The 202nd MP Co. is listed on the bottom left.
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The situation in Paris required a force that could provide information, aid, and protection, as well as to prevent disorder and to enforce regulations, control traffic, etc. (Provost Marshal General’s Dept., Final History, Aug. 1918, page 340).

In order to handle the situation it became necessary, in August 1918, to reorganize the Provost Marshal’s Department of the city on the following lines: (1) Properly to register all members of the American Expeditionary Forces entering and leaving Paris without requiring them to report at the Provost Marshal’s office. (2) To prevent the unauthorized stop-over in Paris members of the American Expeditionary Forces, enroute through Paris from one station to another. (3) To save the time of officers entering or leaving Paris on official business. (4) To direct persons to their destination by the shortest route. (5) To circulate orders as to conduct, dress, orders and regulations among members of the American Expeditionary Forces as they enter the city. (6) To aid in enforcing uniform and other regulations. (7) To investigate crimes committed by members of the American Expeditionary Forces. (8) To provide a reserve for general police emergencies.

Proper carrying out of the foregoing program called for an increase in strength and other developments in the Military Police force in Paris. The 30th Company United States Marine Corps, was relieved and replaced by Military Police Company No. 1, whose numerical designation was later changed to the 201st Military Police Company. However, this did not change the strength of the police force materially, the Provost Marshal having about 200 men available for duty. It was not until about the middle of December, 1918, that arrangements for increase in the Military Police force were perfected and became effective. Meanwhile, one company had been doing all the patrol and station control work, but then the increase in strength was finally effected and the police force consisted of the 201st, 202nd, 203rd, and 204th Military Police Companies composing the 101st and 102nd Battalions. Later this force augmented by the 132nd Battalion, consisting of the 263rd and 264th Military Police Companies, and still later by the 269th Military Police Company. With a strength of 200 men per company the increase brought the Military Police Force up to 1,400 men. Quarters for this force were provided at Auteuil Barracks, by arrangement with the French authorities.

In addition to the Military Police companies, the Provost Marshal’s force includes the headquarters personnel, the 306th Military Police Company, on Criminal Investigation Work, and the 2nd Provisional Guard Company at La Roquette Prison. Total strength of the Provost Marshal’s Department of Paris is 117 officers and 1,719 men.

The 202nd Military Police Company in World War I The 202nd MP Company was activated July 9, 1918, under General Order 111, for eventual service in the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), and was assigned to the Paris (France) district with its sister company, the 201st (AEF General Order 84, May 27, 1919, assigned to District of Paris & Provost Marshal General Report, Vol. 1 1920).

The company fell under the command of Service of Supply (SOS) Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. John R. White, U.S. Infantry, 30 Rue Montaigne, Paris, Dec. 21, 1918. The 202nd performed station registration work (i.e. travel permits, passes etc.). The company was housed at Auteuil Barracks on the outskirts of Paris. It was deactivated Jan. 8, 1920, not long after the close of the Great War.

Assigned to the 202nd were 218 enlisted men and six officers. Captain S.F. Clark commanded the company. His junior officers were: 1st Lt. J.J. Ortlieb, and 2nd Lt.’s D. Nagler, W.C. Barrows, T.E. Morris, and J.M. Hayers.

The situation in Paris required a force that could provide information, aid, and protection, as well as to prevent disorder and to enforce regulations, control traffic, etc. (Provost Marshal General’s Dept., Final History, Aug. 1918, page 340).

In order to handle the situation it became necessary, in August 1918, to reorganize the Provost Marshal’s Department of the city on the following lines: (1) Properly to register all members of the American Expeditionary Forces entering and leaving Paris without requiring them to report at the Provost Marshal’s office. (2) To prevent the unauthorized stop-over in Paris members of the American Expeditionary Forces, enroute through Paris from one station to another. (3) To save the time of officers entering or leaving Paris on official business. (4) To direct persons to their destination by the shortest route. (5) To circulate orders as to conduct, dress, orders and regulations among members of the American Expeditionary Forces as they enter the city. (6) To aid in enforcing uniform and other regulations. (7) To investigate crimes committed by members of the American Expeditionary Forces. (8) To provide a reserve for general police emergencies.

Proper carrying out of the foregoing program called for an increase in strength and other developments in the Military Police force in Paris. The 30th Company United States Marine Corps, was relieved and replaced by Military Police Company No. 1, whose numerical designation was later changed to the 201st Military Police Company. However, this did not change the strength of the police force materially, the Provost Marshal having about 200 men available for duty. It was not until about the middle of December, 1918, that arrangements for increase in the Military Police force were perfected and became effective. Meanwhile, one company had been doing all the patrol and station control work, but then the increase in strength was finally effected and the police force consisted of the 201st, 202nd, 203rd, and 204th Military Police Companies composing the 101st and 102nd Battalions. Later this force augmented by the 132nd Battalion, consisting of the 263rd and 264th Military Police Companies, and still later by the 269th Military Police Company. With a strength of 200 men per company the increase brought the Military Police Force up to 1,400 men. Quarters for this force were provided at Auteuil Barracks, by arrangement with the French authorities.

In addition to the Military Police companies, the Provost Marshal’s force includes the headquarters personnel, the 306th Military Police Company, on Criminal Investigation Work, and the 2nd Provisional Guard Company at La Roquette Prison. Total strength of the Provost Marshal’s Department of Paris is 117 officers and 1,719 men.

FINAL HISTORY/DISCONTINUATION OF THE P.M.G. DEP’T In view of the rapid dissolution of the American Expeditionary Forces, the Commander-in Chief called a conference of Chiefs of Divisions of the General Staff at G.H.Q., to determine the means of and dates for a gradual decrease in personnel of administrative and staff departments until changing conditions and circumstances would permit them eventually and finally returning to cease functioning altogether. The result was General Order No. 84, which was issued May 27, 1919. It closed the existence of the Provost Marshal General’s Department as a part of the American Expeditionary Forces. (Portions of the order appear below)

G.H.Q. AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES General Orders No. 84. France, May 27, 1919. CLOSING OF PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL’S OFFICE AT CHAUMONT. (Pages 20-B, 20-C, 20-D)

1. At noon, June 1, 1919, the Provost Marshal General’s Office, G.H.Q., American E.F., will close at Chaumont (Haute-Marne), and open at Chateau-du-Loir (Sarthe) Paris.

2. The Provost Marshal General, as a member of the staff of the Commander in Chief, will continue to exercise supervision over all matters pertaining to the Provost Marshal General’s Department, except the Prisoner of War Division, which will be transferred, intact, on May 28th, to the Headquarters, S.O.S., and proceed to Tours (Indre-et-Loire) for duty. So much of General Orders as places upon the Provost Marshal General responsibility for the custody and discipline of enemy prisoners of war is rescinded and responsibility for that custody and discipline will devolve upon the Commanding General, S.O.S. 3. (a) Provost marshals of the 3rd Army, S.O.S. sections and districts, will, on May 28th, report directly to their appropriate commanding generals, submitting no further reports to the Provost Marshal General’s Office, except such as may from time to time be specifically called for by the Provost Marshal General.

(b) The Military Police battalions and companies assigned in the following sub-paragraphs will in all cases become part of the Army of S.O.S. troops to which assigned, and the commanding officers thereof will report directly to the respective provost marshals:

(1) The 139th Battalion, consisting of the 277th and 278th Companies; the 141st Battalion, consisting of the 281st and 282nd Companies; the 286th and 299th Companies, are attached and will become a part of the 3rd Army.

(2) The 138th Battalion, consisting of the 295th and 271st Companies; the 144th Battalion, consisting of the 270th and 296th Companies; the 213th and 304th Companies, are assigned to Advance Section.

(3) The 111th Battalion, consisting of the 218th and 282nd Companies; the 113th Battalion, consisting of the 225th and 226th Companies; the 134th Battalion, consisting of the 267th and 268th Companies, are assigned to the Intermediate Section.

(4) The 133rd Battalion, consisting of the 255th and 266th Companies; the 299th, 230th, 231st, 232nd and 302nd Companies, are assigned to Base Section No. 1.

(5) The 177th Battalion, consisting of the 233rd, 234th Companies, 235th Company attached, the 119th Battalion, consisting of the 237th Company; the 239th and 301st Companies are assigned to Base Section No. 2.

(6) The 242nd Company is assigned to Base Section No. 3.

(7) The 122nd Battalion, consisting of the 243rd and 244th Companies; the 123rd Battalion, consisting of the 246th and 285th Companies, the 303rd Company, are assigned to Base Section No. 5.

(8) The 247th Company is assigned to Base Section No. 6.

(9) The 148th Battalion, consisting of the 287th and 293rd Companies, is assigned to Base Section. No. 9.

(10) The 101st Battalion, consisting of the 201st AND 202ND COMPANIES; the 102nd Battalion, consisting of the 203rd and 204th Companies; the 132nd Battalion, consisting of the 263rd and 264th Companies; the 269th, 289th, and 306th Companies, are assigned to the District of Paris.

(11) The 103rd Battalion, consisting of the 205th and 206th Companies, and 273rd Company attached, is assigned to Arrondissement of Tours.

(12) The 127th Battalion, consisting of the 253rd and 254th Companies; the 128th Battalion, consisting of the 255th and 256th Companies; the 129th Battalion, consisting of the 257th and 258th Companies; the 130th Battalion, consisting of the 259th and 260th Companies; the 131st Battalion, consisting of the 261st and 262nd Companies; the 145th Battalion, consisting of the 291st and 292nd Companies; the 308th Company, are assigned to American Embarkation Center.

(c) All personnel and units of the Provost Marshal General’s Department not included in the foregoing and in the Areas of the 3rd Army and the various S.O.S. sections and districts will report directly to their appropriate commanders.

4. (a) G.O. No. 48, c.s., these headquarters, is amended as follows:

(1) So much of Par. 1 and Par. 13 (d), Sec. II, and Par. 4, Sec. III, as pertains to provost marshal passes, is revoked. Provost marshal passes will no longer be issued. Passes already issued will be honored until expiration, and then turned in to the Adjutant General, S.O.S., for destruction.

(2) So much of Par. 2 (b) and (c), Sec. III, as pertains to travel permits, issued by assistant provost marshals, is revoked. Militarized civilians will travel on travel orders, to be issued by the Bureau of Circulation of the relief society concerned.

(b) The issuance of special travel permits to militarized civilians by the Provost Marshal General will cease May 28, 1919. All militarized civilians will travel on orders issued by the heads of the relief agencies concerned. Special travel permits now in circulation will, upon expiration, be turned in to the headquarters of the relief society concerned for disposition.

(c) Assistant provost marshals of cities and areas will continue to control the circulation of enlisted and relief society personnel by the use of A.P.M. cards, as provided for in Par. 10, Sec. III, G.O. No. 48, c.s., G.H.Q. (END G.O. Portion)

COMPANIES RETAINED AND SENT HOME: (July 1919 pages 43-B & 43-C) In the consequent reorganization of units effected before the end of April, many battalions, as such, were broken up, twenty three (23) companies of volunteers were formed, to be retained for further service, nine (9) companies, mostly non-volunteers, were released from the Military Police Corps to the Commanding General, S.O.S., for embarkation to the United States, so that, on April 30, 1919, there were ninety (90) companies of Military Police still in the service.

REDUCTION IN ENGLAND AND ITALY: Meanwhile, the Military Police in England (London and Liverpool) were reduced from one (1) battalion to one (1) company, being brought to France for embarkation to the United States. Base Section No. 8, Italy, being abandoned, the Military Police (one battalion) were assembled at Rome and transferred to Coblanz for service with the 3rd Army, leaving a detachment of two (2) officers and twenty five (25) men on duty in Italy.

FURTHER REDUCTION: Continuing the policy of reduction in May, 1919, eight (8) battalion headquarters were discontinued and twenty five (25) companies were released to the Commanding General, S.O.S. for return to the United States. In the first week of June, 1919, six (6) more companies were released, one (1) company was abolished, and three (3) battalion headquarters were discontinued.

DISSOLUTION OF THE MILITARY POLICE CORPS: Meanwhile, pursuant to orders discontinuing the Provost Marshal General’s Department, certain units had been selected to continue provost and military police work and were announced in General Orders, No. 84, G.H.Q., May 27, 1919, as follows: (b) The Military Police battalions and companies assigned in the following sub-paragraphs will in all cases become part of the Army or S.O.S. troops to which assigned, and the commanding officers thereof will report directly to the respective provost marshals: (The information following paragraph b was the unit assignments as listed in G.O. 84 above)

CONCLUSION: With the carrying out of the foregoing orders covering units to function under their immediate individual commanders and the releases of other units for embarkation to the United States, as previously indicated,THE MILITARY POLICE CORPS, AS SUCH, WENT OUT OF EXISTENCE.