Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP or Mounties; French, Gendarmerie royale du Canada, GRC) is both the federal police force and the national police of Canada. The RCMP provides federal (national) police services. It also provides, under contract, provincial and municipal police services to Canada's three territories and eight of its provinces. Most of Canada's provinces, while constitutionally responsible for law and order, prefer to sub-contract policing to this professional national force that consequently operates under their direction in regard to provincial and municipal law enforcement. The exceptions are Ontario, Quebec, and parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, which have their own provincial police forces. The RCMP is the largest police force in Canada; as of April 2005, the RCMP had an on-strength establishment of 22,557 personnel{{fn|1}}.

The RCMP in wartime

The Boer War

During the Boer War, members of the North West Mounted Police were given leaves of absence to fight with the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles and the Lord Strathcona's Horse.

Related Topics:
Boer War - Leaves of absence - Battalion - Lord Strathcona's Horse

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World War I

During the First World War the Royal North West Mounted Police (RNWMP) conducted border patrols, surveillance of enemy aliens, and enforcement of national security regulations within Canada. However, RNWMP officers also served overseas. On 6 August, 1914, a squadron of volunteers from the RNWMP was formed to serve with the Canadian Light Horse in France. In 1918, two more squadrons were raised, A Squadron for service in France and Flanders and B Squadron for service in Siberia

Related Topics:
First World War - Border - Surveillance - Aliens - National security - 6 August - 1914 - Squadron - France - 1918 - Flanders - Siberia

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World War II

In 1939, No. 1 Provost Company (RCMP), Canadian Provost Corps, was raised for service in Europe. The unit served with distinction throughout the Second World War.

Related Topics:
1939 - Canadian Provost Corps - Second World War

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Honours

Although it is a police force, the RCMP has the status of a regiment of dragoons, and as such is entitled to wear battle honours for its war service as well as carry a guidon. It was awarded this status in 1921, with its first guidon presented in 1935. As a regiment, the RCMP mounted the King's Life Guard at Horse Guards Parade in 1937 leading up to the coronation of King George VI.

Related Topics:
Regiment - Dragoons - Battle honours - Guidon - 1921 - 1935 - King's Life Guard - Horse Guards Parade - 1937 - Coronation - King George VI

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• Battle Honours
• Early Honours: Northwest Canada 1885, South Africa 1900-02
• The Great War: France and Flanders 1918, Siberia 1918-19
• The Second World War: Europe, 1939-45
• Honorary Distinction
• The badge of the Canadian Provost Corps¹

1. Presented 21 Sep. 1957 at a Parliament Hill ceremony for contributions to the Corps during the Second World War.

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