The Corps of Military Police (CMP) Old Comrades Association (OCA), the progenitor of the current Association, was formed in 1913. Re-formed in 1927 and continuing up to the outbreak of War in 1939, when its assets were frozen and it was put into abeyance, members met annually on the Football Association’s Cup Final Day and a dinner was held in London followed by a parade and a march to the Cenotaph where a wreath was laid. In March 1941, the CMP Old Comrades (War) Association (OCA (War)) was formed to fill the vacuum created by the closure of the OCA and as now, its objectives were to help members in need and to encourage comradeship.
On 15 th July 1946, the Royal Military Police Association (RMPA) was formed, as an ‘Unincorporated Association’ and assumed the responsibilities of the OCA (War) for over 50,000 de-mobbed CMP members, as well as those veterans who had served in CMP and its forebears before 1939. The Association’s objectives are:
“To promote the efficiency of the Army by:
- maintaining contact between past and present members of the Royal Military Police and its antecedents, fostering mutual friendships between them, and providing for social gatherings for them; and
- fostering esprit de corps, comradeship and welfare of the Royal Military Police and preserving its traditions”.
The Association achieved Charitable Status (Registered Charity Number 261630) in 1971 and is governed by Rules which are amended regularly by members at the AGM, to conform to the requirements of the Charities Act 1993. The Association Fund is administered and managed by the Trustees.
Her Late Majesty The Queen, was Colonel-in Chief of the Royal Military Police, and was Patron of the Association from 1997 – 2022.
All serving members of the RMP become Life Members of the Association on receiving their Military Police Warrant Card as fully-fledged Service Police Officers on successful completion of their specialist Military Police training. Funding for the Association is derived from membership fees, fund-raising donations, and investment income and therefore the Association should be self-financing. Our Association consists of two cohorts namely – those who have served and those who currently serve in the Corps of Royal Military Police, our Association is brought about by that commonality of service. Our rules reflect that ethos of the commonality of service regardless of rank, and outline who may apply for and be granted membership.
As in 1913, the Association meets collectively once a year, although its disparate branches meet far more frequently and its work remains: to help the needy; to raise money for both the Association and the RMP Central Benevolent Fund; and to engender esprit de corps, while maintaining the “exclusive friendliness” that is the hallmark of the world renowned ‘Red Caps’.
Royal Military Police Motto
“Exemplo Ducemus” ~ “By Example Shall We Lead.”
On the 20th November 1957, members of the Corps Committee asked subscribers to sthe Corps Journal to submit a Corps motto of not more than five words, for which the princely prize of £3 guineas was to be awarded, with entries to be submitted no later than 1st August 1958. winning submission was made by Major R W Payne RMP, then a Deputy-Assistant-Provost Marshal at Headquarters London District.
On the 9th October 1959, The Provost Marshal (Army), Brigadier P H Richardson DSO, OBE, announced in that year’s fourth quarter’s RMP Journal, that Her Late Majesty The Queen had been graciously pleased to approve the Corps of Royal Military Police being permitted to adopt the motto of “Exemplo Ducemus”; the literal translation of which is: “By example shall we lead”. The new motto was promulgated formally in Army Order 73 of 1959.
At the time of the announcement Brigadier Richardson posited that the motto would serve as an appropriate reminder of the aim and spirit of the Royal Military Police and would give the Corps an ideal to live up to.
