This Royal Military Police (RMP) Arm of Service strip is a faithful reproduction of the type worn by the British Royal Military Police during the Second World War.
The strip features a red horizontal bar on a khaki/brown felt backing, a colour combination used within the British Army’s marking system to identify specific units and roles.
Within the British Arm of Service marking system, coloured strips and panels were used on vehicles, equipment and sometimes uniform items to quickly identify the function of a unit within a formation.
For the Royal Military Police, the red bar served as a recognizable identifier of their policing role within the army.
The Royal Military Police were responsible for:
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Military policing duties
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Traffic control and convoy regulation
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Guarding installations and prisoners
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Investigation of military incidents
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Maintaining discipline within British forces
During major operations such as the campaigns in North Africa, Italy and Northwest Europe, RMP units were essential in managing troop movements and military traffic.
This reproduction is ideal for:
The felt construction with embroidered red bar closely reflects original wartime production methods.
Subtle historical advice:
For a complete impression this strip is often paired with a Royal Military Police cap badge, RMP armband, or other British WW2 formation insignia.
Historische Context
During the Second World War the British Army used a detailed system of Arm of Service (AoS) markings. These coloured markings identified the role of a unit within a larger formation.
For the Royal Military Police, the red bar marking was commonly associated with their policing and traffic control duties. RMP personnel were widely seen directing military traffic, organizing convoys and maintaining order behind the front lines.
During large operations such as the Normandy campaign in 1944, military police posts became famous for guiding endless streams of vehicles, tanks and troops along vital supply and advance routes.
