Provost Marshal lineage

As a Corps, RNZMP date from 1915. However, there are links to earlier military policing. As the executive representatives of the Provost Marshal of the New Zealand Army, the RNZMP can claim the same ancient lineage as the Royal Military Police. The first record of a person conducting the duties of a provost marshal stem from 28 May 1241, when Henry II appointed William of Cassingham as a military "Sergeant of the Peace. He and his under-provosts were the ancestors of the modern Royal Military Police.

The first recorded provost marshal in English history of whom there is a personal record is Sir Henry Guldeford (or Guylford), who was appointed in 1511. The provost marshal was responsible for maintaining discipline within the English armies together with the King's personal security, and was also described as the "first and greatest gaoler of the Army". As the provost marshal's office gradually assumed more and more duties of a policing nature within the Army, he was provided with State-paid troops, referred to in Henry VIII's day as provost companies.

The Articles of War of 1591, which were written during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, laid down that: "No man shall resist the Provost Marshal, or other of his officers, in apprehending any malfactor, but if need be shall aid and assist him..."

During the Peninsula War of 1813–14, the Duke of Wellington asked for a provost marshal to be appointed to hang looters; by the end of the Peninsular War the provost marshal controlled 24 assistant provost marshals. The assistants were also authorised to hang offenders and eventually each division had its own assistant provost marshal.

New Zealand colonial period

New Zealand became a colony of Britain in 1840 following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Policing within New Zealand started the same year with the arrival of six constables accompanying Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson's official landing party. Early policing was undertaken by a colonial police force, who were part police and part militia. With many of its first officers having seen prior service in either Ireland or Australia, this early force resembled a military police unit.

The New Zealand Armed Constabulary Act 1867 established an organised structure for a group that operated along gendarmerie lines. The Armed Constabulary took part in the New Zealand Wars against Māori opposed to colonial expansion. Still part police and part militia, this organisation is considered the predecessor of military policing within New Zealand.

Following the end of the New Zealand Wars, the Police Force Act 1886 established a single centralised police force. At the same time, the government moved the militia functions of the old Armed Constabulary to the forerunner of the New Zealand Defence Force called the New Zealand Permanent Militia. The New Zealand Permanent Militia, and later the New Zealand Military Forces, did not have a formal military police element. However, during the Second Boer War (1899–1902) individual New Zealand soldiers served with the British Mounted Military Police in South Africa.^[1]

SS Chakdina

Late in the afternoon of 5 December 1941 the SS Chakdina left Tobruk Harbour bound for Alexandria carrying approximately 380 wounded Allied soldiers, 100 German and Italian prisoners and 120 crew. Just after 9 p.m. an enemy plane released a torpedo that struck and exploded in an aft hold. The crowded little ship sank in a strong swell within a few minutes and some 400 men were drowned, 80 of them New Zealanders.^[5] Major Hayton reported that NZ Provosts, 2nd Lieutenant Taff, Warrant Officer Malin, Sgt. Robinson and Lance Corporal Knopwood were on board the SS Chakdina. Taff and Robinson were rescued and taken aboard HMS Fardale. However, Malin and Knopwood died.^[6]

S.S.Chantala

On 7 December 1941, Major Hayton reported the sinking of the SS Chantala in Tobruk Harbour. ‘Appendix B’ is attached to his report:

On Sunday, the, No.1 Section was detailed to escort 500 German and Italian prisoners from the POW camp at Tobruk to Alexandria, making the sea voyage by the SS CHANTALA. Loading operations were enlivened by two bombing attacks, first by a formation and later by a solitary German plane, both were beaten off by fire of an anti-aircraft vessel lying alongside the 'Chantala'.

Shortly after 1700 hours, the last batch of prisoners having been escorted to their quarters below decks, the ship made ready for sea, a tug moving her slowly from the wharf and turning her into the channel, while all hands moved to ‘action stations’. Just as her bow was swinging towards the open sea, there was a terrific explosion and with a huge column of water mounting beside her, the vessel was lifted almost clear of the water. The ‘Chantala’ had struck a mine, and almost instantly took on a sharp list.

Holed slightly aft of the forward hold, the vessel made water fast, and the Italians fought wildly to reach a single, narrow ladder leading to the deck above, treading ruthlessly over their companions pinned beneath broken hatch covers and debris. For a time pandemonium reigned, but the Provost section, who, although scattered all over the ship, had escaped injury, received orders to load the prisoners on to a barge which had been brought close up to the port side. Blocks and tackle were rigged and although it was necessary to check a rush by the prisoners, good progress was made and the barge was quickly filled. Moved to No. 3 jetty, the barge there discharged the prisoners, those badly wounded being treated in a nearby air raid shelter and the remainder returned to the POW Camp. Others remaining on the ship were disembarked at No.6 jetty, where the same procedure was followed.

Their task completed, the Provost section was able to leave the ship at 2300 hours. Working in complete darkness, they had rendered what assistance they could to injured men and restored order among the prisoners, many of whom acted as demented men. The Marquis of Queensbury may not have approved of the methods used, but the necessary results were obtained.^[6]

Major E.W. Hayton who was wounded in early July 1942,^[7] was awarded the DSO for outstanding provost duties at the Battle of El Alamein while serving as the Assistant Provost Marshal beside Major R.R.J. Jenkin who was commanding the NZ Divisional Provost Company at the same battle. Jenkin was wounded in November 1942 while travelling toward Halfaya Pass. He was temporarily replaced by Capt H.M.Blacklock until former Provost commander, Capt E.C.Awdry, assumed this position. Jenkin was later promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed Deputy Provost Marshal in Italy. After the war ended, the military police were again disbanded.

Prior to the Halfaya crossing, Provost Coy was attached to B Echelon of 4 Light Armed Brigade and instructed to clear the Pass road for a convoy to proceed under absolute priority with petrol urgently required by fighting tanks. They laid light lines and assisted in clearing German mines from the road and verges. Jenkin estimated that during the day and night of November 11, 5000 vehicles went over the pass under Provost supervision.^[8]

Provost Diary Entry: "10 Nov. Good reports coming through. Getting supplies up is the main problem. Heavy traffic on the coast road is cause of delays. Drove one hundred miles today. Passed through Sidi Barrani this morning. Getting short on cigarettes. 11 Nov. Bypassed Sollum by going over Halfaya (“Hellfire”) Pass at noon. Heavy traffic congestion at the pass. German ME109s were doing some strafing for a while. Passed through Capuzzo at dusk. 12 Nov. At Div HQ. The O.C., Captain Jenkins went over a mine in his car and had his foot fractured. His driver is suffering from shock".^[9]