Brian Wolfe

Here's the cap badge. It is nearly as wide as the helmet plate but only about 1/2 the height. Regards Brian

Hello Everyone, Here is an obsolete Helmet Plate of the Staffordshire County and Stoke on Trent Constabulary. I really like the green enamel work on this plate, It is followed in the second photo by a hat badge also from the Staffordshire County and Stoke on the Trent Constabulary. Both have the Queen's Crown. Thanks for looking I hope you like them. Regards Brian

I never thought about it being his father's, that would account for the original dealer saying they belonged together. I had looked at the ages before and though they were "tight" but would work. so just now (with the help a a good book on the subject ) I did the math again and I agree, Won't Work! The rank of Lance-Dafadar was on my mind but didn't seem right to me. What other field of medal collecting has so many mysteries? On the other hand what other field is worth researching? I'm only kidding Imperial, TR and Soviet guys. Regards Brian

Hi Ed, I think your post is right on topic. Here is the group of six that I was tralking about. Because of the reservations regarding a policeman getting accepted into the military I have mounted the single 1950 Police Independence Medal on it's own with a notation on the back of both mounts for future caretakers on my treasures. The fellow I purchased this from was also sceptical about them belonging together even though the dealer he purchased it from insisted this was a group of seven. I paid as if it were a group of seven but since all of the military medals are named I didn't mind. The recipient of the group is: 1025419 LD GD AJIT SINGH, A.C. Do you have any suggestions as to the rank? I thought perhaps the GD was "General Duties". Regards Brian

Thanks Ulsterman. Regards Brian

Thank you for the infomation. The blade is not signed. Regards Brian

Hi Ed, If this was a Canadian group I could argue with you but India is a whole different world and I accept what you are saying as gospel. Here I've know several people who have started with the police and then went into the armed forces and of course the other way around. That makes the other group I mentioned even more suspect. Actually not really "suspect" but actually bogus. Good thing I didn't pay for a group of 7, the dealer was also doubtful and threw the 1950 Police Independence in with the deal. What I am left with is a authentic group of 6, all named, so in that deal I've done alright. Thanks again for your opinion it is greatly appreciated. Brian

That's interesting indeed, Ed. Having always lived in a country where almost anything is possible regarding career changes I was not aware of these barriers in India. Unlike some collectors who will INSIST their group is that one out of ???? and go on and on with silly arguments supporting their "wish" I'll consider this one as suspect at best. This is one time where the photo is much better than the group itself. The ribbons are quite faded and there are stains where your fingers would hold the mount as you pined it to a uniform or jacket. The metal mounting bar is also wearing through the backing material. It would seem to be a lot of work for what little this group brought the original seller, taking into cosideration the fellow I bought it from would be making a profit as well. Oops, it looks like I just posed my own "silly argument". However these were the details that lead me to think this might be a righteous group. Regards Brian

Hi Ed, Yes I was told the name is not uncommon. From the looks of the group I would say it was mounted up quite a while ago. So I would think that if the two named medals are not to the same person then this has not been something put together lately. Do you think this move from the B.S.F. to the regular military impossible or just unlikely? I have another group that came with an unnamed 1950 Police Independence medal. The dealer (whom I trust completely) told me that the dealer he got it from (perhaps room for trust issues here) insisted that all seven medals were to the same person. I mounted up the six medals I was comfortable with and mounted the 1950 Police medal on its own with a note on the back of each mount noting this. I will post this group with its "additional medal" later for comments. Regards Brian

I thought I would also post a photo of where this helmet resides. I built a glass display box to store the helmet away from dust and the hands of every visitor to my collection room who thinks trying on a British Police Helmet and then uttering some dumb sentence in a bad British-like accent is the height of humorous endeavor. Ok, so it is a little funny but DON'T TOUCH MY COLLECTION!!!! Regards Brian

Hello Everyone, For quite a while now I have been going to write a short history of the Staffordshire Police and feature specimens from my collection. I have finally gotten around to this and here it is. I started to collect to the Staffordshire Police quite by chance when a fellow collector, Jeff Cowdell, and then serving member of the Staffordshire Police sent me a Staffordshire custodian helmet. Jeff had no idea that he would also kindle an interest in British Police headgear and while I'm not sure my wife has yet forgiven him I have him to thank for an interesting collecting journey. I must also thank (blame) our fellow GMIC members, Mervyn Mitton and Stuart Bates for my addiction. STAFFORDSHIRE POLICE The foundations for the Staffordshire Police were laid in October of 1842 when it was decided at the Court of Quarter Sessions at Stafford that a Chief Constable should be appointed for a County Constabulary. This Constabulary was divided into three districts. 1. A mining district in the south of the county which would include the towns of Bilston, Willenhall, West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Smithwick and Handsworth. The South Staffordshire Constabulary had been formed in 1840 to police the above area but was amalgamated with the new force. 2. A pottery district in the North including the six pottery towns of Tunstall, Burslem, HAnely, Stoke, Fenton and Longton. 3. An area known as the Rural District took the remaining areas of the county. This excluded the four towns which already had police forces: Stafford, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Walsall and Tamworth. The first Chief Constable, Mr. John Hayes Hatton, 1842 - 1857, was appointed on 6 December 1842. He was 47 years old and a professional policeman. The uniform was originally a swallow tail coat and top hat which was replaced in the mid 1860s by a frock coat and kepi for daytime duties. A helmet was worn at night and in wet weather conditions. Other police forces preferred the helmet for all occasions. In 1894 the Chief Constable of the time, Captain the Honourable George Agustus Anson R.A.,C.B.E., M.V.O., D.L. (appointed in 1888) established the first detective branch for the force. These plain cloths officers were known as Enquiry Officers. The First World War brought with it a need for manpower to fill the vacancies created by officers leaving the force to enlist in the armed forces. All leave was cancelled for the duration and men were not allowed to retire. The Police Reserve, consisting of men who had recently retired, was called into active duty and the Special Constabulary was formed. The Police Reserve served in a full-time capacity while the "Specials" were a part-time force. The Special Constabulary was maintained after the War to provide support to the regular police officers. The Second World War again saw a need for replacement officers and the Police Reserve and the Special Constabulary stepped up to fill the void left by the officers enlisting in the armed forces. After WWII the Police Reserve was disbanded, however, the Special Constabulary continued to serve. The Mounted Branch was established in 1919 under Chief Inspector William Dalkins. The Mounted Branch served until 2000 when it was disbanded. I'll discuss the Mounted Branch in more detail later on in the post after a new item for the collection arrives. The Motor Transport and Patrol Branch was formed in 1930 under Chief Constable Colonel Sir Herbert Hunter, Kt., C.B., C.B.E., K.P.M. 1929 - 1951. This was followed by the introduction of motor cycles in 1960 for Traffic Patrol. This was either under Chief Constable Colonel George Hern, C.B.E., O.St.J, K.P.M., D.L. 1951 - 1960 or Chief Constable Mr. Stanley Peck, C.B.E., O.St.J.,B.E.M.,Q.P.M.,D.L. 1960 - 1964. More reserch will be required on this point. The first women police officers in Staffordshire were Lily Broadhead and Gertrude Cowley who were appointed to Stoke-on-Trent Bourough in 1921. Miss Cowley resigned in 1924 but Miss Broadhead continued to serve until 1952 retiring with the rank of Sergeant. It should be noted that women did serve during the Great War (1914 - 1918) but strong opposition kept them from being made a permanent appointment. The counties continued to resist employing Police Women until 1944. Under Chief Constable Mr. Arthur Rees, C.B.E.,K.St.J., Q.P.M., D.L., M.A. 1964 - 1977 the restrictions as to what areas of police service to which women could be employed was lifted in 1976. The Staffordshire Police as we know it today (formally, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Constabulary) was formed on 1 April 1974 with the amalgamation of: Stafford County Police Borough of Newcastle under Lyme Police City of Lichfield Police Stoke on Trent City Police and The Staffordshire Constabulary. This helmet was issued to 2080 Staffordshire PC Stephen Alan BIRCH who served on the force from Sept. 1973 until his retirement in 2003, a 30 year career. I will post the rest of my Staffordshire collection in the new Gallery section if I can figure it out. Changes and old men don't always go smoothly.

Here is a shot of the back of the mount. Usually this tells you that the mount is authentic. I have seen several groups offered on eBay consisting of all unnamed medals on new ribbons and glued onto a medals broach pin. They look all to "new" to be the real deal, so beware of these if you are looking to add some groups from India to your collection. Regards Brian

Hello Everyone, I wanted to share a 7 place group I just got in from India. Some of the medals are "vacant" on the bar as is quite common as these medals had not arrived at the time the court mounting took place. The interesting thing about this bar is that the recipient started out in the B.S.F. (Border Security Force) which is a paramilitary organization and then went to the Garhwal Rifles. The B.S.F. keeps the peace along India's borders but in time of war they have been used against the enemy forces in the same manner as the regular military. The naming on the medals is as follows: Samar Seva Star - 540 CONST. MADAN SINGH B.S.F. Raksha Medal - Vacant Sangram Medal - Unnamed Sainya Seva Medal with Himalaya Clasp - 4029729 RFN. M.S.BISHT, GARH. RIF. 25th Independence Anniversary Medal - Unnamed 20 Years Long Service Medal - Vacant 9 Years Long Service Medal - Vacant. I have not doubts as to the authenticity of this group due to the general look of the mount and the fact that I purchased this from a very reputable dealer from India. I must admit that if I were to see the Samar Seva to Madan Singh of the B.S.F. and the Sainya Seva to M.S.Bisht of the Garwal Rifles offered separately I would never guess they belonged together. My source in the Punjab informs me that the soldier's full name is Madan Singh Bisht. I hope you like my new addition, I think it shows a lot of service, including in the combat zone of the 1965 war between India and Pakistan, service during the 1971 war also between India and Pakistan, service in harsh conditions (Himalaya Clasp) as well as at least 20 years in the service of his country. Regards Brian

Hello Mervyn, That is a very interesting post. I would have guessed that the tipstaff was carried on the end of a staff somewhat like a swagger stick. To have any piece of leather equipment in such good order and this old is amazing, I'm sure that these would be exposed to wear and tear considering they would be exposed. Here, as in other countries I'm sure, the first piece of equipment to "go" during a "contested" arrest is the forage cap with cap badge. Thanks for sharing your items and information with us. I think this section of the forum is quite ignored and I know there are other members who are collectors and former police officers so please keep posting. Many thanks and regards Brian

Hello Mervyn, That is a fantastic police helmet. I have a very small collection of police items, mostly Staffordshire. My only helmet is from there as well, thanks to a serving police officer and fellow collector. I'm only one member but I would be interested in seeing more of your collection of UK Police memorabilia. The items in the background of your photo have also peaked my interest. Please post more! Regards Brian

Hello, There was one of these reproductions for sale, as an authentic specimen, at a local antiques mall for $700.00 Canadian. Until I read these posts I was not sure it was a reporduction but it did have the 113 stamp as well. Regards Brian

Hi Ed, I have a good source for Pakistan ribbon that lives in Islamabad but your in box is full and rejected my PM to you. I have been asked by several of my contacts in India and Pakistan not to post their contact information on the forums as they don't want this inormation on the internet. I'm not sure why, could be politics I suppose. We're lucky to be living in countries where the government is not a danger to the people (he said naively). Send me a PM and your contact address and I'll share the email address if you like. Regards Brian

Hello Hugh, The silver ones are all the second class, there are two varieties. Regards Brian

Hello Mervyn, Thanks for posting the tipstaff, you have peaked my interest. Please post more on this topic. From the prices I doubt I will ever see any in my collection but this forum is as much, or more, about knowledge than anything else. Regards Brian

:speechless1: Oh no, not another Wolfe on the forum! Sorry I can't help you with your question but welcome to the forum! Regards Brian

Wecome to the forum. There may be more like me who has a few Russian Federation awards but felt that others with a greater interest (and collection) should be the ones to support this suggestion. I would enjoy learning more but will probably still stay within my collecting comfort zone. Regards Brian

Welcome to the forum and thanks. Brian

Hi Rob, Nice helmet. I really like your flag. I have one of my own and I tried to translate the Kanji using a book called "Kanji Guide". It took days and days of searching and I still only managed translate only three of the symbols. It was a nightmare! Good luck on getting the translation, I wish I could help (but I value my sanity). Regards Brian

What Chris said! Extremely fine work. Thanks for posting them. Regards Brian

I have a photo showing three out of 11 NCOs wearing one of these buckles, that would have been after 1909 and probably into WWI. Seven others are wearing the buckle you mentioned and one wears a regimantal insignia buckle. It looks like the "S" buckle was well on its way to being phased out by the early years of the Great War. Regards Brian