The brassard is the primary indicator of the status of a Military Policeman on duty. Dress instructions specified that the brassard was to be worn on the right arm, midway between the elbow and the shoulder. Between the wars there was a more or less standard pattern of brassard available in the Militia supply system. Very similar to a Canadian First World War issue, it was secured by either a buckle or snap stud. It is likely that many of these brassards were originally First World War issue.
Upon arrival in England, Canadian MPs were provided with British issue brassards until a Canadian supply was developed. Canadian made brassards normally have embroidered letters and three pairs of snap studs, the studs are marked with either the letters UCC or the name United Carr Canada. British made brassards commonly have sewn on letters or are silk screen printed and were secured by snaps, buttons or buckles. Provost assigned specifically to traffic control duties sometimes wore a black brassard with the letters "TRAFFIC" or "TC" sewn or embroidered in red. RCMP members of No. 1 Provost Company wore the RCMP brassard. Garrison Military Police and Regimental Police were provided with their own special patterns of brassard.
Due to instances of brassards being improperly used by non Provost personel, orders were given for the stenciling of the Provost Company number and brassard number on the reverse of brassards issued in Canada. Second World War pattern brassards were still in use well into the late 1950s.
 British made, printed on cotton |
 British made, sewn on letters. |
 Canadian made, embroidered letters. |
 Canadian made brassard with the Provost Company and brassard number stenciled on reverse. |
 Garrison Military Police |
 Military Police assigned to Traffic Control |
 Screen printed Regimental Police brassard. |
 Regimental Police brassard with sewn on letters. |
Several patterns of brassards were specified in Dress regulations for Provost Marshals as well as Assistant and Deputy Provost Marshals. According to 1939 Dress Instructions, Provost Marshals at Army or Corps level were to wear the National Defence HQ brassard and Provost Marshals at Divisional and Brigade levels were to wear a scarlet brassard with an embroidered PM in 1 1/4 inch high letters. MP Officers other than Provost Marshals were to wear a "MP" brassard, however this regulation was ammended in 1943 to permit all Provost officers other than Provost Marshals to wear a PROVOST brassard. Either the MP or PROVOST brassard appear to have been worn by Provost officers concurrently after 1943. From photographic evidence, a number of Provost officers wore an MP brassard with the Provost collar badge inserted between the "M" and the "P". No references to dress instructions permitting this have been as yet noted.
 A reconstruction of the above brassard. |
 Provost Marshals and Assistant Provost Marshals at Army or Corps Level, 1939 Pattern |
 Provost Marshals and Assistant Provost Marshals at Army or Corps Level |
 Provost Marshals and Assistant Provost Marshals Divisional or Brigade Level |
 Locally made Provost Marshal brassard attributed to Major L.M. (Len) Fourney circa 1945. |
 Provost Officers post 1943 Pattern |