Shoulder Badge

Shoulder Badges exist in two forms, a metal type and a cloth type, and both have gone through significant changes. In 1904, a metal badge sporting the initials N.W.M.P. in gilt letters was placed on the shoulder. A year later, the letter “R” was added when the Force became known as the Royal Northwest Mounted Police.

Following the name change to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1920, these badges were changed again, incorporating the new initials. In 1954, the RCMP introduced a cloth badge, featuring embroidered gold lettering of “Royal Canadian Mounted Police”.

In 1970, a new bilingual badge was commissioned, similar to the 1954 version, but including “Gendarmerie Royale Du Canada”. A new pattern for a metal shoulder badge was approved in 1974, reflecting the bilingualism of the Force by displaying the initials “ GRC- RCMP” in gilt letters. In 1976, a larger cloth shoulder badge was created.