Collar Badge

Originally, rank badges were displayed on the collar, but beginning in 1900, there was an effort to develop a ‘collar badge’. It was introduced in the Dress Regulations of 1904, and rank badges were moved to the shoulder of the scarlet serge. The new badge, containing a bison head and the inscriptions “Maintien le Droit” ¹ and “North West Mounted Police”, used the new crown symbol developed by King Edward VII. These badges varied according to rank.

An amendment to the Dress Regulations in 1905 provided for the inclusion of the word “Royal” to the North-West Mounted Police, representing the recently received Royal designation of the Force. As well, when Queen Elizabeth came to the throne, she adopted a new pattern of crown, and the collar badges were changed accordingly.

¹ Over the years, the spelling of "Maintiens" often appeared without the "s". In 1954, an Order-in-Council confirmed the use of an “s”.