Cap Badge - 1st Military Police At the outset of the First World War, the Canadian Army consisted of a tiny "Permanent Force" or Regular Army and a large Non-Permanent Militia. There was no organized Corps or Regiment of Military Police in the Army, a few units had a Regimental Police or Provost sections consisting of a dozen or so men under the command of a Provost Sergeant. Camps and Garrisons had locally appointed personnel functioning as Military Police, however discipline was primarily a Regimental concern, through the normal chain of command. Generally, the duties of Camp Police were to maintain order, regulate civilian tradesmen, provide escorts for defaulters and enforce sanitary regulations. In September, 1914, a small detachment of Military Police accompanied the First Contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force to England. Captain E.S. Clifford D.S.O. was appointed as Assistant Provost Marshal for the First Contingent. A section of Military Police consisting of a Warrant Officer and 9 Privates was with Divisional Headquarters. 1st Infantry Brigade Headquarters had a section of 4 Military Mounted Police. Upon arrival in England, the detachment underwent training with the British Military Police. Canadian Military Police appear to have adopted British methods, organisation and equipments. Unfortunately, detailed records of this period were lost due to a fire in 1917. The Canadian Military Police Corps (CMPC) was authorised on the 15th of September, 1917 by Militia General Orders 93 & 94. The initial establishment was set at 30 Officers and 820 Warrant Officers and NCOs. Only trained soldiers were to be selected and they were required to serve a one month probationary period before being transferred. Applicants were required to have exemplary service records, most having served with existing Military Police units. The CMPC School was formed at Rockcliffe near Ottawa in June, 1918. The basic course was of three weeks duration, upon successful completion of the course Privates were promoted to Lance Corporal.