In July, 1942, authority was granted to appoint members of the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) as Military Police. They were to have the same powers and authority as members of the Provost Corps, but normally only over other CWAC personnel. On the 13th of August, 1942, the first 72 CWAC applicants began a one month training course. Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal W.S. Jones directed the class, assisted by Lieutenant G.K. Strachan and CSM Stocks. Out of the 72 volunteers, 62 passed the course and became Canada's first Military Police women. Upon graduation, they were promoted to Lance Corporal or Corporal and posted to Provost Corps units for duty.
Although they were not armed, they did recieve firearms training, and when on duty wore the Provost Corps MP brassard. Approximately 450 CWAC were serving in the Military Police role by late 1945, mostly in Canada and England. Unfortunately, the value of trained CWAC Military Police was not appreciated at higher level and the CWAC Provost trade did not survive past the end of the war. It was not until 1974 that women in the Army again served as MPs.
Contemporary drawing by CWAC War Artist Molly Lamb Bobak, 1942.
Note the CWAC Provost in the center. (NAC 135722)
The acronym CWAC was properly pronounced "ceedoubleyouaycee". Male soldiers who took the liberty of calling a CWAC soldier a "KWAK" risked getting a fat lip....