Parade celebrates 100 years of policing in Australian military forces

Current and former members of the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police took part in a parade at the Australian War Memorial today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of policing service and support to Australian soldiers.

The parade was reviewed by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), who also delivered the Commemorative Address to the attendant crowd.

Formed as the Anzac Provost Corps in the aftermath of the Gallipoli campaign, the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police has provided policing support in every warlike, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operation in which Australia’s military forces have been involved.

As well as supporting logistic operations, the corps also provides physical and personal security, and is responsible for the internment and detention of captured persons, including their collection, administration, and registration in accordance with international, host-nation, and Australian law requirements.

Director of the Australian War Memorial Dr Brendan Nelson was delighted the corps had chosen the Australian War Memorial as the site for its centenary commemorations.

“Australia’s military police have played critical roles in some of our most significant operations,” he said.

“Formed in Egypt after the Gallipoli campaign, today the corps provides support to Australian troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the last 100 years its men and women have served on the front line with the Australian military forces, protecting and maintaining supply lines and assisting with the evacuation of the wounded and the protection of senior officers.

“In recent years they have also taken on the important role of training and mentoring local forces overseas.”

Lieutenant Colonel Scott Foster, Provost Marshal – Army and Acting Head of Corps, said the corps has upheld the exemplary tradition of excellence both at home and abroad, in peacetime and under warlike conditions.

“Our centenary commemorations allow us to pause and recognise the achievements of our predecessors and proudly reflect on the accomplishments of our men and women,” he said.

After being disbanded in 1920, the corps was reformed during the Second World War and was granted the “Royal” prefix in 1948, adopting its current name on 4 September 1974.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall became the first Colonel in Chief of the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police in November 2012.