The growing conflict between settlers and the Métis, coupled with the horrific Cypress Hills massacre on June 1st, 1873, forced Canada to face the problem of lawlessness in the territories. The North West Mounted Police was formed August 30th, 1873.
The RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) as it is called today, and affectionately called "Mounties", remains as Canada 's prestigious unique national police force.
The red serge is the formal dress of the Mounties. The Red Serge tunic that identified initially the NWMP, and later the RNWMP and RCMP, is of the standard British military pattern. The NWMP was originally kitted out from militia stores, resulting initially in several different styles of tunic, although the style later became standardized. This style was used both to emphasize the British nature of the force and to differentiate it from the blue American military uniforms.
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Canadian Pages
The growing conflict between settlers and the Métis, coupled with the horrific Cypress Hills massacre on June 1st, 1873, forced Canada to face the problem of lawlessness in the territories. The North West Mounted Police was formed August 30th, 1873. 
The red serge is the formal dress of the Mounties. The Red Serge tunic that identified initially the NWMP, and later the RNWMP and RCMP, is of the standard British military pattern. The NWMP was originally kitted out from militia stores, resulting initially in several different styles of tunic, although the style later became standardized. This style was used both to emphasize the British nature of the force and to differentiate it from the blue American military uniforms.
