dpk

Contact me dpk@iinet.net.au

Did see that, contacted the seller to see if he would split the 3 items but no go. I guess he would rather not sell three, than sell one!

Hi All,

Researching the badges and possible medals issued to British Police by their forces for gaining "Merit Class'- a system where officers were given grades of merit which meant a pay rise, for good work, sometimes bravery etc. They often were given an embroidered badge to wear on a sleeve (often bullion wire badges with the word 'Merit' shown on them.

Any info most welcome

David (dpk@iinet.net.au)

Hello All- I am writing a book on medals & awards issued by UK local authorities (Counties, Cities and Boroughs) to their police officers. A surprisingly large number!

I recently came across the Gloucestershire Police Silver Braid Bravery Award- initiated in about 1919 to recognize acts of bravery by Gloucestershire police. It ran for a number of years and was quite frequently awarded to officers. It took the shape of a single full-size medal ribbon bar worn on the right tunic breast.

Seeking any information, pictures of front and back and maybe to acquire one if I can!

David Picton-King  dpk@iinet.net.au

All done- have my CofL medals!

Many thanks

Dave

Interesting idea on language variations. Might be a struggle to get all the required letters on the rim of a Welsh police medal-!!!

Hi all,

Not sure if anyone can help but I am seeking two original shamrock top brooch pin bars for the 1900 and 1903 Visit to Ireland Police medals.

Picture attached- willing to pay a reasonable sum!

Please let me know- David at dpk@iinet.net.au

Hello All,

Slightly off topic (or at least geographically distant) is the baton experience in Western Australia Police. On joining in 1973 we were presented with a dinky little rubber baton. It had a tightly wound steel spring at its centre, covered with a slightly flexible firm rubber outer- 14 inches long.

This was particularly useless as a tool to subdue an angry man as it just didn't have the reach to connect from a safe distance. You virtually had to be wrestling with the crook before you could use it. 

It did have the novelty value of being able to be thrown down onto the footpath in front of lonely night beat constable, whereupon it would, if thrown just right, bounce up in front of him- to be caught in the hand ready for the next bounce.

This was great fun until some imperfection in the footpath cause it to bounce back- not directly in front of the bored constable but sideways into a window. A surprising number of 'damage' incidents were detected and reported by vigilant police on the night beat!!

The second issued baton was I think the best- a long spun aluminium beauty- it had a beautifully knurled handle, and was about 26 inches long. It looked impressive and that alone made it very effective as a control tool . It also had great 'reach' when it had to be used.

Lastly we got the ASP- an extending baton of 24 inches which most coppers will know. It was light and easily carried when closed and had reasonable reach when used. Many of us felt it had the potential to cause excessive injury because it was thin, hard steel and so were reluctant to use it unless absolutely necessary. Couple of photos attached- don't have one of the aluminium model.

Problem partly solved. The medal was the Norfolk Veteran Medal- issued by the King to veterans of the armed forces who attended the Territorial Army review conducted during his visit in 1909. It may have also been issued to police who attended the event, or possibly who were veterans themselves.

However it is most likely that it was issued only to military veterans in attendance that day.

Pics shown.

I am researching police medals and awards issued by UK local authorities to their police, for long service as well as bravery and meritorious conduct. I have come across the following information regarding a supposed 'Norwich medal to police for a Royal Visit'. Can anyone help with more information?

There is anecdotal information provided by Inspector C.W. Tozer, in his article ‘Provincial Police Medals’  (written about 1949) about the existence of a Norwich Police Medal. He found no known record of the medal but Tozer states a firm of military tailors in the City did recall it, and they believed it to have been issued between 1902 and 1914 to commemorate a Royal visit. It was said to be known as the ‘Mousehold Medal’.

 Inspector Tozer states he had a piece of ribbon said to belong to the medal, which is ‘red with a blue stripe towards one edge and a green stripe towards the other, with a narrow yellow stripe in the centre’. 

Examination of local records confirm 2 Royal visits. HM King Edward VII visited Norwich on 25th October 1909 to lay the foundation stone of the extension to the Norfolk & Norwich hospital. As part of the visit units of the Territorial Army paraded before the King on the Mousehold Heath review ground.

There is also a record of King George V visiting Norwich in 1935.

 In view of the anecdotal evidence provided, the King Edward VII visit appears to be most likely to match the medal issue as described. The date of the visit (within the stated period), the activity at Mousehold Heath and the parade event probably meant a police involvement in managing the arrangements- with the consequent possibility of a commemorative medal.

Any information gratefully accepted!

David   (dpk@iinet.net.au)  

Hi all- I have had a closer look at my obverses- in particular the QEII DEI GRATIA. The cupro-nickel Queens head is slightly more vertically placed on the disc than the Rhodium plated one. 

The rhodium plate head is tilted just a little towards the left- so that the cross on top of the rhodium crown point towards the end of the claw footing. The cupro-nickel cross points more towards the centre of claw fitting.

Amazing what you see when you really look closely!

Thanks Deelibob,

always helps having eyes on the ground- especially from 12,000Km away!

Hi Peter, thank you for the info. I bid on it but missed- it went for £75 and I was a little under. It looked to me that it may be missing a pin brooch or ribbon suspender- doesn't seem to be complete??

I collect all UK/Commonwealth police medals but particularly interested in the older UK County/Borough/City medals so if you spot any on the market please let me know.It's a bit hard to track them as most are UK based sales and I am in Australia. The time difference is a killer!

Kind regards

Dave. dpk@iinet.net.au

Can anyone assist me with information about a silver coloured medal issued to Macclesfield Special Constables for World War 1 service.

I have attached Obv and Rev pictures for information. Cannot find any references about it after numerous searches!

Hi All-

Further to previous posts re the obverse types for the Special Constabulary Long Service  medal, I have attached a photo of my 6 different obverses. I think that these are all of those that were issued but would welcome any information on others. Waiting for the 'old Queen' image to be used on this medal, as it is in some newer military medals! Not sure how the image will appear- the GMIC screen keeps putting it in upside down on my screen!

Cheers

David

As part of my collecting police medals, I am keen to acquire an 1887 City of London Police Jubilee medal (with or without the 1897 bar). If anyone has one for sale, or can recommend likely sources (eg other collectors, or dealers etc) I would be most grateful!

Please contact me via the group or at email dpk@iinet.net.au)

Great topic and plenty of good info for SC collectors. Re some earlier discussion re the obverse types in this medal:

I have six obverses in the 1919 SC Long Service medal- if anyone knows of more, or other variations please advise!

I have collected the following (as per MYB description) obverse types:

GV(c)- crowned head Coronation robes; 

GV(e)- coinage head;

GVI(d)- coinage head 'IND:IMP';

GVI(e)- coinage head 'FID:DEF';

QEII(b)- coinage head 'BRITT:OMN';

QEII(c)- coinage head 'DEI.GRATIA'.

Keen to hear of any other types!

David

dpk@iinet.net.au

I am seeking the following WW1 Australian medals/awards issued to a family group- as follows:

No 3521 Private Claude BROWN, 11th Bn AIF- Memorial Plaque, Kings Message & Scroll;
No 6726 Private Herbert Charles BROWN, 11th Bn AIF-War medal, Victory medal, Memorial Plaque, Kings Message & Scroll;
No 5557 Sapper Arthur Henry BROWN, 59th Bn AIF- War medal, Victory medal;
No 6912 Private Theodore Sylvester BROWN, 27th Bn AIF- War medal, Victory medal;
No 7345 Sergeant Albert (Bert) CROCKENBURG, 11th Bn AIF- Military medal, War medal, Victory medal;Memorial plaque, Kings Message & Scroll.

Any inf greatly appreciated! Contact David dpk@iinet.net.au

Thanks, Bigjarofwasps. I will have a go!

I have a set of WW1 medals to Private 3521 Claude BROWN of 11th Battalion AIF. He was killed in action at Pozieres on 25th July 1916. I am hoping to locate his Memorial Plaque, Memorial Scroll and King's Message (I know, a needle in a huge haystack!).

If anyone can assist in locating these it would be greatly appreciated. Also any info of likely sources, websites to search etc would be great!

David

Hello Mike,

Yes, the time gap from the centre of the medal world can be an issue. I find it particularly bad on UK Ebay bids. I put in a bid on something closing during the middle of my night and I very often get done by someone in the UK who can think about it and bid in the 2 or 3 seconds before close. In several cases I look at the sold price and think 'I probably would have bid more than that!'

The only way to guarantee a win is to make a ridiculous max bid- and if some fool bids more than the odds my max bid could become huge while I sleep the night away! No chance of a bargain!

What is your collecting area- police I assume?

Kind regards

David

I am hoping to acquire an example of each of these- does anyone know of likely sources, dealers etc who may stock them? Also if anyone spies an upcoming auction with these listed, please let me know- as I am in Australia it is a little difficult to cover all the bases being 8 hours ahead!

Cheers

David

Hello All,

I have in my collection 3 different PLS&GC medal obverses- GVI crowned head "Britt Omn Rex Fid Def", QEII crowned head "D.G. Br. Omn" and QEII crowned head "Dei Gratia". I think that is the full set of obverse types but happy to learn more!

The GVI is cupro nickel, the QEII "D.G. Br. Omn' is cupro nickel, the QEII "Dei Gratia" is rhodium plated.

I think there may also be a QEII "Dei Gratia" in cupro nickel??

Seeking a mountable piece of ribbon for 1916 Birmingham Police Service medal (see attached picture of sample). Also very keen to correspond with collectors of UK/Commonwealth/Colonial police medals.

David

dpk@iinet.net.au