Still no sign of the Coronation medal in a number of forces. An update on the MOD medal office page says they are still trying to sort it all out in essence, but it does make you wonder when they will arrive. I think some forces have them.

Thanks Dave, I was hoping you would have an input! What a strange picture it is and mysterious badges they use. Very interesting to hear from you they were using the breast badge as per above. I wonder where on earth they got that from!

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/trois-policiers-portant-des-nouveaux-uniformes-news-photo/843728350

Saw this picture and found it interesting. I am aware in the 70s or 80s the Met produced an experimental type breast badge which was the armorial badge, the same as on the warrant card holders, with a flat surface  underneath for the epaulette number. According to the translation, these three are Met officers however I have never seen examples of the breast badges they are using, has anyone else? They don't look like the standard Met crest at all

Out of interest, does anyone know the correct way around to wearing them? For example if you had a 2022 Jubilee medal and (soon) a Kings Coronation medal, which ribbon goes nearest your heart and which nearest your shoulder?

Great collection Dave. Is the top left badge the issued cap badge for all ranks and the top right a warrant card holder badge? I assume the bell patch shape is for a wooly pully nato jumper but are the other two coat patches?

Sorry Dave, very late to this, but they look absolutely great and thanks for taking the time and effort to post. I have a keen interest in the overseas territories Police.  The way this is all presented is great on the boards. I would dearly love to visit alot of these places and hopefully will one day. They may even offer a ridealong type thing through the IPA! Who knows!

Do you have any other collections from SBAP, Jersey etc?

Just now, I_♥_Police said:

Sorry Dave, very late to this, but they look absolutely great and thanks for taking the time and effort to post. I have a keen interest in the overseas territories Police.  The way this is all presented is great on the boards. I would dearly love to visit alot of these places and hopefully will one day. They may even offer a ridealong type thing through the IPA! Who knows!

Do you have any other collections from SBAP, Jersey etc?

The warrant card holder in one of your posts Dave, is that the early version issued to senior ACPO ranks?

2 hours ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

Arguably the most "British" of the UK's remaining Overseas Territories, Gibraltar's first British Governor was appointed in December 1707, and at the peace of Utrecht it was ceded to the British Crown in  1713.

 

The Gibraltar "Civil Police" became operational on 25th June 1830, only nine months after the establishment of the London Metropolitan Police. The force was granted its "Royal" prefix by HM The Queen in June 1992.

 

Below are shown a collection of insignia worn over the years and a helmet worn by Sergeants' and Constables' dating from the1960's, although the same pattern with an updated helmet plate is still worn to-day. 

 

Dave.

 

 

Really great collection of Gibraltar Police items. Do you have any idea if the chief officers wear the yellow metal type OCB or is it a bullion type badge? Its interesting isnt it, have you ever noticed that RGP wear Met Pol style epaulettes with a metal button for show on them? Do you have any other island collections?

Really great pictures and collection. Amazing historical pieces that we would never have otherwise seen. Back in the day, pre-PACE, did the Parks mob lock many people up each year? If there was call for it, did they take on all jobs within the parks or was it all handed over to the Liverpool force?

1 hour ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

A couple of helmets from the Dover Harbour Board Police. The force was formed in 1933, at which time the DHB terminated its policing contract with the Dover Watch Committee and replaced members of the Dover Borough Police with its own men.

 

The first helmet was worn from circa. 1933 through to the early 1960's at which time helmets were replaced by caps. In November 1985, helmets were re-introduced and the pattern shown was worn through to 1989 when the badge changed in design. The force was re-named Port of Dover Police on 1st January 1997, with a new style helmet and badge.

 

Dave. 

 

 

 

 

Awesome looking helmets and interesting that they are from such a small specialist force. Are they used much when around the port for example and do this force do much foot patrol of the docks or have you got to wear a hard-hat? This is your old force isnt it Dave in fact?

Those two City caps look absolutely amazing! How great that you can actually trace that cap back to that Commissioner for certain rather than worrying that it might have been cobbled together. What a gem. Did he give you that himself as very interested in the story behind this? Theres pictures on the net of the city commissioner in the early 2000s, cant think of his name, wearing his cap and tunic too and the buttons and insignia look absolutely great.

As an interesting aside, theres pictures of Commissioner Mark Bowron in a reflective jacket with his commissioner insignia sewn straight onto the epaulettes of the yellow jackets which is not something I've seen before in this way.

Really lovely caps and pictures. Theres something strange about looking at police caps without the sillitoe tartan (spelling?). Do the Constable/Sergeant version have ventilation holes around the band inside or is that just the way the pic looks? I appreciate that the badges dont have the crown now HK is no longer under 'UK rule' for want of a better term but is the caps any different would you say?

17 hours ago, bigjarofwasps said:

I’ll just leave these here…

So will emergency services people get it who arent involved in the coronation because they are on leave but DO have five years service get it?

5 hours ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

We move to the Channel Islands, specifically the Island of Jersey. Many will be aware that between Monday 1st July 1940 and 9th May 1945, Jersey together with Guernsey and other islands in that Bailiwick were occupied by German Armed Forces.

 

Despite the German occupation the British police force on Jersey and its neighbouring islands was allowed to continue operating largely without interference.

 

Here we look at the helmet which was worn during that period alongside a photo of a Jersey Constable talking to a German officer in St. Helier shortly after the occupation.

 

Dave.   

 

 

 

Great pictures and thanks for posting. You almost wouldnt believe it unless seen. The bobby and an enemy soldier, complete polar opposites. Very interested to hear about the Isle of Man harbours police, never knew about this at all. Do you know if IoM still issue one for winter one for summer, the summer being white? theres something which naturally interests you in seeing a white helmet as its hardly something you see much on the mainland.

A fantastic threat, probably one of the best on here with the amount of rare badges so thank you very much.

I read somewhere, although it may not be true, that during the 70s and 80s the SPG were issued with a shorter helmet of a more robust construction before the time that such helmets become common place. As in they had an early version of the reinforced helmets when everyone elses where still cork on the inside as such with just a head band. Is this something you have ever heard of Dave?

thread sorry not threat* typo

Fantastic  collection which must have some of the rarest examples. There cant be many private collections with examples as old as these surely?

11 hours ago, dpk said:

Hello All= I am seeking any information on and particularly images of the Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable's Ceommendation and Star award.This is awarded for Bravery or Outstanding Operational Achievements, and takes the form of a parchment Certificate of Commedation and a four-pointed embroidered badge worn on the lower left tunic sleeve.

 

All I can find is a very low quality image on the internet but it is too low a resolution to be meaningful.

 

Any info most welcome!

David dpk@iinet.net.au

 

cant help unfortunately, but didnt West Mids do something like this too at some point?

Looks absolutely great! Thanks for posting. I'm lucky enough to have already seem some of these which you kindly sent me pictures of by email, however they are a window to the past. Can't be many examples of any of these around. In fact, a couple of them i've only ever seen pictures of, never pictures of the actual metal badge in reality. My main interest is in the later badges and equipment, however this is great. Don't suppose you know which Divisions trialled the breast badge in the 70s or 80s and what made them decide against it? There are some pictures on the net somewhere of an Inspector with the experimental breast badge on his tunic and two little stars above it, worn on the chest rather than the shoulder as per norm.

On 14/04/2023 at 20:01, Dave Wilkinson said:

The really horrible helmets that have emerged in the last few years are those with a "Columbus" trade mark. The covering is a very strange dark blue colour which seems lighter than normal. The air vents on either side are very low down and the brim seems almost too flat. I think the parent company was Hobson & Sons. A few forces used them Herts. is one. Gibraltar is another. Oh, and I think Humberside did also. That said, I think they have stopped making them. Humberside seem to have scrapped their strange "squat" looking helmet and replaced it with a more conventional "rose" top version made by C.W.Headdress. So, the scrapping of the "Columbus" make is certainly a step in the right direction.

 

Dave. 

Its interesting with things like this isnt it because what makes this so good is that we know this is original, not a copy or a helmet of all different bits cobbled together. I really do wonder and would love to know its history, who owned it etc, the hands it passed through and I bet it would have a few stories to tell if it could talk, haha. If only it were like the sorting hat from Harry Potter.

31 minutes ago, Megan said:

Leaving it a bit late, aren't they?

 

The event's only, what, 3 weeks away.

 

Monst such 'commemoratvie' medals are instituted 6-12 months before the event they are supposed to celebrate.

 

 

I suppose so. I guess things go wrong sometimes. What is your personal opinion on whether or not they will be issued and the criteria? I think in that press release they more or less said that they will be late, whatever form they will take.

2 hours ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

Great minds think alike! I too favour the combed helmet. If worn properly, and it invariably is not these days, it presents an imposing image which is hard to beat.

 

Dave. 

Indeed, it really has to be worn properly with the old thumb on the end of the nose pointing upwards to test it haha. Then again, have you seen some of the most recent generations of the custodian? No actual foam liner, literally just a harness very similiar believe it or not to one in a builders hat if that makes sense. The flat caps are not what they used to be either, not at all unfortunately.

4 hours ago, bigjarofwasps said:

Government 'considering options' for coronation medal…..

https://www.forces.net/royals/government-considering-options-coronation-medal

 

Do you think this could indicate good news or bad news? Behind the scenes, they must have a criteria and how could that criteria be any different than the last Jubilee medal. Heres hoping and praying anyway hahaha.

2 hours ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

Here is an unusual helmet from one of the former Welsh forces, the Anglesey Constabulary. Anglesey lost its independent force in 1950, when it amalgamated with the Caernarvonshire and Merionethshire Constabularies. The new combined force was named the Gwynedd Constabulary.

 

This helmet can be seen being worn in the group photograph which was taken in 1942. Those who are wearing the standard "Home Office" helmet with the black furniture are War Reserve Constables. Interestingly the "chain", appears to have been a purely decorative and not intended for wear as a chin strap. As can be seen a normal leather chin strap is provided for that purpose. 

 

Dave.

All

All look amazing. They are in great condition. I really like the old style plates where the centre of it is almost seperate you could say. Wish they were still like that. I know the Eastern region forces arent any more. Having said that, Herts still had the seperate centre held in by a pin up until fairly recently when I assume costs dictated it was cheaper just to make it all out of one 'sheet' if that makes sense.

I can't say I like a spike top or a rose really. In my opinion, I find the comb looks better.

4 hours ago, bigjarofwasps said:

As the eternal  wait goes on, conjuncture and speculation about when any new medals with the Kings effigy on will appear, abound.

 

Talk of existing stocks to be exhausted first , before new ones will be minted. 

 

The Royal Mint not taking any new orders. 

 

One could be forgiven, for thinking it’s all part of a great master plan….

 

Will the new medals have a crowned or uncrowned effigy? 

 

Could we in fact see both, depending on which service the recipient is from, as with previous LSGC’s?

 

Could we see recipients between 8th Sept and 6th May uncrowned, and crowned there after?? 

 

Are you talking about whether the Coronation medal will be like this? I didnt think we knew if that was going to happen still at this late stage?

20 hours ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

For to-days posting we pay a return visit to Merseyside, Liverpool to be specific. This one is a Superintendent's helmet from Liverpool City Police worn into the 1930's. Its unusual in that instead of having a familiar Tudor rose at each side of the helmet, Liverpool had their own custom design featuring a representation of the mythical Liver Bird on an eight pointed star. The Liver Bird appears on all Liverpool Police insignia. When worn as part of a headdress badge the bird always looks to the left. If the badge is worn as part of a pair, for example on the collar or epaulette, or as in this case part of a helmet side decoration, the bird always faces the front (neck) of the person wearing the item of clothing. So, in the case of this helmet, on the opposite side to that shown, the bird is facing in the opposite direction to the one you can see. There is a label inside showing the words "Supt........." but the surname has been unfortunately obliterated.

 

Dave.   

Both amazing pieces and thanks for sharing. Why did these senior officers have helmets rather than flat caps with braiding?

On 06/04/2023 at 19:51, Dave Wilkinson said:

The photo below shows the uniform cap worn by Henry Riches who was the Chief Constable of Middlesbrough between 1902 and 1930 and a further image of Mr. Riches wearing the cap as part of his uniform. Not surprisingly, the cap is beginning to show its age, but is all there. It was manufactured by Try & Lilly Ltd., of Liverpool. That family run company still exists in Liverpool and is still making uniform headdress for the military and  police forces at home and overseas.

 

Dave 

Looks amazing thanks for sharing! It looks like it would fall apart at any moment with age though! Do you have to handle it with cotton gloves?