Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary

Royal Papuan Constabulatry

1940-1950

Post second World War, J.K Murray was appointed the Administrator of the territories, Papua a territory of Australia and New Guinea a Trust Territory.This vast area became known as Territory of Papua and New Guinea. He managed the territory with a staunch belief in the power of self-determination. He treated the Indigenous people with respect and consulted communities before making decisions. This shocked the white establishment in Papua and New Guinea and they boycotted events that involved the Administrator. Eventually, the progressive nature of his views undermined the trust of the Australian bureaucracy. Murray was stood down from his post in 1952.

Samarai, May the 29^th, Colonel JK Murray at the flag raising ceremony, celebrating the Papua and New Guinea Act 1949.This was an Act passed by the Parliament of Australia. It replaced the Papua Act 1905 and the New Guinea Act 1920, and changed the status of the territories of Papua and New Guinea by merging their administrations to form Papua and New Guinea. The Act established local rule, although the territory remained under control by Australia. The Act was repealed by the Papua New Guinea Independence Act 1975 which allowed for Papua New Guinea's independence from Australia.

Royal Papua Constabulary guard of honour for Minister of External Territories Paul Hasluck, Port Moresby, 25 Jul 1951.

021 Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary guard of honour for His Excellency General Sir John Northcott, Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby, Aug 1951.jpg

Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary guard of honour for His Excellency General Sir John Northcott, Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby, Aug 1951.

Colonel JK Murray and His Excellency General Sir John Northcott, Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby, 1951.

Sir John Northcote, unknown Naval Officer Colonel Jack K Murray C.O.P John Grimshaw & Donald M Cleland. Unknown Police Officer behind JK Murray, note the cap badge on Police Officers, Kings Crown engraved with European Constabulary. This was the badge worn by the Papua Police Force pre war Replaced by the brass bird of Paradise Kings Crown

Des Sullivan, Harold Reeve, General Sir John Northcott, Archie Baldwin and Colonel JK Murray at a flag raising ceremony, Port Moresby, 1951

1949- Combine Police Force renamed Royal Papuan Constabulary and New Guinea Police Force

1955- Force renamed - Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary, by Queen Elizabeth II

1961- Training of Papua New Guinean commissioned Officers of Police begins

1964- Present style uniform adopted to replace the lap-lap, Police Association formed, First Papua New Guinean Officers commissioned

1965- Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary Ordinance enacted by House of Assembly.

1967- In Service Training Courses established.

1968- Reserve Constabulary formed.

1972- Name changed by Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary (Name) Act, 1972 to

Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary

Colonel JK Murray inspecting Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary, Rabaul, 1951

Papua and New Guinea Legislative Council Opening, El Beack Park RPC - Awaiting inspection by Sir John Northcott - November 1951

ROYAL PAPUAN CONSTABULARY

As the plane comes in to land at Port Moresby one oi the first sights ls the native policeman. It is an introduction to a picturesque and well trained force.

It was my privilege to see them parade before the Administrator of Australia (General Sir John Northcott) when he made à short visit to the territory. Attached to the force is a band, and its slow marching, quick step and diagram marching were equal to those bands on the mainland. The guard of honour provided for Sir John moved in a manner emulating the movements of a Guards regiment. At Sogeri Sir John inspected about 500 police recruits and he was pleased with the efficiency of the force. That their training is based on that given to the Brigade of Guards is natural as the force ls commanded by a commissioner who is an ex-member of the Coldstream Guards (Colonel J. S. Grimshaw), and the training at the Sogeri police depot is controlled by Inspector A. Sinclair, who was an officer In the Scots Guards. Clad in black Lap-Laps and Jackets lined with a red stripe and wearing a red cumber-bund the force on parade is a colourful spectacle. They wear webbing belts and sidearms, and handcuff chains, brightly polished, hang from the centre of the body and the back.

FORMED in1888

The Papuan police force was formed in 1888 by Sir William McGregor. At the time the move was accepted with trepidation as it was considered that the natives could not be trained in law. However, the move went ahead and, though Illiteracy is still high, the force ls now very efficient and education is improving in a remarkable degree. On joining the force the recruit is put through strenuous training and each afternoon classes are conducted in English, arithmetic and law.

In 1940 the King allowed the title "Royal" to be affixed to the name of the force. It-is the second force in the world to have that privilege conferred on it, the other being the Royal Canadian Mounties the honour was conferred, for distinguished service. The force is controlled by 88 European officers. In conversation Colonel Grimshaw said that 20 more had been selected. In Australia. On their arrival in Papua they would be sent to Sogeri for a course of training and then posted to various stations in Papua and New Guinea. Most of the European officers are ex-servicemen. There are 75 stations and police posts in the territories. Up till recently it was not possible for a native policeman to attain commissioned rank. An ordinance has now been issued to permit this, thus affording an example of the progress that has been made in the educational training of the natives. Colonel Grimshaw said there were some outstanding natives in the force.

There are several who have distinguished war records and quite a number wear decorations for bravery. One wears the medal of the Royal Hu-mane Society. For 10 year service a gold star is awarded. These are worn with great pride. The presentation of this award is made a great occasion, the whole force turning out on a ceremonial parade

Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), Thursday 10 January 1952, page 5

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 26 November 1951, page 2

Lowing the flag Lake Murray, .1950

Some of the men who patrolled the Lakes Kutudu and Kopiago and the Mendi areas, being a long way from their Village, these men served with distinction in the RPC, The Koroba-Kopiago District Total Area 5,272 km2 (2,036 sq. mi)

Royal Papuan Constabulary and New Guinea Police Force parade, Papua New Guinea,1952.

Colonel JK Murray inspecting Royal Papuan Constabulary and New Guinea Police Force with Sandy Sinclair, John Grimshaw, and Edward Hallstrom, Hallstrom Livestock and Fauna Trust Station, Nondugl, Apr 1949.

Royal Papuan Constabulary and New Guinea Police Force inspection at the opening of the Golden Ridges mine, Wan, 1949.

Commissioner of Police John Grimshaw with Minister for Civil Aviation Hubert Anthony, Port Moresby, 25 Jul 1951.

Royal Papuan Constabulary and New Guinea Police Force band inspection by Colonel JK Murray,

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