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Date | Original Topic | 22nd January 2005 | British 'military police' on campaign By Coll When british forces were on campaign, especially in the Zulu War, was there a police unit allocated to monitoring the conduct of the soldiers with 'powers' to arrest anyone breaking the rules, or was the policing of soldiers left to company officers ?. | Date | Replies | 22nd January 2005 | John Young Coll,
We've actually discussed this previously on the forum, try a search under the word 'Provost'.
John Y. | 22nd January 2005 | Coll John
Thanks. I must have overlooked it.
Coll | 23rd January 2005 | AMB Coll,
Military Police as we would understand them, were only developing at the time of the Zulu War. Whilst Wellington had used Provost during some of his campaigns (The Staff Corps Of Cavalry), modern MPs were not deployed. You'll have to wait for Eygpt 1882 to find the first modern MPs being deployed.
In a nut shell, discipline of soldiers was left to Regtl Provost staff, or possibly even the Natal Mounted Police (although I am still trying to find the extent of the NMP's policing role - their scouting role being well known).
I hope this helps.
AMB | 23rd January 2005 | Keith Smith Coll/AMB
In the previous discussion on this subject, to which JY refers, I posted the follwoing extract from General Orders:
MILITARY POLICE.
1 Sergeant at 8d., and 3 men at 4d., from the 2nd January, 1879, for duties at Utrecht.
The reference is General Order No. 27 dated 7th January, 1879, Times of Natal, 10th February, 1879.
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