Mervyn Mitton

Rick - wonderful info. - please take a photo of the 'admiral' when he's not looking !!

Thankyou everone. I have checked my books and in the family photo his lapel badges are Northamptonshire, a castle with 3 turrets - the one in the middle being taller. He has a King Edward crown above the chevrons. What you thought was a gap under the epaulette looks to me like a pair of crossed flags - the right one looking white. He was never a volunteer - he was a full time regular and I remember my G/mother saying he was in India before the turn of the century - so that must have been Tirah. The only thing I have of his - apart from the travelling companion, is his malacca walking stick. This has a silver top with the Leics. tiger. I will post it next week when the silver has been cleaned.

This is a high quality original drawing, taken from an Illustrated London News, which would have appeared at the end of January ,or early Feb. 1879. It shows the envoys from King Cetshwayo, returning to the British encampent at Fort Pearson on the Tugela River. They are carrying gifts from the King, of ivory - a traditional gift of high respect. The chiefs are carrying staffs of office - the two at the front with shaped sticks are very senior. Also, several are wearing leopard skins - only chiefs are allowed to wear spotted cat skins and only Royalty can wear lion. Unfortunately, the envoys were too late - the British had already declared war ! We didn't mess around in those days. Basically, we had a spare 5000 men and a Lt. Gen. (Chelmsford) hanging around after the conclusion of the 9th. Kaffrarian War - we had been worried about the huge standing army of the Zulus - over 50,000 men in trained Impis - or, regiments - each of about 1000 men. The thinking was that one trained soldier was worth ten of the enemy - the usual mistake our generals used to make. On Dec.11 th. 1878 Cetchwayo was summoned to a meeting. He sent his senior chiefs - at the 'Ultimatum' tree on the Tugela River, they were given 30 days to accept a British governor and to disband their army. Since it would take at least 15 days to return to the capital - Ulundi - there was no way this could be accomplished, and so on Jan. 11 th. Britain declared war. These envoys returned soon after. On Jan.22 the Zulus destroyed 1st. Bn. the 24th Regt. + an enhanced company from 2nd.Bn.

I don't have a lot of U.S. police material - however, I have always highly regarded this one. About 1972 one of my friends , he was a det.sgt. in our station's C.I.D. , had a friend from a town just outside of New York visit. He was desperate to have a British helmet, but as we were only issued two he wasn't having much success. Finally my friend appealed to my ' better nature' and obviously, I told him I didn't have one ! To cut a long story short, I parted with my spare and received this attractive cap in exchange. I understand it is a summer cap - very light and with ventilation around the sides. I was told he was a sergeant (equivalent to a British Inspector ?) and the gold band showed this. Does anyone recognise the badge ?

Sorry ! In the first caption I seem to have invented time travel - of course it is 1879.

Disembarkation of the 91 st. Regt. on their arrival in Durban. Quite a rare pair. These are originals and appeared in the Illustrated London News in 1879. They were of course published in black and white and we have a good artist in the UK who water colour them. He does great research to be accurate. Because of being painted we have to keep them covered with cellophane and this is the slight distortion at the bottom of each.

Two interesting naval pictures - this one shows the embarkation of the 91st Regt. - The Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders - from Southampton in 1979. They were on their way to take part in the Anglo-ZulU War of 1879.

One never thinks of Mongolia even having it's own Police - a most complete set, but , one has to say, they are very Russian in their appearance and quality. This must be exactly what we all wanted to see for knowledge and interest. Have you read any of Conn Iggulden's books on the history of Genghis Khan. They are written as novels, but are quite brilliant. I am reading his most recent one at present.

Interesting to have the Independence Medal. Ed, do you source these in India or, UK - a fine collection, just for these Indian ones and they all seem to be for high ranks.

No wonder they gavehim the King's Medal - they must have kept him in reserve for every serious riot ! Seriously, a wonderful and very rar group. Thankyou.

What treasures we've been deprived of - I take Rai Sahib must stand for King ?

Does anyone know what rank the two large stars on the shoulder straps represented?

Ian - why don't you introduce yourself on The Lounge - mention the Macclesfield Fair and your tipstaff collection. People will know who you are then and can welcome you - this is a bit lost at the end of a post. Alan should do the same.

Helen - from the Pitt-Rivers Museum, showed (under Firearms - titled 'Swordsticks' on May 7th.) a link to a few items in the Museum. One of them was a superb example of A Burmese Dha - with carved ivory grip. She was able to show a museum exhibit when I posted the Indo-Persian dagger - and the comparison was excellent for learning about patterns and styles. I am posting a few details of a Dha that I have and hopefully, Helen will show us the Pitt-Rivers more elaborate one ? This style of sword - with no guard - is generic for this part of S.E.Asia - incl. Burma (I won't refer to it as Manaamar - they are a vicious and dictatorial country with their present Govt..) Thailand,Cambodia,Laos and Vietnam, also use this style. The sword is usually carried upright in the small of the back - with the handle projecting upwards over the head. When needed they only have to reach-up and bring the sword straight over and down. Very effective. The Thais are not a warlike people, but when working in the paddy fields there are always snakes - and this is quick. The Burmese are much more warlike and have fought the Thais for the past 800 years. They burnt the former capital Ayuddhya, in the 17th. C. and that was how Bangkok - it's old name ' Krungthep' City of Angels - came to be built. The Dha that I am showing is an executioner's - and is much bigger then the usual type. This one is 47 inches , overall (117cm) and the blade is 31 inches (77cm). The blade has been acid etched with a background and a series of small figures.

I don't think anyone acknowledged KSQ's post of the dirk. It was a good point. The actual dirk he showed is fairly modern - probably to be worn by a piper in a Highland band. With the new knife blade regulatione in the UK - max. is 4inches (10cm) - it is causing problems for all of these types of dress.

Hi - Brian For some reason you rarely see the uniforms of ordinary police in the old colonial admins. - I thought this was very interesting. In Africa, most British countries wore a standardised uniform of grey shirt,shorts and a cap - maybe, someone will have a photo? What was significant with the Indian Police, was that constables used to carry a staff, called a LATHI. It was a most fearsome weapon - about 5 feet high (90 cm.?) and was usually capped with a heavy brass top and could deliver a mortal blow. Their favourite way to use it was in a sweeping motion - at about knee height - about the only way to keep the masses at bay !! I have been many times to India, but the sheer numbers of people is quite frightening. I have some Lathis in UK - will get someone to take photos. Are you going to post the special constables items , you mentioned you were getting - we have some new 'ex- Specials' joined. I made a point of going on the U.S. sub-forum and mentioned this new section - told them we would like posts on THEIR police. May I suggest, that every time one of us goes on another sub-forum - particularly the European ones - that we mention this site and ask them to post on their police ? I have a few more items suitable for this sub-heading and will post them - but, as Leigh said , we should all be looking for items. We asked for this to be added.

I'm taking the liberty of mentioning that the Chairman has split the Police forum into two - and there is now specifically a place for U.S. Police. Your colleagues else where will all be interested to see your pictures and stories etc.. Mervyn

Ian - as a new member myself, may I say Welcome ! to GMIC. You will find your friend, Alan - the Badger, has also joined. Hope to see you posting some of your good tipstaffs - give my love to Ann. Mervyn

Rear of uniform - with close-up of pouch badge. May I say to fellow members - particularly those with a history - or, knowledge of other police forces - please join-in . The success , or failure, of this new sub-forum is in our hands -- and remember, WE ASKED FOR THIS SITE.

To start off this new World Police Forum, I have looked through available photos and have come-up with this rare uniform. For INDIA POLICE pre1947 , when it was still under British admin. Not sure of it's exact date - perhaps someone can help ? The uniform is fairly standard British colonial - what is rare is the dress cross belt. Note the beautiful silver badges with 'IP' - also, the leather pouch , which goes in the small of the back. This has been in a cupboard for over 30 years and I had to get a friend to take photos in UK - dusting wasn't in his job description !!