The red-capped military policeman standing on traffic duty on vital crossroads has become a familiar and respected figure to the 20th-century British soldier. Although generals as diverse as Wellington and Haig can be numbered among its admirers, the role of the Royal Military Police and its antecedents is much less well-known outside the army. In this authorized history, specially commissioned by the Royal Military Police, G.D. Sheffield brings to life the often bloody history of the Redcaps and their ancestors. Provost Marshals and military policemen have served with English and British armies since the late-Middle Ages, and this book traces their story through the 17th century, the wars of Marlborough and Wellington, to the establishment of the direct forerunner of the modern RMP in the aftermath of the Crimean War. While in earlier years Provost were used to enforce discipline, in the 20th century the RMP have also acquired a vital role in traffic control on the battlefield. A major feature of this book is the section on World War I, an era which was crucial to the development of the Corps, but has been hitherto largely neglected. Provost's vital role at Dunkirk, Alamein, Normandy, Burma and on many other fronts in World War II is examined in detail. The book concludes with an analysis of the role of the RMP in post-1945 conflicts, including the Falklands War and Operation Desert Storm. This book draws upon extensive archival research and is fully documented. It also reveals much about the development of discipline in the British Army, dealing with controversial subjects such as the use of summary punishments and the bloody reputation of the Provost.