MILTARY PRISONS GOVERNORS' HELMET PLATE

[Mervyn Mitton]

I remember buying this lovely fire-gilt helmet plate and buckle, at a Sotheby's auction - some 40 years ago. They were described as being the pattern for the Governor of a British Military prison. I did, subsequently - find confirmation of this. However - I know very little about the Military Prison system - or, how it was governed. To have it's own pattern of helmet plate means that it was run separately from normal military authority.

I thought it would make a good thread to go into the background of the prisons, how they were run, punishments etc.. This must be a fairly rare set - I have never seen another.