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    Dave Wilkinson

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    Everything posted by Dave Wilkinson

    1. To-day we are going to continue looking at the KC garter stars with the divisional letter and numbers in the centre. The Commissioner, Sir Edward Henry approved the introduction of these then new badges on the 2nd November 1906, some four years after the death of Queen Victoria. The same basic design was also worn by the Inspectorate ranks, but with a just large divisional letter in the centre. The small version of the badge with just the number in the centre were worn by women police on their pith helmets. The ones with the cipher centre were worn by senior officers of the women police, again on the pith helmet. The Victorian version in white metal is something of a mystery and I've been unable to discover who may have used it. It may have been a manufacturers sample. The large versions with "M" centre and "CO" (Commissioner's Office) centre were worn by Inspectorate ranks. The term "Commissioner's Office" relates to New Scotland Yard. The large badge top centre of the second board was worn by Superintending ranks on their ceremonial helmet during the GVR period. The chrome plated star badge, bottom left, again on the second board was worn by Inspectorate ranks and the one far right, on the bottom was worn by Sergeants & Constables during the same period. The large crowned garter badges are from the belly of the horse. The small crowned garter badges on the left are cap badges worn by, initially all ranks and later by only Sergeants and Constables. Senior Officers later adopted as a cap badge, the small crowned stars around the bottom centre badge. I hope that adequately explains everything. Dave.
    2. There is a good friend of mine who is a retired Metpol. Sgt. He has a comparable collection of Met. badges. That said, there are items that he has which I don't have and vice versa. You can never have everything no matter how hard you try. Some items will always be elusive, but the joy of collecting is to continually try to find them. I'm glad they are of interest. Dave.
    3. To-day we took at Dockyard Division helmet plates of the Victorian & Edwardian period and also the Thames Division. The Met. were responsible for policing the Royal Dockyards which were situated outside the Metropolitan Police District (MPD) from 1860 onwards and for Woolwich Dockyard from 1841 through to 1920. Rosyth (Scotland) and Pembroke (Wales) until 1926. Chatham until 1932 & Portsmouth until 1933. Dockyard policing ceased in 1934 when the men were finally withdrawn from Devonport. The Dockyard Division were issued their own distinctive helmet plates and collar badges which featured a foul anchor as can be seen. The garter plate (without star) with the "Guelphic" crown atop was a short lived helmet plate which was taken into used by the whole force. It replaced the wreath pattern but was for some reason withdrawn in favour of the gartered star. The oval shaped "patch" was worn by members of the Thames Division only, on each shoulder of their refer jacket. This is believed to have been the first instance of a shoulder patch being worn on a British police uniform. See the photo of a Constable wearing it. Dave.
    4. Thanks Mike. I think you've seen them all. Its a long time since you've visited. Hope you are well and keeping warm. Have you added any more interesting items to your Met. and City Police collection? Dave.
    5. Yes, I think you may have been one of the few that have have had sight of some of these boards previously. With regard to the short lived breast badge, I think the Met. one I have is from "K" division. Several forces experimented with a similar badge but the idea did not really seem to take off. I think Greater Manchester still use one and Dorset did also, although I'm told that they no longer use theirs as it was only worn on the tunic, a garment they no longer issue. Kent Constabulary issued their version in 1984. I can pin down the year exactly because the first time I saw one was when I was standing waiting to be served breakfast at an army camp in Humberside during the miners strike. The bobby in front of me was from Kent and I commented on his breast badge. He told me that they had only just been issued, were total rubbish and that the fittings on the back were held on with water soluble glue which fell apart when it rained. He took the badge off, handed it to me and said, "There you go mate its yours, I'll say it dropped off". I still have it. The manufacture was later improved upon and I understand that Kent Police still use a modified version on their tunics. There will be a picture of the Met. version on a later posting. Apart from "K" division I think "T" also trialled it. Dave. . Quote Quote
    6. The "Met" are frequently the subject of media coverage here in the UK., often for the wrong reasons. They have been in existence since their formation in 1829 and in six years time will celebrate their bi-centenary. Alas, for a variety of reasons they no longer seem to be the iconic organisation they once were and seem to stagger from one crisis to another. Nonetheless, they were the model upon which the majority of police forces here and abroad were based. As can be expected the items of insignia used over the years are many and varied and are arguably amongst the most collected by enthusiasts here in the UK and overseas. Over the next week or so I will show my personal Metpol. badge collection which some forum members may find of interest. I'll start with the Victorian period and work through to the present day. The force introduced the iconic bobbies helmet in circa. 1865 and this coincided with their first helmet plate/badge, a gartered wreath with a Victorian Crown atop. Its been suggested that the first helmet plate was a large Maltese cross shaped badge. If it was then examples seem not to have survived. As an aside, I should explain that it is really incorrect to describe all police helmets as "Custodian" helmets. The term "Custodian" is a registered trade name for the helmet manufacturing company "C.W. Headdress Ltd", they began using the name in the 1980's. It being marked on the inside of police helmets made by them. So, if the helmet was not made by C.W. Headdress Ltd and dates from the 1980's then it is NOT a "Custodian" helmet. I hope that gem of information is helpful. So, here we are with the first grouping. The plates with the large divisional letters in the centre were worn, top left by Chief Inspectors and top right, by Inspectors. The gartered badges (without wreath/star) were worn on the belly strap by mounted police. The "BR" plate was worn by "B" division reserves. The numbered helmet plates which show a single letter signify the division the wearer was posted to. Dave.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. Yet another Chief Constable's helmet. This time from Stockport Borough Police. Dave.
    11. Towards the tail end of the 1940's and into the early 1950's bi-corn hats replaced helmets for wear by some provincial Chief Constables others adopted a peaked cap with a silver embroidered band around (similar to the Middlesbrough CC cap shown previously). The Met. senior officers below Deputy Assistant Commissioner did wear ceremonial helmets with their No:- 1 dress. The last occasion they were worn was on Remembrance Day Nov. 1971. The Met. decided to abandon the wearing and issue of No:1s at that time. That said, DAC's and above did continue to wear their ceremonial dress with bi-corn hats. I think that Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe was the last to be seen wearing such costume when mounted on his horse in The Mall during the late Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Dave.
    12. There was a period (up to 1950's) when senior officers in some forces had a ceremonial uniform. This usually consisted of a helmet/bicorn hat and an up market braided tunic. For everyday wear their usual uniform and cap was utilised. The CC of Middlesbrough (whose cap I show) would have had an ornate helmet for wear on appropriate occasions also. Dave.
    13. 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.
    14. To-days contribution is a helmet worn into the 1930's by the Chief Constable of Grimsby. The metal fittings on the helmet, including the helmet plate are solid silver. Dave.
    15. The Metropolitan Police have to-day confirmed that officers policing the Coronation will NOT have replacement insignia bearing the King's cipher etc. The force say they have been instructed that all stocks of uniform featuring the EIIR insignia must be used and depleted before new badges are purchased. Dave.
    16. No, I don't use gloves. I store it in a plastic bag. I'm sure conservators would not recommend that but its been kept that way for goodness knows how many years without any apparent ill effect. Dave.
    17. At a guess I would suggest that the epaulettes have a "Royal Gloucestershire Hussars" connection judging by the design. Dave.
    18. 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
    19. This particular Merseyside Police ceremonial helmet replaced the "Liverpool City" version which we talked about previously. The change took place in circa.1983. Again supplied by Christy's of Stockport, the helmet shown is the version which is worn by Sergeants and Constables. There is a helmet which has chrome plated edging to the peak which is worn by the OIC of the mounted section. You will notice that the side "roses" are smaller than the previous issue, and it includes the current (ceremonial) version of the Merseyside Police helmet plate. A sign of the times is that the plumes are now made of a synthetic material whereas the old Liverpool City versions were made of real horse hair. Traditionally, the red plume is worn by mounted drummers. Dave.
    20. Hi, The interior of the Mer.Pol. helmet is as shown in the below photo. The force used to buy the basic helmet shells (made of compressed felt) from Christy's of Stockport (long gone). They would then transfer the metalwork from the old helmet shell and then fit it to the new one. Hence the use of King's Crown helmet plates. As I said previously the helmets were worn by different men as and when required. For reasons of hygiene, paper skull caps were used on each occasion. You are right, its not too comfortable to wear and I can imagine trying to ride and control a horse while wearing one would be quite trying. With regard to Met.Pol. Inspectors helmets. I did at one time have an example but have long since parted with it. Interestingly I recall one being worn by a Chief Inspector who was standing in Westminster Hall during the Queen's lying in state. So, although I don't think they are issued any longer, they are obviously still in the possession of certain people who are still serving. It will be interesting to see if any of them get an airing during the forthcoming Coronation. Apart from the forces you mention, I think the BTP also issued them at one time. As for wear during public order situations, I don't think they were very popular. The distinctive appearance tended to mark the wearer out as a potential target, especially by stone throwers. Dave.
    21. In an attempt to generate some discussion of this subject I'm going to post some further images from my helmet collection. First up is a Liverpool City Police Chief Inspector's helmet. The gent who wore this helmet was the officer commanding the Liverpool City Police, Liverpool & Bootle Constabulary and Merseyside Police Mounted Department (up until circa. 1984). Just to clarify, although the plate has on it the King's Crown and the Liverpool City wording, the helmets continued to be worn by the mounted men on ceremonial occasions across the time period of the three forces through to 1983. They were expensive items for the force to buy and were only worn on two or three occasions each year. There was no personal issue. They were drawn from the Mounted Dept. Stores for the event and returned immediately after. This particular helmet was a "one off". It was the only one with chrome edging to the peak, and was worn by the one and only Chief Inspector commanding the Dept. They were often seen being worn on "Grand National" day. In 1983, the whole of the "Liverpool City" stock of helmets were withdrawn and replaced by the current "Merseyside" badged version which continues in use to this day. That said, they are now seldom if ever worn. I will show the Merseyside current version in a later post. Dave.
    22. These are not an issue item, They are being produced by an enterprising individual for profit. Dave.
    23. Its a long time since anyone contributed to this thread so here are a couple of items from my collection. Firstly, a cap worn by the Chief Constable of Rochdale during the early part of the 20th century and a ceremonial helmet worn by Inspectors in the City of London Police. The latter item ceased to be used during the 1960's. Dave.
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