Corps of Commissionaires

The Corps of Commissionaires refers to a global movement in Commonwealth countries of societies created to provide meaningful employment for veterans of the armed services.^[1] The Commissionaires movement traces its roots to 1859, when Captain Sir Edward Walter KCB organized seven injured veterans of the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny to act as nightwatchmen.

Commissionaires appear in several of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, including "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" and "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty."

Active Corps

• Corps of Commissionaires (United Kingdom), established in 1859, is now organized as a private security company operating as Corps Security and employing 5,000 in the United Kingdom and Papua New Guinea.
• Canadian Corps of Commissionaires,^[2] established in 1925, is a nonprofit organization operating as a federation of 15 Divisions and employing 23,000 in Canada.^[3]

Former Corps

• Australian Corps of Commissionaires^[4]
• South African Corps of Commissionaires

References

1. Watson, Mark (2021-08-10). "The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires: A Proud and Unique Canadian Institution". Esprit de Corps.
2. https://commissionaires.ca
3. The Commissionaires: an organization with a proud history. John Gardham, 1998
4. Anzac bulletin : issued to members of the Australian Imperial Forces in Great Britain and France by authority of the High Commissioner for Australia. No. 8 July 26, 1916