This excellent account was compiled by Mark Hifle and is included in this site with his kind permission.t is based on information from The National Archives KV-1 series and service records.
Introduction
The Port Police were a branch of the Military Foot Police with their regimental Headquarters at Aldershot, but they were entirely under the direction of MI5 and formed part of the personnel of MI5 and took their direction from that section of the Intelligence Department. They were under the command of Military Control Officers attached to MI5 E Branch (Ports and frontiers) based at the Ports. They were basically a War Intelligence Police to assist in the prevention espionage of any kind. The full title for the unit was the Military Foot Police (Port Section). They were known colloquially as “Green Caps” due to their distinctive Green cap covers.
They worked for the Military Control Officers and alongside the Aliens Officers at Controled Ports. The Military Control Officers had been appointed to the principle ports in the United Kingdom from May 1915 to ensure a uniform system of control over suspected persons arriving and depating by ship.
Formation
The formation of the Port Section of the Military Foot Police began in early June 1916. From 5 June 1916 to 8 June 1916 a total of 200 suitable men were selected and from Monday 12 June 1916 they were sent in batches of 20 a day (except Sunday) from Whitehall to Aldershot for training, before being sent to the Ports the following month. The first man recruited seems to have been P3243 Lance Corporal Steven Spurrier, Military Foot Police (Port Section).
On 7 July 1916 the first batch of men were sent to Tilbury from Aldershot and on 28 July 1916 Major George Pepper (late Wiltshire Regiment) was appointed MI5’s Quartermaster with responsibility for recruiting the Ports Police. A.G.3.(Adjutant-General 3) was the Department of the War Office concerned with the establishment, administration and discipline of the Port Police.
The Port Police could be called upon to act as guards in the examination rooms and for guarding ships if there not enough soldiers for purpose (as at Dundee in 1917). They also acted as escorts within the Ports. They had to act as clerks, examiners and private detectives. They searched ships, crews, passengers and baggage. If they worked in the Military Control Office as Confidential Clerks they needed to type, take shorthand notes, file documents, index, translate foreign papers, interpret, attend telephone calls and censor letters. The Port Police were in a position of trust with work of a highly confidential nature with great discretion was needed. A Senior N.C.O. in charge of a Sub-Section or detachment had to preform all the duties concerned with the control of passengers and crews at his station. Check crew lists, examine and interrogate crews. The work required much tact and skill. The Senior N.C.O. was trained to all intends and purposes as a Military Control Officer, except he took no executive action without direct orders from Head Office.
Controlled Ports (Controls) with Ports Police
Gravesend, Tilbury & Port of London from July 1916
Southampton from July 1916
Newcastle from July 1916
Hull from Aug 1916
Liverpool from Aug 1916
Falmouth from Aug 1916
The Firth of Forth (Edinburgh from Aug 1916, Glasgow from Nov 1916 & Aberdeen from July 1917 )
Folkestone from 1916
Cardiff, South Wales Ports & Bristol Channel Ports July 1917
Plymouth from Nov 1917
Dover from Jan 1919
Harwich from March 1919
Recruitment
A: specially recommended men who had acted as Metropolitan Special Constables up until their joining the Army under the Derby Scheme. Only men who have not been passed for general service were eligible. The Head Quarters of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary at Scotland House, New Scotland Yard sent a memo to all Commanders of Divisions of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary looking for suitable candidates. The Metropolitan Special Constabulary were selected from the fitness categories; Field Service at home, Garrison Service at home and Garrison Service abroad.
Application for enlistment of civilians had to be made through A.G.1. The procedure was to request a man be enlisted into the Military Foot Police, Port Police section, and ordered to report to the Commandant, Military Police camp, Aldershot. On 19 July 1916 Major Claude Edward M Dansey the Head of E Branch MI5, Assistant Director and Inspector of Port Police recommended a list of men for the Port Police.
B: men called up for service and posted by the recruiting authorities. Enlistments were arranged through D.R.2 or by arrangement with the command concerned.
The procedure for transfer of soldiers to Port Police section were arranged by D.R.2 which was used to authorise the re-enlistment of men “in the field”. In case of men from the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and Army Service Corps, permission was first obtained A.G.6, A.G.7 or Q.M.G.5 respectively.
D.R.2 was the War Office branch responsible for correspondence and administrative approvals regarding the discharge of soldiers.
A.G.1 (Adjutant-General 1) Responsible for personnel records, military statistics, casualty reporting procedures, and coordinating the administrative transfer of soldiers between different regiments.
A.G.3.(Adjutant-General 3) Responsible for army organization, discipline, and military police duties.
A.G.6 (Adjutant-General 6): Handled personnel and administrative questions specifically for the Royal Artillery.
A.G.7 (Adjutant-General 7): Responsible for the selection, recruitment, and administrative deployment of the Royal Engineers and the Signal Service.
Q.M.G.5 (Quartermaster-General 5): Responsible for overseeing military transport, supplies, and movements of troops on a day-to-day basis during the conflict.
At first all correspondence between Military Control Officers and Aldershot was direct, but in September 1917 all correspondence directed via H7 Branch MI5 and in Dec 1917 this changed to E Branch (Ports and frontiers) MI5.
A monthly nominal roll was sent from each Control to MI5 for the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI). From Feb 1918 only the names and particulars of new arrivals (IP Form 113c) and any changes to rank or moves was needed.
Promotion was approved by E Branch (Ports and frontiers) MI5 who would deal with the Commandant of Military Foot Police at Aldershot.
In the case of transfer from port to port the Military Control Officer at the port from where the man was leaving ensured that the Officer in Command of the unit to which the man was attached sent his papers to Aldershot.
The first procedure at their arrival at the Head Station at the Control was to inspect the men from a Military point of view and then from the work they were to perform. It was then decided which of the various Ports or Sub Station they were drafted to and then attached to a local unit for administration.
Training
Perliminary training at Aldershot consisted of elementary military training. The rest of the training happened at the Ports. They were trained in Traffic Control, the local geography (vulnerable points), number and nature of the local authorities, how to search persons, baggage and ships. They had to become familiar with number and nature of loal passes, the different permits, passports, visa’s and Regulations of Traffic Control. How to compare Photographs, fingerprints, personal descriptions, signatures and how to examine stamps and dates for evidence of forgery.
Establishment and Deployment
The authorized establishment was originally 200 Port Police.
By June 1917 Newcastle had added the Tyne Ports and Sunderland to its Control; Gravesend had to provide additional points of landing such as Harwich and Southwold; Glasgow had been included and Aberdeen and the South Wales Ports were all about to be added so on 14 June 1917 MI5 asked A.G.3. to increase the establishment to 300 (15 Sergeants, 15 Corporals and 270 Lance Corporals). In July 1917 an addition of another 50 Port Police was permitted and by Sept 1917 a full establishment of 300 was sanctioned.
In September 1917 to ensure as high a standard as possible of men, MI5 asked the Chief Recruiting Staff Officer to arrange that men who appeared suitable to be inspected by its own Officers before being sent to the ports.
In September 1918 another 14 Port Police (7 Sergeants and 7 Corporals) were authorized. These Port Police were required to fill the independent and responsible posts which the development of sub-stations and small detachments had created at the Ports. Qualified men were difficult to find and with the Armistice the Port Police never reached its full compliment. By Armistice there were 23 Port Police at MI5 HQ London and 255 Port Police at the Ports; so a total of 278 Port Police.
With the Armistice and demobilization the Port Police numbers dropped and this was partly checked by 31 temporarily attached men who volunteered for Port duty from the Local Commands. They were not placed on the establishment of the Military Foot Police but they were still entirely under the direction of MI5.
On the whole MI5 was successful in obtaining suitable men especially at the start before all capable men had been drawn into the Army net. A few men had to be returned to Aldershot as wholly unsuitable both mentally and physically.
Dates various Controls received their first Port Police
7 July 1916 Tilbury
11 July 1916 Southampton
25 July 1916 Newcastle
3 Aug 1916 Hull
14 Aug 1916 Liverpool
15 Aug 1916 Falmouth
29 Aug 1916 The Firth of Forth
The records for the Military Foot Police (Port Section) are incomplete.
Gravesend Control (which included Tilbury) began with 17 Port Police on 7 July 1916 and received another 5 in late 1916. By 13 Nov 1916 it had a total of 22 Port Police; 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal and 20 Lance Corporals. 6 Port Police in charge of a Sergeant to search luggage in Examination Baggage Room and passenagers if necessary under an experienced Preventitive Officer and 6 Port Police in a Patrol Guard to guard the ship and Examination Rooms. By May 1918 it had 17 Port Police and . On 23 Sept 1918 a sub-station opened at Wapping Pier Head and on 4 Nov 1918 at Gallions Pier Head with an NCO and 2 Port Police at each. 13 Port Police worked elsewhere in the Control. The maximun number reached was 29. In Oct 1918 the Military Control Officer at Gravesend complained that 10% of his Port Police had been discharged as unfit and they spent 2 days a month being medically examined. He had 20 Port Police, 12 of whom had remained in a low medical category for 2 years.
Newcastle Control began with 44 Port Police on 25 July 1916 . On 7 Nov 1916 it had 40 Port Police including 2 Sergeants for searching baggage. The number had dropped to 37 Port Police by May 1918. Its maximum number was 46.
Hull Control began with 22 Port Police on 3 Aug 1916 and received another 4 in Feb 1918. After the inclusion of Goole and Grimsby in the Control it reached a maximum of 30. A Sergeant from the East Riding, Royal Garrison Artillery was attached.
Liverpool Control began with 17 Port Police on 14 Aug 1916 and received another 5 in late 1916. On 20 Nov 1916 it had 22 Port Police; 1 Sergeant, 2 Corporals and 19 Lance Corporals. 8 Port Police as Guards (9 if two gangways were used on the ship) and 3 Port Police as Controls. Leaving 1 Sergeant, 2 Corporals and 3 to 5 Port Police to superintend or help in searches. In Jan 1917 Eastham on the Wirral got 7 Port Police. Later in 1917 the number was less than 29.
Folkestone had 5 Port Police in May 1918.
Falmouth began with 4 Port Police on 15 Aug 1916 and received another 2 in Oct 1916. On 30 Oct 1916 it had 1 Sergeant and 5 Port Police searching passengers and baggage. After the addition of Plymouth the total rose to 11 and a maximum of 15. The Plymouth Control was entirely supplied from the Port Police based at Falmouth, Gravesend, Cardiff or Liverpool.
The Firth of Forth Control began with 55 Port Police on 29 Aug 1916 and reached a maximum of 57 by Aug 1917.
Aberdeen began with 8 Port Police and rose to 14 with the addition of Dundee and with Edinburgh the total was 26.
Glasgow had 40 Port Police with a maximum of 42 and by May 1918.
Cardiff varied between 31 and 39 Port Police , with a later maximum of 50. Some of the most vigorous of the Port Police were posted here due to the rough reputation of the crews.
Southhampton on 13 Nov 1916 had a total of 22 Port Police; 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal and 20 Lance Corporals. 2 Canadians were attached to the Military Control Office for passport control and searching , 1 Lance Corporal from 1tth Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force and 1 Private from 13th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. Attached Minden Barracks. The Embarkation Commandant at Southampton would detail an extra NCO and 6 privates from St Kitt’s Barracks to be under the command of the Military Control Officer for the arrival and departure of the Havre Packet .
Within the different Controls the Port Police were distributed to the Head Station and Sub-Stations. The following returns were typical.
Dec 1917 Aberdeen had 8 Port Police at its Head Station and 6 at Dundee.
Dec 1917 Glasgow had 16 Port Police at its Head Station, 3 at Rothesay Dock, 4 at Greenock, 5 at Leith and 5 at Methil.
Dec 1917 Plymouth had 11 and 1 at Falmouth.
Dec 1917 Liverpool had 18 Port Police at its Head Station and 6 at Eastham.
Nov 1917 Newcastle had 24 Port Police at its Head Station, 3 at Blyth, 3 at North Shields, and 3 at South Shields.
Nov 1917 Cardiff had 3 Port Police at its Head Station, 6 at Bute Docks, 3 at Penarth Dock, 6 at Barry Pier Station, 3 at Port Talbot, 1 at Briton Ferry, 7 at Swansea (7 in March 1919) and 5 at Newport.
Jan 1919 Hull had 25 Port Police at its Head Station, 2 at Grimsby and 1 at Goole.
Southampton and Folkestone had no sub-stations.
Port Police (Confidential Clerks) and Staff working at the Military Control Offices
Military Control Office, 31 Canute Road, Southampton: Nov 1916 1 female secretary subsequently replaced by Ports Police. Feb 1918 9 Confidential Clerks. Feb 1919 9 (5 employed in examination room only). plus 3 civilian female clerks. Plus Female Clerks: Dec 1916 1, Jan 1917 2, March 1918 1. Plus a Boy Scout Messenger. Nov 1918 1 W.A.A.C Women Searcher. June 1919 2 Q.M.A.A.C (recalled).
Military Control Office, West Street Railway Station, Gravesend: Nov 1916 1 Confidential Clerk. Feb 1918 4 Clerks. Feb 1919 3 Clerks. June 1919 3 Q.M.A.A.C
Military Control Office, Wilts & Dorset Bank Chambers, George Street Plymouth: By Feb 1918 4 Confidential Clerks. Feb 1919 3 Clerks. June 1919 2 Q.M.A.A.C
Military Control Office, 23 Mount Street Square, Cardiff: 1 civilian female clerk subsequently replaced by Ports Police plus 1 driver from the Womens Legion. By Feb 1918 4 Confidential Clerks. Feb 1919 3 Clerks. Plus At the Bristol MCO a female driver from Motor Transport, Army Service Corps from Aug 1917. June 1919 3 Q.M.A.A.C
Military Control Office, Edinburgh: Feb 1918 4 Confidential Clerks. Feb 1919 3 Clerks. June 1919 1 Q.M.A.A.C
Military Control Office, 40 Emerson Chambers, Blackett Street Newcastle: Nov 1916 1 volunteer assistant and 1 short hand typist subsequently replaced by Ports Police. Feb 1918 3 Confidential Clerks. Feb 1919 2 Clerks. plus 1 driver from the Womens Legion. Nov 1918 1 W.A.A.C Women Searcher. June 1919 1 Q.M.A.A.C
Military Control Office, 1 Manor Street, Hull: July 1915 Sergeant Clerk attached from East Riding, Royal Garrison Artillery (1 July 1915 to 5 Feb 1919) plus 1 driver from the Womens Legion. Feb 1918 3 Confidential Clerks. Feb 1919 2 Clerks. Nov 1918 1 W.A.A.C Women Searcher. June 1919 1 Q.M.A.A.C (recalled).
Military Control Office, Old Master Harbour House, James Street Liverpool: Feb 1918 3 Confidential Clerks. Feb 1919 2 Clerks. June 1919 2 Q.M.A.A.C
Military Control Office, 65 Renfield Street, Glasgow: Feb 1918 3 Confidential Clerks. Feb 1919 2 Clerks. June 1919 2 Q.M.A.A.C
Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps
23 Nov 1918 the Q.M.A.A.C sent W.A.A.C’s to Hull, Newcastle and Southampton as a Women Searcher’s to work for the Military Control Officer at the request of H7 Branch MI5.
On 25 Jan 1919 MI5 asked Q.M.A.A.C. through A.G. 11 ( Adjutant-General 11 acted as the direct governing directorate for Q.M.A.A.C. units) to supply 20 members of the Women’s Army Auxilary Corps to replace Port Police for clerical duties at the ports. By 2 June 1919 20 suitable women had been selected but not all could type. So it was decided that a W.A.A.C. who could not type would not be sent to a Port where only one had been allocated. On 9 June 1919 they were posted 1 to Newcastle, 1 to Hull, 3 to Gravesend (1 to Harwich), 2 to Dover, 1 to Folkestone, 2 to Southampton, 2 to Plymouth, 3 to Cardiff, 2 to Liverpool, 2 to Glasgow and 1 to Edinburgh. At Hull and Gravesend unfortunately no suitable billets could be found and they had to be recalled. The work of the Q.M.A.A.C finished on 31 July 1919 when the work of the Military Foot Police (Port Section) officialy finished. The Women’s Army Auxilary Corps were under the Military Control Officer (MI5) for duty but under Q.M.A.A.C for pay and maintinance and ranked as Head Patrols.
MI5 Headquarters London
By June 1917 owning to the depletion of the Civil Police some members of the Military Foot Police (Port Section) were engaged for duty in London at MI5 Headquarters’, as a rule 19 with a maximum of 21 as Confidential Clerks for E Branch (Control of Ports and Frontiers). Many of these men were authorised to wear plain clothes. In Oct 1918 Military Control Officers received permission to draw upon their Impress Accounts £12 for each man doing plains clothes duty, 2 men per Control. They were used for surveillance of suspicious characters and for special enquiries where secrecy and rapidity were desirable for MI5. They also would observe and compile a report on people who applied for employment with the Intelligence Department. If a man was transferred from a port to MI5 for duty, the Military Control Officer concerned made sure that the B.122 (Field Conduct Sheet) and B.178 (Medical History Sheet) were forwarded to MI5 and the rest of the mans papers to Aldershot.
Ports Police acting as agents had their papers held by H4 Section of MI5 . In 1919 the Control of the Intelligence Police at MI5 Headquarters was G-P Branch. Some Port Police were employed in a civilian capacity by MI5 after demobilisation. Two men proved indispensable at MI5 Headquarters, one was a solicitor’s clerk with a particular knowledge of the legal world and various solicitors and solicitor’s clerks in London. The other was a commercial traveller.
Italy:
The Port Police made two trips to Italy via France in charge of certain very confidential packages consigned to the Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force in Italy. A total of 3 Port Police were involved.
22 May 1918 2 Port Police travelled to Padua and Vicenza in Italy and left Italy for UK 1 June 1918
10 July 1918 2 Port Police travelled to an Aerodrome near Vicenza in Italy and left Italy for UK 20 July 1918
Egypt:
MI5 supplied 7 Port Police (1 Sergeant and 5 Lance Corporals) to work as Dock detectives and Dock police at Port Said, Egypt. They embarked on 28 April 1919
Eastern Mediterranean Special Intelligence Bureau
Russia:
In Sept 1918 a short course in counter espionage was run by MI5 for 11 Officers and 1 Port Police Sergeant prior to their embarkation for Murmansk
6 Port Police were embarked on 22 Jan 1919 to the Headquarters of the Murmansk Control Service to work for the Port Officer (MI5), they arrived 31 Jan 1919 and on 1 April 1919 Military Control was put into force.
France:
There were 20 men recruited as Military Foot Police (Port Section) to work at the British Ports classed as B1 but were surplus to the establishment and held at Aldershot who were sent to France as Military Foot Police to carry out duties on lines of communication, so they never worked for MI5. There was question asked in Parliament about this on 16 Nov 1917 and reported in the Islington Gazette 26 Nov 1917.
Hansard 16 November 1917
Sir GEORGE TOUCHE asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that certain men, classed B 1, in the port police, whose work was understood to be confined to certain ports in this country, were sent to France and were there placed on ordinary police duty for which physically they were unfitted; whether it is in accordance with the regulations to transfer such men to France; and what steps he will take to re-transfer them to duties for which they are better suited?
Mr. MACPHERSON I understand that at one period there were some twenty port police surplus to establishment. These were sent to France as Military Foot Police, which is the corps to which they belong. They were sent to carry out duties on the lines of communication, for which they were considered physically fit. I am not aware of any agreement to confine such men to the duty of policing ports in this country.
Character:
The Port Police worked alongside the Military Control Officers and Aliens Officers. They often had to work independently fulfilling these Officer roles.
2 Port Police became Aliens Officers at Cardiff and Bristol. Other Port Police were taken over by the Home Office when the work of the Military Foot Police (Port Section) officialy finished on 31 July 1919 and became Immigration Officers.
3 Port Police were commissioned one as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant, General List as a Military Control Officer, another as a Temporary Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Dazzle Section developing dazzle camouflage for ships and a third as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Air Force (Aircraft Inspection Department for Special Duties).
Apart from Military discipline a Code of Intelligence discipline was strictly enforced by constant lectures and strict supervision, in time the Port Police became the dominant factor in control of the ports. Defaulting members after conviction and punishment would be transferred to the Labour Corps or Army Service Corps.
The Port Police were drawn from a range of positions and social class. A variety of professions within a section was useful. Since an impostor was more easily spotted by from someone from that profession.
A limited number of clerks, commercial travellers and seaman were secured and a larger supply of Police Constables special and otherwise. The rest came from a wide range of professions from Schoolmasters and journalists to Labourers and miners.
Commercial travellers proved very useful at detecting German agents using that as a cover. Similarly Seaman proved useful in identifying bogus seaman.
To get men of education was even more difficult than getting men of good character. Good linguists were hard to find. For example at Newcastle one of the Port Police was an excellent German linguist and could make himself understood in French and Norwegian and at Eastham one of the Port Police was congratulated by the Stipendiary Magistrate on detecting a German born American on giving a false place of birth.
Units to which the Port Police were attached for administraton purposes
Initially the Port Police were under the local Assistant Provost Marshal for administration but from early 1917 the Port Police was attached for pay, rations, accommodation and clothing to the nearest suitable Headquarters and the Unit to which they were attached would hold their documentation. From the winter of 1916/1917 the Port Police were regularly attached to the Royal Defence Corps Units supplying guards at the Controls. These Royal Defence Corps Units occasionally transferred men to the Port Police.
Gravesend, Tilbury and Port of London:
‘B’ Company, 1st Reserve Garrison Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (1916 to 1917)
1st (Home Service) Garrison Battalion, The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) which became became the 15th Battalion Royal Defence Corp in Aug 1917 (1917 to 1919)
10th Eastern Company, Non Combatant Corps (1917 to 1918)9
106 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corp (London District) 1918
3rd (Reserve) Battalion, South Wales Borderers at Chatham
Hull:
168 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps at 1 Manor Street Hull (1916)
which became became the ‘A’ Company, 8th Battalion of Royal Defence Corps (2nd Home Service Garrison, Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment) (1917)
5th Provisional Company, 3rd Battalion Devonshire Regiment (Controled by the Royal Defence Corps (1918)
Plymouth:
No.3 Depot, Royal Garrison Artillery at Hilsea Portsmouth (1918)
Falmouth:
608th Falmouth Fortress Company Royal Engineers (amalgamation of No 1 (Falmouth) Electric Lights Company and 2/1 (Reserve) Electric Lights Company) 1917
Harwich:
5th (Reserve) Battalion, Worcester Regiment part of the Harwich Garrison (1918 to 1919)
Cardiff, South Wales and Bristol Channel Ports:
331 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (1917 to 1918)
‘D’ Company 3rd Battalion, Royal Defence, (3rd Home Service Garrison Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment) (1918)
334 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps at South Dock Swansea
This Control was complicated by being covered by Western and the Southern Command, and had sub stations in 4 different garrison areas, had to deal with a great many units.
Liverpool:
318 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps at Riverside Station Liverpool (1918)
Folkestone:
389 Home Employment Company, Labour Corps. In Aug 1918 the M.C.O. at Folkstone reported that since the Port Police were attached to a Labour unit, they lacked official smartness. MI5 thereupon attached the Port Police to the Military Foot Police for issue of clothing while remaining attached to the Labour Corps unit.
Newcastle upon Tyne:
Depot Northumberland Fusiliers at Newcastle Infantry Barracks (Fenham Barracks) (1916)
‘D’ Company 3/7th Reserve Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, at North Elswick Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne (1916)
Southampton:
Attached to Minden Barracks Southampton for messing (1916)
334 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps
Aberdeen:
Depot Gordon Highlanders (1916)
‘D’ Company, 4th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry at Arbroath
Dundee:
‘E’ Company 77th Training Reserve Battalion (18th Reserve Battalion, the Royal Scots) at Barry (Dundee) part of Tay Defences, Broughty Ferry, Dundee (1917)
79th Training Reserve Battalion (20th Reserve Battalion, the Highland Light Infantry) (1919)
Edinburgh:
216 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Scottish Command) (1916)
1st (Reserve) Garrison Battalion, Highland Light Infantry 1917
215 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Scottish Command)
205 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Scottish Command)
Glasgow:
2nd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion Royal Scots became 1st Battalion, Royal Defence Corps in Aug 1917
3rd (Reserve) Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) (1916)
1/ 2 Company Renfrewshire (F) Royal Engineers
Depot Inland Waterways and Docks, Royal Engineers at Fort Matilda (1916 to 1919)
242 Company Horse Transport Army Service Corps Fort Matilda, Greenock (1919)
No 6 Depot Royal Field Artillery Glasgow (1919)
In Oct 1917 it was proposed that the Port Police be removed from the Military Foot Police and placed under MI5 Jurisdiction but the cost would have been £35,000 per year so the scheme was dropped.
In May 1918 MI5 had nearly given up believing the supply was exhausted but eventually a high proportion of the Port Police had some knowledge of languages. Knowledge of languages especially Scandinavian, Dutch and Spanish the main languages of the Merchant fleet, proved invaluable. Examples of language’s available included a Finnish grocery clerk who spoke Finnish, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian and some German, a Mining Broker with Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, German and Icelandic, someone from the Rubber Trade had Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and Faeroese, an Export Merchant had Spanish, French and some German and Norwegian a Grocer and Confectioner had perfect French, German, Dutch and Flemish, a Schoolmaster with French, German and some Russian, a Journalist fluent in French, Spanish and good Italian and Portuguese and 1 excellent German linguist with French and Norwegian. There were also 2 Italians who had French, a Belgium had French, Flemish and Dutch and also some Arabic, Greek, Yiddish, Welsh and Hindustani speakers.
Difficulty holding on to experienced men
MI5 was under an obligation not to take men from fitness categories A, B1 or C1, so they took mostly B2, C2 and occasionally C3. Because the standard for general service was progressively lowered during the conflick some Port Police passed into Category A. The low medical category also brought with it a lot of absence from duty due to sickness. As regards age MI5 preferred men under 45 but not too young. The Port Police was also hampered by the repeated medical examinations the men had to undergo. This took men away from duty, a loss of men due to transfer and also due to discharge of men who were still fit for lighter duties at the Ports.
During 1918 weekly and monthly Medical Category returns for the Port Police had to be sent to Aldershot and from June 1918 any change in Medical Category had to be immediately sent to Aldershot.
In Jan 1918 it was suggested that MI5 exchange it’s ‘A’ Category men for B2 Category men available for transfer to the Port Police. MI5 feared that they would lose some valuable men with a lot of experience.
On 14 Feb 1918 the Labour Corps transferred 2 suitable substitutes to the Port Police and 5 moreon 29 April 1918. Also suitable substitutes from the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) at Dover were transferred to the Port Police.
In May 1918 there were 23 Category ‘A’ men at the Ports were claimed by Aldershot for general service, MI5 managed to retain 7 of these. By Aug 1918 no more suitable substitutes were found as the soruce of supply was nearly exhausted. But by the end of Oct 1918 these 7 men were also taken for general service, with only 2 Category ‘A’ menbeing retained who were employed on special duty at the MI5 Central Office in London. By the middle of Nov 1918 MI5 managed to get 7 of these men transferred back to the Port Police.
In 1918 MI5 had to but in a plea for a B2 man wanted for agriculture, pointing out due to the length of time needed for training it was a waste to transfer him to the Labour Corps. 1918 Aberdeen complained a subsitute sent to replace 2 ‘A’ men 2 months earlier had been on the sick list since arrival.
Demobilisation
Demobilisation of the Port Police proceeded along the same lines as the rest of the Army. Meanwhile its work though less important since the Armistice was growing with the resultant increase in traffic and guard against Bolshevist agents. By Feb 1919 it was necessary to find substitutes for demobilised Port Police. Local Commands were asked to find suitable volunteers for the work. 31 men volunteered for Port duty from the Commands. They were not on the establishment of the Military Foot Police but temporarily attached.
The work of the Military Foot Police (Port Section) officially finished on 31 July 1919.
Ship Guards from the Royal Defence Corps
In the summer of 1917 German Intelligence started a concerted campaign of sending agents via seaman guise. In response the N.E.P. (Neutral European Ports) Scheme was introduced with crews from these ships having increasingly restricted access ashore. This resulted in a large number of guards being needed for guarding these ships.
GHQ, GB authorised local Commands to supply Guards through the Royal Defence Corps and by April 1918 the guards required had been arranged for every port which needed them. The guards were at the disposal of the Military Control Officers (MI5 E Branch) and they acted as advisers to the officers in charge of the guards.
The Port Police saw that the guards fulfilled their duties and advised them on points of difficulty. A considerable amount of control was exercised by the Military Control Officers in their advisory capacity over the maintenance of the guards as well as over their duties. They initiated better arrangements for the men and secured through the influence of MI5 improvements desired by the officers in charge.
In Scottish ports guards were supplemented by Volunteers. At Hull Special Constables had been employed in 1917 until April 1918 when 200 Royal Defence Corps guards from the Humber Garrison started duties.
Prior to the Neutral European Ports Scheme in some ports the docks were military areas, as for instance Gravesend and Grimsby, and local commands provided protection them. Similarly the Prohibited Areas in Newcastle Command had Royal Defence Corps guards during the winter 1916/1917.
At Cardiff and Liverpool Neutral European Ports Ships had already been guarded by the Royal Defence Corps before the final control. At other ports volunteers were used. At Aberdeen and Dundee volunteers had continued the night shift while Royal Defence Corps completed the day duty. On the Tyne during the winter 1916/1917 MI5 had instigated a guard.
Numbers
Initially the total number of guards under MI5 was 800, by July 1918 there were 2000 and just before Armistice numbers had dropped to 1350. Some of these men transferred from the Royal Defence Corp to the Military Foot Police (Port Section)
Edinburgh 170
Newcastle 190
Hull 260
Gravesend 170
Plymouth 50
South Wales Ports 250
Liverpool 160
Glasgow 100
With the anticipated increase in traffic after Armistice there was an increase in numbers:
Firth of Fourth another 30
Gravesend another 50
Hull another 30
Newcastle another 50
Middlesbrough another 25
Royal Defence Corps Units Identified Supplying Guards
The Military Foot Police (Port Section) were usually attached to the Royal Defence Corps Unit supplying the guards.
Gravesend, Tilbury and Port of London:
15th Battalion Royal Defence Corp ((1st (Home Service) Garrison Battalion, The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment))
‘A’ Protection Company, Royal Defence Corp
106 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corp (London District)
Hull:
168 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Northern Command) at 1 Manor Street Hull 1916
‘A’ Company, 8th Battalion of Royal Defence Corps (2nd Home Service Garrison, Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment)
5th Provisional Company, 3rd Battalion Devonshire Regiment 1918 under the control of the Royal Defence Corps
Newcastle upon Tyne:
169 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Northern Command) Total: 437
Tyne detachment on 24 Aug 1918 had 148
South Shields 149
Blyth 117 was reduced to 105 on 24 Aug 1918 for a draft to Middlesbrough
Sunderland (The Wear) 85 was reduced to 67 on 24 Aug 1918 for adraft to Middlesbrough
West Hartlepool 46
Middlesbrough (The Tees) 30 increased to 60 from drafts from Sunderland and Blyth on 24 Aug 1918
Newcastle on 24 Aug 1918 had 10
Plymouth:
?
Falmouth:
?
Harwich:
?
Cardiff, South Wales and Bristol Channel Ports:
‘D’ Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal Defence Corps, (3rd Home Service Garrison Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment)
331 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Western Command)
334 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Western Command) at South Dock Swansea
Southampton:
?
Liverpool:
318 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Western Command) at Riverside Station Liverpool 1918
Folkestone:
?
Aberdeen:
?
Dundee:
?
–
Edinburgh:
215 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Scottish Command)
216 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Scottish Command) 1916
Glasgow:
1st Battalion, Royal Defence Corps, (2nd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion Royal Scots)