Happy Corps Day to the Royal New Zealand Military Police!
2019.222.3 Military Police Badge, WWII era (crown of King George).
We would like to wish a
happy Corps Day to the service men and women sworn to keep safe and protect the NZ Army’s people and resources from crime, both in New Zealand and overseas; the Corps of
Royal New Zealand Military Police.
The “first” Military Police were soldiers who served as British mounted military policemen in the Second Boer War. It was 1915, and World War I, that saw the New Zealand Army’s own military police unit formed. It was a mounted force that saw active service in most theatres of the war. It was subsequently disbanded after the armistice in 1918, before being reformed at the beginning of World War II. Again they served in many theatres, including the Middle East, Greece, Crete, Italy, Fiji, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Vella Lavella, Nissan, and the Treasury Islands. Post-WWII there was a period of the unit being disbanded, reformed, and renamed, before finally becoming the Corps of Royal New Zealand Military Police (RNZMP) in 1982.
The role of military police (MP) is a varied and independent one. An MP provides combat support, both in New Zealand and overseas, for the policing, security, investigation, custodial, and battlefield circulation control. An MP is highly motivated and trustworthy with a sharp attention to detail and an ability to adapt and operate under pressure. The Corps motto of RNZMP is “Ko tatou hei tauira” – By example we lead; an indication of the high standards of behaviour expected of an MP at all times.
From all of us here at the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa, happy Corps Day to the men and women (past and present) of the Corps of Royal New Zealand Military Police!
Featured image shows a Despatch Rider flanked either side by Military Police in Italy, 1944 (DA5222).
