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Royal Military Police

200 Provost Company Singapore

Welcome to the unofficial site of the Royal Military Police 200 Provost Company.

The Company was first established in Singapore on the 28th September 1941 following the amalgamation of Y Provost Section, 1st Section 46 Divisional Provost Company and 24 Independent Provost Company and was based in Gillman Barracks, Alexandra Road, Pasir Panjang, Singapore. On 1st April 1960 the company was re-designated as 200 (GHQ) Provost Company and on the 12th October of the same year became 200 (Singapore) Provost Company which it remained until disbandment on the 10th December 1971. Throughout the whole of it's active life, with the exception of the Japanese occupation of Singapore, the Company remained based at Gillman Barracks.

The company was responsible for overseeing all troop movement through the Singapore Docks and for the policing of the Island of Singapore. The policing of the city was undertaken from Provost HQ which basically was a Police Station situated in Bras Basah Road. In addition to RMP personnel (including Special Investigation Branch officers) there were a few Royal Naval Regulating Branch and Royal Air Force officers at based at Bras Basah Road and joint patrols were undertaken. Occasionally, ships of the American fleet visited the island and American Military Police would be placed onshore to patrol with RMP NCOs. Until about the end of 1958 Royal Military Police patrols were armed with .38 revolvers and 9mm 'Sten' light machine guns.

During the period of the Malayan conflict all members of the civilian population were required to carry identification documents and the various services police had authority, through a warrant issued by the Commissioner of Singapore Police, to demand production of such identification. This brought the Company into close contact with the Singapore Police, who on occasion would require the attendance of RMP to deal with service personnel or to assist in proving the ID of Europeans, whom the civilian police seemed reluctant to deal with, even if the person concerned was a civilian. We also, from time to time, worked with the Singapore Harbour Board Police, which was a separate force, particularly in regard to our Dock Section duties.

Around the same time as the disbandment of 200 Pro Coy. the 28th Commonwealth Brigade became the ANZUK Brigade and some RMP personnel were posted to this new Brigade which continued until about the end of 1974 when British Forces around the world were dramatically reduced.

As a direct result only two countries retained forces in Singapore. They were New Zealand, who maintained a military presence until the mid 1990s and the UK who kept a reducing presence until late 1975 or early 1976. The effect of this was that military police in Singapore became two separate units, New Zealand Military Police (manned by personnel from the three services) and a reformed 200 Pro Coy (also manned by personnel from the three services). Although separate these two units operated effectively as one. However due to the heavy involvement of RMP in Northern Ireland an arrangement was made whereby Australian Military Police who had been with ANZUK Brigade stayed on, but against RMP appointments, until their tours of duty were completed. It was during this period the Australians withdrew their forces from Singapore. During the period 73/75 ANZUK Provost and 200 Pro Coy were based in hutted accommodation at Nee Soon Camp.

Annual Reunions of ex members of the Company are now held in October at Walsall over a two day weekend and are organised on a purely voluntary basis by Alan Trumper, an ex member himself. These reunions are very well attended and are the highlight of most peoples year. Any ex member, including attached personnel i.e. ACC or REME, can find out more by using our Contact Page on this site. A database is also maintained for the benefit of ex members or ex and serving members of RMP only. If you are looking for lost friends. Fill in your details and GIVE US A TRY.