Mervyn Mitton

Steve - superb work - worthy of a place in any specialist museum. Mervyn

I think the various items will be kept together - they form a small social history for the Met. of 47 years ago. Surprisingly, a lot of this equipment and the paperwork, will not have survived. New techniques and computers have taken over. Who would have thought today, that I did a two week course on how to operate a telegraph link with Scotland Yard. Like something ' out of the ark !'.

Thankyou Jerry. Without using any refs. I think Peter and I got near enough - Lewis gun frame - mount for aircraft. Kev, I hope you are succesful, it must be quite rare in good condition. Mervyn

Brett - if you remember , we had great expectations for the Centenary of the Boer War. After a few low key events and a very good re-enaction in Dundee , it just petered out. I have said for a long time that the 1st WW events will be remembered , but the public have a low level of history and all of the Battles - despite their horrific losses - will mean little. I, personally, have found that the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 excites most interest. It was a compact little War , over a period of six months - with most Battles in a consecutive order. There was also the interest that the British were defeated in a major battle - this always excites our old 'friends'. I think the WW1 events will be a series of Memorials for the larger Battles. Mervyn

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-6209-0-25568700-1406804554.jpgclick When I first joined the Metropolitan Police in 1967 we passed through a large warehouse and were issued our uniforms and equipment. With the weight of greatcoats and tunics , we could barely walk back to our quarters. I was issued with this truncheon and whistle - the whistle,I have covered in a separate post - however, the truncheon is very interesting with it's history. From it's pattern and the small knurled top I can see that it dates back to around the 1880's. It is made of a South American wood - Lignum Vitae (wood of life) and does not float in water as the wood is dense and heavy. The other two woods used to make truncheons at that time, were Teak and Ebony. Again very heavy and would sink in water. The Met. were very economical and would continue to use equipment in good condition for many years. I used this truncheon for some 7 years - however, I later was a Home Beat Officer and when in plain clothes used a shorter pattern. Many Police could complete service without ever having to use their truncheon - others, dependent on their duties used it more often. The most common use was to force entry where a person hadn't been seen for a while - also, to gain entry to vehicles. I had occasion to use force on a number of occasions when the persons being arrested used force to resist. I also, had to swing at a car that attempted to run a colleague down. I managed to smash the driver's side window and he was arrested. The truncheon was left with embedded glass - however, I didn't want to change it, so sandpapered it down and re-polished. You can see the slight marks from the glass. Wooden truncheons have been gone for a number of years - replaced with the metal expanding commando style from WW2. They probably hit harder, but I still think the 17inch (42.5cm) truncheon was a fearsome weapon if used properly. Being an unarmed Force - except for special occasions, I think it amazing that this wooden truncheon helped to uphold law and order - under all circumstances - for over 150 years. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-6209-0-82967500-1406805955.jpgclick The whistle in those days was accompanied by a special key to open the Blue Police boxes that were dotted around London. Before radios Police on Beats had to use the phone in the box to phone- in at set times to receive information and mainly to report they were OK. The public could use the phone set behind a window, but inside , was a desk and stool. Refreshments could be taken there and prisoner's confined. My funniest story was when I was on my way to the Station at about 1.30p.m. - ready to Parade at 1.45p.m. for the Late Turn - as it was called. I came towards a roundabout and running towards the circle from the road on my right , was a stark naked man - just jogging along. I drove round the circle and parked on the other side. Luckily he turned right and came towards me. I grabbed him and he put up a struggle - luckily there was a Police Box on the corner, so I dragged him over to use the phone. I had no tunic on - only a jacket, so had no keys or equipment. A car screamed to a halt and a young constable - also on his way to work, but a different station - leapt out - opened the main door to the box and pushed myself and prisoner inside. I thought he would stay to help but he wished me good luck and drove off - leaving me with a naked , slippery prisoner - who admitted he was an escapee from a mental home. All worked out - I called for the van and eventually he was returned to the home unharmed. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-6209-0-83270700-1406806710.jpgclick Interesting days - always something going-on..... http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-6209-0-93874600-1406806878.jpgclick I am showing this truncheon as it was issued in 1926 to my Father who joined as a Special Constable during the Great Strike of that year. Everything , including transport, was paralysed and citizens were asked to join as SC's to help guard buildings and transport. He was 16 at the time and I think he guarded the conductor on a public tram. He was left with the truncheon , which is of teak. When I found it in a cupboard the leather strap had rotted - so, I had it replaced with a blue dog lead - to avoid future confusion. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-6209-0-71153500-1406807244.jpgclick The two truncheons together - My Father's at top

There is a companion carrier - to be called the Prince of Wales. The British Govt. is debating moth-balling her - or, even selling her. They claim 'lack of money'. The same lack of money that has seen our Army decimated to the point that I doubt it could defend The Isle of Wight. I find this attitude quite unbelievable - Britain is still one of the wealthiest Countries in the World - and heads most of the summits. Yet we cannot find the money to see the Country properly protected. Even the Police are being cut back and restricted - right at the time that some of the immigrants we have allowed need special attention. The most annoying thing is that we are still giving aid and money to people like Mugabe in Zimbabwe -- and to India , which has become one of the richest countries.

In which case then I think it would be on a swivel - as Peter describes - and possibly for aircraft. Should you go ahead, then we look forward to lots of pictures. Mervyn

Medallions are a subject that have been ignored for far too long. Your excellent post - with it's extensive research - should serve as a catalyst for our Members' to enlarge on the subject. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY OLD MEDALLIONS IN YOUR COLLECTION - PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING THEM TO DAVID'S POST

A great find - and just at the right time with the Anniversary about to start. Mervyn

Tomas - you are quite right - they usually had a heavy brass grip.handle. However, this one has a brass scabbard, so it can't have been to save money. Perhaps they needed a heavier weight for a particular purpose ? I wonder why they had the blade screwing into the scabbard - I would have thought it made it difficult to get out ? One other question - where is Rostend ? Best wishes Mervyn

Well done - an interesting post - with a lot of useful and valuable reference material. Mervyn

Robin - doesn't ARP stand for ' A Right Plonker ' ? The Police are an irreverant bunch............ The price of whistles has rocketed. 20-35 pounds for a Force marked one - and mine , with the original box key - much higher. Even the ARP sell for about 10 - 15 pounds. Mervyn

David - these are all standard Police Helmet Plates - mounted for display. The middle one is for a Met' Police Cap. Inspector's used to have enamelled ones, however this has changed and I think this is standard issue. Most enamel ones from with-in the last 25 years - or so . The right hand Met .pattern is earlier - my helmet plate from the end of the 1960's had moveable ER letters in the centre. The idea being that on the death of the Monarch you just changed them over. There were followed in the 70's/80's by non-moveable letters. These were then changed to the enamelled version. The shields may have been made to sell the badges - however, they look more home made. Mervyn

gongz - thankyou for your help to Ray11. This willingness to help a member is what binds members of GMIC together. Mervyn

No replies to date.

Ringo - thankyou for posting his biography. A brave and resourceful man who more then did his Duty. Has anyone been able to help you with the pin ? Mervyn

Kevin - it is hard to tell from photos. It could well be a WW2 war photographer's camera mounted in a stock to give stability. However, it could well be a Lewis Gun casing and a camera lens mounted - this I would feel could be very suspect. The old rule applies - if in doubt , let someone else make the mistake. Let's hope the membership can be more positive in the identification. Mervyn

Mike - I think you have a very interesting piece here - probably not very rare , since so many would have been issued. The Fairburn-Sykes Commando would have a far greater value. I can tell you that Wilkinson went out of business in 2005 , their dyes and machinery being sold in Germany and to small British enterprises. I have a feeling that this knife has been on the Forum in the past - however, hopefully one of our collector's can tell you more. I have always wanted to visit Sark - it became a legend because of the fortitude of the old Dame of Sark during and after WW2. What is the population now ? Are there still any pieces left from the German Occupations - or, have the dealer's been-in ? Best wishes Mervyn

Hi - Ringo. Sometimes you can be lucky in these quests - and I sincerely hope one of our members will be able to help - or, point you in the right direction. I will say that Squadron Badges are sought after by collectors , so you may be lucky. Post a picture of the uniform ? Mervyn

Good result - thankyou IG. This was posted on the wrong Forum - should have been on the one above. No 'train smash' - just helps to keep things in order. Mervyn

Mike - for the benefit of viewing members, would you please add a few photos. The manufacturer is often on the guard - at least on the earlier Commando knives. Mervyn ps. I have just noticed were you live - you are probably our only Member from Sark. Although we do have many from the larger Channel Islands.

Werner. Welcome to GMIC. Looking through your collection it appears that you may have one or, that are official issue. I will check through some ref. works and come back to you. Paul - 'Desolation Row' ? You must not sink into the quagmire that happens when you work in London. Mervyn

My own feelings have been that they were numbered as in-service items - and not for the Constable. However, the Met. have always been a law ' unto themselves' ! From the research point of view , having virtually all of my old equipment from the the late 1960's - incl. my notebooks , makes this quite rare - and, I suppose with the background of my book it will be sought after. I will finish posting the other items in the next few weeks. Mervyn

A remarkable story and full marks for sticking with the research. Life seemed very cheap in those days. Please let us see a picture when you visit the grave and lay flowers. Mervyn

I am all in favour of giving certain people a 10 yard start ..... As for firearms discipline - most police and troops in Africa, think the rifle is to prop themselves-up. However, a little aside - when I was at School in Australia we had to take our turn on Butt duty if we were in the Cadet Corps. The Butts were infested with 'Jockey' spiders - what you call in the US - a Black Widow spider. Highly dangerous, I kept a botle to drop them-in and later disected them in the school museum. My work on these spiders got me elected to the Zoological Society of London as a Fellow.