Tom King

Great research to support this group. One observation: Detective rank is not a promotion !

I missed the original reference to the 97 bar. It would be great to see a photo of what we are talking about here as this has got me intrigued. I have an unnamed 1897 somewhere which I assume originally was part of the spare allocation sent to Divisions.

When did officer actually receive these medals where they issued prior to the event or well after? With his discharge so close to the event is it not more than likely a medal was named to him in anticipation of him being in service and prior to the jubilee a submission made of the names of all serving officers. It may have then been sent to the division never to be issued as he was released from service prior to the event?

Can we have a fuller picture view of the style. As Bengullion suggests Met ACPO ranks have always traditionally had patch pockets and belts. I think it is Woods Jacket which he no doubt had made prior to going to Australia, and may well have worn when he got there. Whether he wore it in the Met or HMIC and changed the crowns can be perhaps investigated by the full style. He may have had it made at appointment specifically for Australia before leaving the UK.

These buttons are common to all Police ranks in England & Wales which are of the level of Association of Chief Police Officers. In the Met Police this is the rank of Commander and above and in the County Forces, Assistant Chief Constable and above. Ranks below this will have buttons which are attributed to their particular force, whereas ACPO ranks have commonality across the country. A few years ago I saw a set of these in silver in a presentation box, from the early fifties, I wish I had bought them ......

I agree ACPO rank button with Kings Crown.

Try contacting the Met Police Records (historic centre) at Empress State Building. They have incomplete Divisional ledgers for N Div you might get lucky and he might be listed in there.

Station Jackets/Coats or Ice Cream Jackets as they were also called in the Met could only be worn in the police station by Inspector ranks and above. They were a grey blue colour with the rank on the epaulette faces. Times change, they went out in the late 80s I believe.

These are both English Masonic Jewels to The United Religious Military & Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes & Malta, In England & Wales and Provinces Overseas, or Knights Templar as they are commonly known.

What era do you think this happened, back in the sixties ?

No the Met has never had any type of shield worn on the uniform.

Update: I have been reliably informed that Silver Tokens are still given to Senior Ranks in the Met. However they are no longer used for identification purposes as they are issued warrant cards and they are given when the officer retires or leaves office.In fact when the head of finance left the Met a little while back, he received a Silver token as a mark of respect to the old post of Receiver, despite that post not existing anymore. They are of the same design which has not changed significantly over the years and given in a presentation box. I know of one collector who has several silver tokens from Senior Met Officers, but he obtained them all alongside their respective medal groups. So it would appear to be difficult to obtain one without having to purchase other items of significance.

Monty Sorry it was E Div Bow Street Police station. I do have a picture of a small group of L Div but it was a lot later post Victorian era. :blush:

Certainly Silver tokens were still being issued as late as 1987 so it must have been in the late eighties early 1990s that the practice ceased.

I may have a photo in my collection but I need to dig around and find it. WIll let you know as I can't remember if it is L or E Div.

Have look at this I have just found , seems as though a similar badge was awarded to the press it mentions ERCB but does not explain I think it stands for the level of access or areas that can be accessed. http://www.victorianlondon.org/publications2/lookeron-24.htm

Passes to the official London parade where issued by the metropolitan police which bore the above inscription. Most were gilt, but I am assuming the above was a VIP pass of some description as it was in gold is there a pass number on it as I understand they should have been returned after the parade. Maybe the letters represent the entry zones in which the pass allowed the holder.

I think this is a helmet plate for the London North Eastern Railway police hence the lack of crown ?

No need to ask Simon Hibberd PC 38 DR 71940 Died in service of natural causes on 13/11/1900

The paid Police Cadet service you refer to was disbanded some years ago in the 1990s in England and Wales but I think it still operates in Scotland. The Metropolitan Police by contrast now has Volunteer Police Cadets, which are more like the Army/Air/Sea Cadets which is a voluntary uniformed youth organisation open to 14 year to 19 year olds

I have a Metropolitan Police challenge coin from their firerams section which was given to me by a serving officer so they are also in circulation within the UK police and military. This coin was made specifically for that unit and I was told they are commonly traded with members of other specialist units as a sign of fraternity.

one of two either Frank Penfold or Frederick Penfold Both PCs entitled to 1911 Coronation. One Frank died in First War in 1916 serving with the military the other Frederick was pensioned in 1929. Probably Fredericks as it was all he was entitled to, but may have been split from Frank's military medals

Today they carry long acrylic batons which are used for public order events. I am not sure about the whether they have access to long extending ASPs or not for daily patrol. But the acrylic baton is allowed to be carried by all officers as an alternative to the ASP which mostly used for public order as opposed to daily patrol. Here is an interesting photo taken at the 175 anniversary of the Met at Horse Guards Parade. It shows an Inspector and a Commander (Mick Messenger) in Full Dress Uniform. What makes me sad is the lack of thought that goes into withdrawal of equipment. The Ash sabre should have been retained for Ceremonial duties when it was withdrawn in the 1990s now they have nothing, it was the same with the No1 uniform that should have been retained by the likes of mounted branch who are often involved in ceremonial duties. But of course Senior Officers conveniently have still got all their full dress regalia including swords whilst the junior ranks have nothing. Also note that Senior Ranks seem to be able to bypass Health and Safety by not wearing ridiculous helmets. That equestrian helmet may be fine for daily patrol, but for Ceremonial it looks horrendous.

The Bow Street Horse Patrol was incorporated into the Met Police in Oct 1836. Also the outer Divisional Superintendents as well as a good number of Inspectors & Sgts in the outer Districts were mounted for supervisory purposes. Up until 1886 their main duties were seen as country patrol although they were very occasionally used for disorder purposes. After rioting in the West End in 1886 they were seen as a public order resource and more stables were centralised. After the first war because of the advent of the motor vehicle the outer division mounted resources were reduced. Mounted officers prior to the formation of Imber Court Riding School were also traditionally ex Cavalry. I am pretty sure that mounted officers were also always shown on Divisional strengths therefore only had Divisional Collar numbers. Here is another photo taken possibly at Chigwell stables just prior to the first war at a guess, it is hard to see their collar numbers but I think I make out J and K divisions. Also notice that in both pictures the officers are not wearing duty armlets which may be peculiar to the mounted branch.

I agree it looks like Met the building is possibly the stables at Great scotland Yard. I have a photo of mounted branch somewhere from a similar period will look it up. I also think the first medal is a Jubilee or Coronation as they used to take precedence over campaign medals.