Examination of early war photographs show that in Canada, the standard Maple Leaf cap badge and collar badges were worn by soldiers assigned to Military Police duty. Once overseas, some Canadian Military Police initially wore British Military Police cap badges and other insignia. At this time, the British had two distinct Military Police units, the Military Mounted Police and the Military Foot Police. Around 1916 a Canadian pattern cap badge with matching collar insignia based on the British Military Mounted Police cap badge was adopted by some MP units, but this was not officially approved by higher authority. The authorised collar badge was the standard Canadian Maple Leaf pattern, although the initials "M.P" or "C.M.P" were commonly worn. An unauthorised pattern of cap badge was worn in Canada, by No 1 MP Detachment, along with matching shoulder and collar insignia. A cap badge for No. 10 Military District Provost Marshall Staff exists, however as yet no photographic or documentary evidence has been found of it's use. At least one pattern of modified collar badge has been seen worn as a hat badge on a fur cap.
Upon the formation of the CMPC in 1918, a distinct Canadian design of cap badge was approved and were manufactured by the firms of Tiptaft in England and Scully Ltd. in Canada. The approved collar badge was the initials "C.M.P.C." Standard brass or bronze Canada titles were worn on the epaulettes. Several patterns of identification badges for use by Officers and plainclothes policemen were approved and issued.
The Canadian Garrison Regiment was authorised in July 1918 with a Battalion in each Military District. Garrison Battalions recruited men who were overage, had returned from overseas, or were unfit for duty overseas. Each Battalion had a Garrison Military Police detachment. Cap badges and collar badges worn by Garrison Military Police were likely the Maple Leaf pattern or that of the Canadian Garrison Regiment. A special cap badge was worn by members of No. 11 Garrison Battalion. Some Garrison Military Police were also appointed from NCOs of other regiments or corps. Garrison MPs so appointed wore the badges and insignia of their regiment. The Garrison Military Police brassard was worn by MPs on duty.
During the First World War, Chinese labourers were contracted by the British government for service on the Western Front in Europe. After traveling by boat from China to Vancouver, they were transported by rail across Canada to Halifax. In order to prevent desertions among the Chinese during the trip, the Railway Service Guard was formed in Vancouver in 1915. The Guard provided policing and security during the trips and at staging camps along the route and at Petawawa Ontario. The Railway Service Guard was primarily formed from men either too young or old for service in the CEF, as well as discharged veterans. The Guard was disbanded about 1917 and most of the men were absorbed by the Garrison Regiment or Special Service Companies. Although the Railway Service Guard was not a Military Police unit as such, they provided police type services and there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that some members wore MP type brassards. A cap badge and collar badge were produced for this unit but they appear to have not been officially approved by higher authority.
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 British Military Foot Police Cap Badge This example is a reproduction |
 British Military Mounted Police Cap Badge |
 Canadian Pattern Cap Badge Other Rank's Pattern |
 Canadian Pattern Cap Badge Officer's Pattern |
 No.1 Detachment (London Ontario) Cap Badge |
 Provost Marshall Staff No.10 Military District Cap Badge |
 Canadian Military Police Corps Cap Badge Other Rank's Pattern |
 Canadian Military Police Corps Cap Badge Officer's Pattern |
 Canadian Garrison Regiment Cap Badge |
 11th Batallion Canadian Garrison Regiment |
 Railway Service Guard |
 Typical Canadian Maple Leaf Collar Badges |
 Canadian Pattern Collar Badges |
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 Canadian Garrison Regiment Collar Badges |
 Canadian Military Police Collar Badge |
 Canadian Military Police Corps Collar Badge |
 Wire Embroidered Officer's Canada Shoulder Title |
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 Garrison Military Police Shoulder Title |
 Military Foot Police Shoulder Title |
 Canadian Garrison Regiment Shoulder Title |
 Tunic and Greatcoat Buttons |
Military Police in Canada were tasked with identifying and arresting deserters and draft evaders and in the course of their duties were authorised to wear plain clothes. Civilian Police style badges were issued and Military Police carried certificates of authorisation, commonly known as "Warrant Cards".
 No.3 Military District (Ottawa). Image courtesy of Cliff Grenfell |
 CMPC Ottawa. Image courtesy of Cliff Grenfell |
 No.4 Military District (Montreal) Identification Badge |
At the beginning of the war, a wide variety of brassards were used, evidently of local production. Photographs of MP in Canada show white brassards with blue or black sewn on letters, worn on the right or left cuff. Similar brassards with red borders were worn, as well as brassards with brass letters leather cuff band. Dark blue or black brassards with a metal MP badge were worn by Garrison Military Police in Montreal. The badge could be detached for wear with plainclothes. Overseas, Canadian MPs wore mostly British issued red and black brassards on the right arm above the elbow.
 Brass letters on a leather wristlet. |
 Military Police |
 Garrison Military Police |
 Canadian Variant with Maple Leaf Cap Badge |
 Garrison Military Police, Montreal, with detachable badge. |