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    dpk

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    Everything posted by dpk

    1. It seems that he had many of these made- presumably to hand out to his mates and acquainances at his retirement party or similar.
    2. Hi Tony, Many thanks for the very interesting information. The badges were part of an odd group of objects listed together for sale recently which included a Liverpool police medal, plus a much later QEII Jubilee medal, and what seems to be an old shooting medal. I wondered if the badges were related to the Liverpool Police medal as they were roughly the same era. Clearly not, but interesting. Regards Dave
    3. Have seen these two badges recently, trying to identify what they are for. They may have (but not confirmed) a link to Liverpool Police. Crown shown may be EVII or GV. Any information most welcome!! David- dpk@iinet.net.au
    4. In today's policing world, the recipient will wear the badge any where they like- depnding on the day, the mood, the atmosphere. Are there alternate badge colours for members to choose? Perhaps multicolours to express certain woke causes etc? If the Police authorities insist on the dull white and grey badges, will offended recipients go out in protest? Or demand compensation for the mental anguish this causes? Oh, the good old days.... The trouble with the that expression is that todays new officers will look back on today and say 'They were the good old days!'. Heaven help them.
    5. Hi Dave, I tend to agree with your sentiments. Australia has a national awards system which includes two medals specific to the police of the nation (of any State) and each State in turn has various medals they issue to their own specific forces. Curiously, some States do wear their State medals on the right, whereas Western Australia sought and gained official approval from the Federal Government to wear their medals on the left breast, after national awards but before any foreign award. Australia does issue national Bravery awards, and any person is eligible but to police officers generally a bravery award specific to police is often more meaningful. The answer of course would be for the national government to create a specific police gallantry award such as the QPM. There is a QPM equivalent medal here (the Australian Police Medal) but it is only awarded for 'Distinguished Service' and not for 'Gallantry as the old KPM was.
    6. This is not a new concept elsewhere, example the Western Australia Police Force created a medal for award to all officers who are killed on active duty or who become medically retired due to injury or illness to which police duties were a contributor. It also allowed payment by the force of continuing related medical costs after the injured officer's retirment. The medal has had two versions- the first, the round medal shown, was introduced in 2017. A year later the second 'Star' version replaced the first version, as it was discovered that an extremely similar medal had been created by the State of Victoria Police Force for a similar purpose. An example of two forces thinking on the same lines but not communicating- where have we heard that before?
    7. I am seeking information regarding a quite scarce British Provincial Police medal, the Gravesend 1914-18 Special Police Medal issued in 1919 to Special Constables who served the Gravesend police during WW1. I have a hallmarked silver example (unnamed) but I have also seen images of a gilt version of the same medal, named to a 'C.B. Gilbert'. I am trying to find out any information re this award as information is virtually non-existent. Also keen to hear of anyone who has examples of either type. Hope you can help! David (dpk@iinet.net.au)
    8. Re the Lincolnshire Police Commendation and Star badge- a better image now obtained:
    9. Hoping to acquire a copy of the book "One & All: A History of Policing in Cornwall : the Cornwall Constabulary 1857-1967' by Ken Searle, published in 2005. Happy to discuss a reasonable price!! David.
    10. Sadly, the 'relaxation' of uniform, discipline and behaviour standards within Police forces is just the tip of the new, woke, trendy iceberg. Anyone who has what many of us consider to be traditional values of self-respect, discipline and adherence to traditions is now classed as out of date, old and mired in the past. The problem is that the younger members of many police forces were never taught any or many 'values' in their homes- they were brought up thinking that the world revolved around them. They were taught all about their rights and entitlements, and nothing about their obligations and responsibilities. In my later years in the job I looked at young coppers who were mightily disillusioned that after doing 6 months or a year in a position, they hadn't been promoted to the next level. My response to them (if asked for it!) was 'Suck it up, Princess' which of course was not politically correct at all. As a wise man once said, 'Tradition does not mean raking through ashes, it means passing on a flame...'. Thats it- my rant for the day!!
    11. There were several similar style badges issued by various UK police forces- usually for acts of bravery where it was not sufficient for something like the KPM, and when the force didn't have a bravery medal to award. Examples are the 1867 Birkenhead BoroughPolice Merit Badge usually awarded for bravery (I don't have an image), and the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary Chief Constable's Commendation Star, image attached below. There were likely other similar awards, all of which I would love to collect!
    12. 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
    13. Interesting medal I discovered recently, is the Oxford City Police Messenger Medal- which was issued to members of local Boy Scout troops who enlisted as volunteer messengers for the Oxford City Police during World War 1. They conveyed messages and orders between various police stations and posts, and although Oxford was not subject to any extensive aerial bombing during that war, alerts occurred opccasionally and these Scouts clearly assisted police efforts and freed up police peronnel for other duties. Their service obviously was recognised enough to cause the issue of this interesting awards. I'd be interested to learn anything more on this or similar British police medals!!
    14. Just for info and reference, saw on the OMRS site that naming format on military medals has been changed as follows: Old format- military number, rank, initials, surname, regiment or unit New format- rank, initials, surname, regiment or unit, military number. Has apparently been in place for a few years. Of interest only but maybe a similar change will flow on to police medal naming??
    15. This is actually a very attractive medal, although it is purely a commemorative edition like so many others we see and therefore of novelty value only. Pity the Royal Mint etc couldn't be as quick off the mark as the manufacturer of this one!!
    16. Thanks, Gordon. I have seen several examples of 'double-up' Special Constabulary Long Service medals, I have one in my collection as a 'curiosity' as the medals are otherwise just standard KGV crowned, and KGVI 'Ind. Imp.' examples. From discussions with Paul Brewster, it is evident that each SC force kept their own records but nothing was centralised. Therefore a man who served as an SC during (eg) WW1 in a particular force, and then ceased duty after the war, may have signed up again for WW2, either in the same force but didn't mention his previous service on reenlistment, or moved to a new location and signed up. Therefore 2 medals. The record keeping for the Poloice LSGC medal was centralised so presumably should not allow the issue of two medals (perhaps my belief in the accuracy of government records is misplaced!!). Either way, nice group with a huge story.
    17. Hi Gordon, A great group of medals, unusual to have two PLSGC medals issued to the same man,and a very comprehensive personal career history of the recipient. Amazing how a medal group gains a life of its own when the recipient's career is known in such detail. You mwentioned the award of a bravery (medal?) for the clifftop rescue of the suicidal motorist. Do you know what that award was ( which medal was awarded) etc? And is that award part of the group? David
    18. A very good reference for maker's and hallmarks is the website 'Silver Makers Marks- https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/. I used this extensively on a recent book I wrote- 'A Guide: Medals & Awa5rds to British Firefighters'. The site covers all mainland mints in the UK, and is very comprehensive. Even a few which I couldn't identify were solved by sending a request and image to the website and they came up with details every time. Highly recommended. Dave Picton-King
    19. Hi Gordon, Many thanks- I have this great book. Very good roll of all medals awarded. The author Simon Eyre is a most knowledgeable collector, and a nice fellow also. Highly recommend this book to CofL collectors, also Jim Kemp's book 'The Metropolitan Police- The Men and their Medals' which covers the Met medal rolls for the 1887 to 1911 Jubilee and Coronation medals of those years.
    20. From my observations and some thinking, it seems to me that the rapid increases in prices for my area of collecting (medals to police, particularly UK provincial or local police medals as well as Commonwealth to police) started at the same time that world economic hardships became major issues in most western nations. Collectable and 'rare' items attract a premium in hard times- they are portable and easily turned back into cash if needed. Items such as rare stamps, coins, artworks, (and medals) all fit into the 'collecable investments' category and prices will rise as investors look for somewhere to put their cash, which if left as cash will go down in value. A medal investment is likely to hold or increase in value while other investors are looking for a relatively safe haven for their money. Certainly UK provincial police medals have really dissappeared from the market in the last 2 or so years. There was always a regular trickle of them in auctions, and on ebay. Not now! Very few and far between and when they appear the price is always way over the estimate- and also over the estimates of experienced collectors. A very good time to have lots in your collection, a very hard time if you want to acquire! My thoughts, for what they are worth...
    21. Hi Megan, can also buy via Helion Book website (OMRS newly-appointed publishing house, at https://www.helion.co.uk/
    22. Ah Gordon, You expected planning ahead from the Government? You are an optimist at heart....
    23. On a slightly related topic, it was stated in the latest OMRS journal that Special Constables have now formally been made eligible for award of the Queen's Police Medal (as well as their usual LSGC medal). Presuambly for Gallantry or Distinguished Service- now one of those would be an addition to a collection!! This obviously really means the to be newly titled 'King's Police Medal' as although the decision has been announced for the QPM as it was, any recommendation for award will obviouly be under CIIIR.
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