Ten Sturdy Members: The Military Police of the 18th Battalion

Two photographs have striking similarities. The men are uniformed and look seriously, almost in admonishment, at the camera. Five hold swagger sticks and most of the men sport moustaches. If not for the captions on the photographs the sleeve brassards at the bottom left-hand jacket sleeve cuff would indicate what they all shared in common – they were members of the military police.

They were not formal members of the Provost Corps, or its Canadian equivalent, but had been tasked with the responsibilities of military good order and conduct at a battalion level, in this case the 18^th Battalion, CEF, stationed and training at London, Ontario during October 1914 to April 1915.

Though the quality of each photograph is not optimal, it can be derived that these men were, most of them, older than the average recruit at enlistment. But this was the defining reason for their assignment to this role. They averaged 32.5-years in age. It was not their average height (5’ 7”) or weight (159 lbs.) that defined their role. Their trade or calling seemed to have not determining influence as just over half (55%) were skilled or semi-skilled in peacetime. And, finally, it was not their place of birth that determined this (83% United Kingdom born)[i].

What probably did define their suitability for this role was their prior military service. All these men served with military units before their enlistment. The average years of service was 8.2 years and only one soldier was soldier[ii] served in only a militia unit, and probably as a drummer, as every other soldier served with line units during their prior military service.

Of the eleven men identified in the photographs, 75% survived the war. Of those that did not, two were killed in action (Privates Thomas William Dobson, reg. no. 53669 and Arthur Jefferies, reg. no. 54129). The second oldest member of the military police, Private Alfred Charles Aldersley, reg. no. 53077 dying from complications related to cancer of the bladder.

From the news paper clippings and articles of that time, the London Free Press and Advocate related some significant events that would have involved these men:

• One soldier absconded with $2,000.00 est. of cash,
• One soldier was married in a Battalion ceremony. He and his wife left for the United States with their gift money, never to return,
• Another soldier deserted under mysterious circumstances.

It appears that once the Battalion moved into West Sandling on its arrival in England for the next stage of training this role was no longer required and was taken over by the Assistant Provost Marshall, 2^nd Division. There the Battalion had its share of run-ins with the law, recording the highest incident of soldiers absent without out leave in its Brigade realizing 38 men AWL out of a total of 58 cases as reported on July 18, 1915.

These men were tapped for a duty of responsibility for their experience from their military service. They look stalwart and firm and helped the 18^th Battalion maintain good order and conduct during its service in London during its nascent experience as a military unit brought together by the exigencies of war.

The Data: Some tables representing the background to this article.

Country of Birth and Trade

Surname	Forename	Reg. No.	Country	Trade
Aldersley	Alfred Charles	53077	England	Labourer
Clarke	Albert Edward	53091	England	Hosiery Hand
DobsonThomas Williams	Thomas Williams	53669	England	Farm Labourer
Evans	George	54122	Canada	Moulder
Hare	David	53344	Ireland	Pipe Fitter
Hatch	Henry	53120	England	Labourer
Hodgson	James	53076	Ireland	Labourer
Jefferies	Arthur	54129	England	Teamster
Manning	William	53935	England	Cabinet Maker
Robins	Alfred	53614	England	Labourer
Windle	Arthur	53295	Canada	Box Maker
			83% from UK	55% Skilled/Semi-Skilled

 

Military Unit and Total Years of Military Service

Surname	Forename	Previous Service	Years	Age
Aldersley	Alfred Charles	Rifle Brigade	16	38.25
Clarke	Albert Edward	Leicestershire Regiment	7	38.75
Dobson	Thomas Williams	Royal Horse Artillery	12	34
Evans	George	38th Dufferin Rifles	6	20.5
Hare	David	Royal Irish Rifles, 7th Regiment	12.1	38.1
Hatch	Henry	Gloucestershire Regiment	8	27.9
Hodgson	James	West Yorkshire Regiment	8.25	29.25
Jefferies	Arthur	12th Yorkshire, 36th Regiment	3	25.75
Manning	William	2nd Northhampshire		30
Robins	Alfred	8th Company, Garrison Artillery	8	35.2
Windle	Arthur	Royal Rifles of Canada	2	39.25
		Average	8.2	32.5
		Minimum	2	20.5
		Maximum	16	39.25

 

Physical Attributes[iii]

Aldersley	Alfred Charles	53077	38.25	64
Clarke	Albert Edward	53091	38.75	64
Dobson	Thomas Williams	53669	34	68.5
Evans	George	54122	20.5	70	184
Hare	David	53344	38.1	67
Hatch	Henry	53120	27.9	67	165
Hodgson	James	53076	29.25	66
Jefferies	Authur	54129	25.75	68.5
Manning	William	53935	30	65.5	150
Robins	Alfred	53614	35.2	67.5	136
Windle	Arthur	53295	39.25	68
			32.5	66.9	158.8
		Minimum	20.5	64	136
		Maximum	39.25	70	184

 

 

Outcomes

Surname	Forename	Reg. No.	Survived	Deceased	Cause
Aldersley	Alfred Charles	53077	No	22/8/1915	DOI
Clarke	Albert Edward	53091	Yes
Dobson	Thomas Williams	53669	No	17/7/1916	KIA
Evans	George	54122	Yes	10/1/1955
Hare	David	53344	Yes
Hatch	Henry	53120	Yes
Hodgson	James	53076	Yes	11/8/1952
Jefferies	Authur	54129	No	15/9/1916	KIA
Manning	William	53935	Yes
Robins	Alfred	53614	Yes
Windle	Arthur	53295	Yes	31/10/1933
			75% Survived

 

[i] The two Canadian born members where from Brantford, Ontario. Brantford was not normally a town from which recruits for the 18^th Battalion came from. These were Private George Evans, reg. no. 54122, and Private Arthur Windle, reg. no. 53295. They enlisted at London and Windsor, Ontario respectively.

[ii] Private George Evans, reg. no. 54122 enlisted at the age of 20 with 6-years of prior military service with the 38^th Dufferin Rifles.

[iii] Note that height is measured in inches.