Mervyn Mitton

Jamie - an old friend from Glamorgan (?) Police - Ross Mather - has just joined and if you look under Collections you will find his web site. He specialises in helmets also and I think it great that the 'plods' are taking over the World !!! Mervyn

While I'm on a roll (!) I thought I would include this very nice Edinburgh special Constables' truncheon. This would date from the 1850's/60's and they were in support of the regular police. Edinburgh has always had a long tradition of policing and in the 18th and 19th C. they had a volunteer body known as the Edinburgh's High Constables. They were really a group of middle class shop owners who had meetings and officers to run the association (I always think of them as mini-Masons!) however, they were a body of men who could be available at short notice for an emergency. They carried long staves - about 3 feet overall - and these were highly decorated at each end. I will try and get a picture sent from UK - unless any other member has one in their collection? I have never really eastablished why Edinburgh used the Naval fouled anchor - perhaps someone can help ? Mervyn

Tipstaffs are so uncommon, that many people do not realise the variety of shapes and sizes they in which they can occur. This display case used to be full- however, I have sold a lot in recent years. No.6 - on bottom - is a similar Glasgow Det. Office that I posted some time ago, but this one is a Malacca cane handle and is longer. The one on the far right has a silver plaque with the name and rank (Lt.) of an army officer. He may have been provost Corps,but ones named to the military are very rare. With most of the remaining collection, these are in the UK. Hope they are of some interest? Mervyn

A drawing in crayons of an early Cape Policeman - compare with Will Endley's photos ( see his posting on Cape Police) of a Cape Policeman in 1900. This drawing is by Andy May - one of S.A.'s top militaria artists - his work is in virtually every mess and collection in the Country. Should anyone want to commission a picture ( by overseas standards he is very reasonable ) I can put you in touch with him. Mervyn

I notice that this page is also for Zulu items - but, have found only a few. Known as an Ingxotha (pronounced In-gotcha) the arm band above is the highest award the Zulu King could give and was their equivalent of a VC and the Order of the Garter. About 8 - 9 inches , it is made from cast brass. Three kings used it - Dingaan; Panda and Cetshwayo. Cetchwayo was king during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and this is of the pattern used during his reign. They were awarded to warriors who had greatly distinguished themselves in battle - and, also to very senior advisors to the king to show their rank. We don't know how many were actually given out, but only approx. 15 to 20 remain today. You had to be a braveman , even to receive the award ! The armband starts life as a sheet of cast brass, with the design in the casting - however, one side is smooth. The recipient has his arm (could be left or right) bound with wet hides and the flat - or, perhaps partly bent - red hot band is then beaten around , leaving the gap shown in the photograph. From then on it remains on the arm and they were usually buried with them - being brass it was a heavy item and must have been difficult to wear. Mervyn (I have a shield from Rorke's Drift and other items if anyone would like to see them?)

3rd. time lucky ?

The Naval gun run has it's origins in a famous action by the Naval Brigade in the Boer War. I am fairly sure ( some one will tell us if I'm wrong) that this was the site. I think it is this year that a number of teams are coming to Natal to perform a re-enactment.

one of themissing Boer War pictures

Dear Brian The button on the left is Queen Victoria (1837-1901) and, probably, the one on the right King Edward V11 (1901-1910). All early greatcoat buttons were made from horn and tunic buttons were metal , in most cases. When bakelite was introduced it was easier to use than horn. Are these greatcoat buttons ? The difference in Crowns is that until 1877 only the Crown of King Edward the Confessor ,1066 etc.! , existed. This had been remade but followed the original style. In 1877 Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India and the present Imperial State Crown was made. When a new monarch is proclaimed , they have the right to choose which Crown they will be shown wearing - also, the directiion - left or, right - that they will face on the coins,banknotes and postage stamps. Ed.V11, George V, Edward V111, George V1 all wear the Imperial State Crown - Queen Elizabeth chose King Edwards. (Ed.V111 was never crowned , so is always shown bareheaded - however, he had chosen his crown.) The easy way to tell them apart is the the Imperial has a domed appearance, whilst Edward's has an angular shape at the sides. Present pictures show it rounded off at the top of the arches - but, for Victoria and William 1V it is more cut-off. However, for the earlier Georgian crowns it is more domed. I am sure you will get more info.. Mervyn

Leigh - help !! It's repeated again - are you able to take the multiples off ?

I think this was the hill the Navy manhandled the guns up - and which gave rise to the famous gun run competition ?

I was browsing through an original copy of 'With the Flag to Pretoria' - this volume dealing with the first three monthe of the Boer War (1899-1902) and the defeat of Natal. I am quite sure many members will be familar with this set, however, sometimes it is interesting to see a subject brought out of context. These are a few of the naval pictures - if anyone is interested I will post a few more. I hope the captions can be read? Mervyn

The reverse - showing the arms for Cape Colony

Group of three - Boer War period (1899-1902) to the Cape Police - District 1. (See Will Endley's interesting post below, on the Cape Police). The Cape of Good Hope Gen. Service Medal, is on the left and has the Bechuanaland Bar. There were three possible bars - Bechuanaland (2483) ; Basutoland (1589); and Transkei (only 562) - however, they could be issued in combination and probably, in total there would have only been about 3500. The medal was issued by the Cape Govt., and only to local forces and vol. regts. (Medal Year Book). The CofGH is named - 34 Cpl.F Keitzmann C.Pol.. His QSA - 2 bars to same name, but Serjt. and Cape P. D1 ; whilst the KSA is same name and rank - C.P. Dist.1. Being a fairly rare medal this group is probably quite valuable. Mervyn

The small inner shield on the main shield is the Hanoverian royal duchy crown - it became a crown - with rows of pearls in 1816 - when it became a kingdom. The British royal arms were almost identical , apart from the mottoes , and remained until 1835 when the present arms were adopted. Mervyn

Dear Leigh Thankyou for your help - I am sorry to have given so much trouble. I've had the computer expert in and I think will have him back after the holiday. I'm not sure if it's the modem - or, my usual laptop - I've got another one in use , but I'm no expert. Thankyou. Mervyn

Leigh - perhaps this can be inserted ? Mervyn

Back view - you will note that in addition to the pin, there is also a suspension loop at the top for a necklace.

During the Boer War (1899-1902) the British had a problem with where to keep prisoners of war. With our large Empire there were plenty of places to send prisoners and eventually St.Helena , Bermuda, Ceylon and India had large camps established. The prisoners were allowed craft work to entertain themselves and this prisoner-of-war art had some beautiful and creative pieces made. They were allowed small knives and used locally available materials. Items ranged from chairs, jewellery, love tokens for wives or, sweethearts and virtually every other small object that you can think of. Most prisoners had coins in their pockets when captured and the silver ones were very popular. Smaller coins would be melted down to act as solder and if a fastener was required they would make the clasps from silver and use a large safety pin. The pins are often rusted and as in this example have to be replaced. The coins used for this brooch are two 6d pieces - 1893 and 1895 - and the 2/6d is dated 1895. All have Paul Kruger's head - as President of the 2nd Boer Republic. All of this POW art is now valuable and prices have gone up substantially in recent years - many of the main collectors are in the US.

Will - Hi ! Interesting that you were in the Guard. Do you have a picture of that dreadful turquoise tunic - as Arthur said - very incongruous. Mervyn

Dear Will These old photographs are so valuable for info. - I think it is the first time a have seen a close-up for CP in this detail. I bought yesterday a very nice group to Cape Police District 1 - Cape of Good Hope GSM - one bar , Bechuanland + 2 bar QSA and King's. I will post it when I sort the computer out. Best wishes Mervyn

Brian With these WW1 lapel pins, the colour of the enamel in the crown often showed the rank of the wearer. These are a collectable field in their own right now. Mervyn

Glad it revived memories - and excellent data for members on the chronology. I'm guessing you may have had something to do with the unit ? Mervyn

Two uncommon Australian Helmet Plates - intended for the blue infantry pattern helmet. The top one is for the State of Victoria Military Forces - the second one for State of Queensland. This on is very unusual in that it has the lead seal on the reverse to show it's acceptance by the purchases board. When they had the seal they became the pattern that all other manufactured ones had to follow. Both would have been fire gilt , but over the years it has faded back. Mervyn

Side view - showing height of ostrich plume