Brief History of the RACMP "Scarlet" Beret

Researched and compiled by Antony Buckingham, MP History Website, 2012

The Scarlet beret was adopted as the official Corps headdress for all qualified personnel of the RACMP on 14th March 1975. Prior to this members of the Corps wore the standard issue Australian Army "slouch hat" with Corps badge on the left side. For general duty wear the option of the standard dark blue beret with Corps badge on front was worn as well. There was no distinctive headdress for MP prior to the "scarlet beret".

The Military Police Newsletter of April 1975 stated:

Message from the Provost Martial

The Army Dress Committee, which received our submission on dress changes in November 1974, approved introduction of all items at its meeting on 14th March, 1975.

Included were, Scarlet beret as Corps distinctive headdress for every day duty wear. It should be noted that the hat khaki fur felt will be retained as the traditional head-dress for ceremonial occasions.

What is the origin of the "scarlet" colour for the RACMP beret?

The RACMP is closely affiliated with the Royal Military Police (RMP). As such the new RACMP chose to model itself alongside the RMP and adopted the scarlet beret as Corps headdress. The RMP wear the same colour beret as that adopted by the RACMP.

"The REDCAPS - History of the RMP by G.D. Sheffield" states:

The RMP were known as the "Redcaps" which denoted the red "slip on" hat cover which RMP qualified personnel wore over the issue khaki peak cap that all personnel of the British Army are issued. Supposedly the "red" colour was chosen by the wife of the Provost Major in 1885 and another suggestion cites an Indian Military Police unit which had worn a red turban during the Indian Mutiny.

Also

AIF Order 719 of 26 June 1917 directed:

ANZAC Provost Corps will wear red hat bands in lieu of the blue hat band prescribed by the above mentioned order

Also

A red lanyard was also worn by Australian, UK and NZ Provosts who served with the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group Provost Unit in Malaya and Borneo 1950s/1960s. Reg Smith, a CPL of the RMP posted to the Unit states "The OC, Mick Gray, introduced the use of scarlet lanyards for unit personnel. It was approved by PM FARELF and to my knowledge the only Commonwealth Provost Unit to have such an item".

Also

An entry from the War Diary of the 1st Commonwealth Division Provost Company Korea dated 1953.

A red scarf is authorised for wear by all unit members.

The “scarlet” beret in 2010 and beyond

In August 2010, the Chief of the Australian Army (CA) ordered all Corps of the Australian Army (less Special Forces units) including Military Police to cease wearing berets and to only wear the iconic Australian Army slouch hat instead. This had a devastating effect on RACMP as the scarlet coloured beret could no longer be worn ceasing a tradition and unique Corps identifier that had been in continuous existence since 1975. This was a sad loss to all RACMP personnel and remains a controversial decision to this day. However, CA did allow RACMP as with all other Australian Army Corps to wear their berets on specific historical/significant occasions.

Parade for presentation of Governor Generals Banner in April 2001 at Army Military Police Training Centre (AMPTC)