agree that the title referred to in your last post must be the one with the full ROYAL/CANADIAN MOUNTED/POLICE. Too bad the suggestion for the PROVOST title to be red letters on a black backing wasn't accepted.
John

[Bill A]

John, I found a further memo, dated July 13,1942. It says that the badges be sealed as a provisional pattern, though there is room for improvement in the fullness of the lettering and eveness of the embroidery.
A further 1942 document, which pre-dates the approval but does not have a specific date, lists the quantities of titles to be ordered. Of interest, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 300 pairs, Canadian Provost Corps, 700 pairs. These numbers should be compared to orders for regimental titles, such as the PPCLI or RCR and other 1 CID units, which are either 1700 or 1800 pairs per unit, as listed on the same document. These were to be 6 months supply for the units. The titles were to be procured in Canada, and it appears that the supplier was Scully.

[boots and saddles]

Hi Bill
Would you say that both these titles are UK made? or hand embroidered.

[Bill A]

Hi Ray, I lean towards the titles having been procured in the UK. Some research I am doing on the issue of cloth titles indicates that units that had proceeded overseas prior to mid 1942 had been given permission to obtain coloured embroidered shoulder titles in the UK. The No 1 Provost Coy had gone over with the 1st CID, and they likely procured titles locally in the UK.
The obverse difference between John's example and my example is striking. I think that some of these may have been "hand" embroidered and private purchase, but that is only speculation with no records to document these titles. The backing on John's appears to be a loose weave cheese type cloth, looking exactly the same as mine, which suggests the same maker. With such a difference on the obverse, it appears that the titles were "hand" stitched. (I am using quotations, as the "hand" stitching may have been done freehand by machine, instead of by machine embroidery.)