The Legion of Frontiersmen is a civilian organisation formed in Britain in 1905 by Roger Pocock, a former constable with the North-West Mounted Police and Boer War veteran. Prompted by fears of an impending invasion of Britain and the Empire, the organisation was founded to be a field intelligence corps that would watch over and protect the boundaries of the Empire. Headquartered in London, the Legion of Frontiersmen formed branches throughout the empire to prepare enlistees for war and to foster vigilance in peacetime. Despite persistent efforts, the Legion never achieved any significant official recognition, and is unlikely to ever do so. Casualties in the First World War devastated the Legion of Frontiersmen, and except for a brief resurgence in the interwar period, a series of schisms and sectarianism prevented attempts to reinvigorate the movement. In the late 1930s, the Legion of Frontiersmen in Canada was formally affiliated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but after a schism split within the Canadian Frontiersmen, the RCMP severed formal ties. Various Legion of Frontiersmen groups still exist throughout the Commonwealth, but as a whole, it has been unable to define its niche post World War II, and is becoming increasingly irrelevant in the modern world.
The earliest official description of an authorized uniform for a Canadian unit is noted in The Frontiersman, describing Vernon and Okanagan Command’s uniform as follows: “Shirt Tunic – To be of substantial material, colour navy blue; leather buttons; nickel shoulder chains. Breeches or – Any shade of khaki. Footwear – Brown leather; any combination that affords cover as high as the calves. Headdress – Straight brim Stetson, any shade of brown, with leather band and regimental crest and monogram. Accessories – Brown leather fringed gauntlets; silk blue and white “bird’s-eye” neckerchief; regulation LF holster.” The current dress uniform is generally centred around a cavalry blues theme - complete with shoulder chains. This is either worn with a russett-coloured beret, an SD cap or a colonial-pattern 'Lemon Squeezer'. Jodhpurs and riding boots are worn by the 'Legion of Horse' when mounted. The most up to date uniform was a neutral black utility and ceremonial uniform introduced in 2018 by capt. T. Clancy who suggested the uniform be adopted for his newly formed unit, the LOF honour guard squadron, the suggestion was reluctantly approved by the Scottish command who preferred members wear the Scottish command uniform however the black uniform was proven to be a huge success on the squadrons two main events of 2018 being fundraising for the poppy appeal in the utility dress and attending a major ceremonial duty in charmes, eastern France where the full ceremonial uniform was worn, this duty was a huge success and the uniform served its purpose of having the perfect balance of military connection and civilian image. Sadly due to lack of support from Scottish command the LOF HG squadron was disbanded by Capt. Clancy on the 21/01/2019, today some former members of the LOF HG squadron now form the Scottish commands HQ troop where they use the uniform designed for the HG Squadron personnel for their own use with a number of alterations.
Decorations
Different branches of the legion, in different parts of the Commonwealth award medals within their units and occasionally to external branches, commands or units. These medals are not part of any government honours system and should not be treated or claimed as any kind of official military decoration. These medals are much like those of the Freemasons, valued only by members. The Australian Division awards a decoration called the "Australian Medal of Merit" that has caused controversy where it has been implied by an occasional recipient that it is a government-endorsed, official medal.
