SCcollector

Hello Mervyn, After your question yesterday I did a bit of digging around but cannot add anything of relevance to what has already been said. References to the scallop refer to the association between Grimsby and the sea. The attached cigarette card dating from 1905 illustrates the coat of arms for the town and puts into perspective the placing of the scallop on top of the cap badge.

And, in another variation, this is a cap badge that appears to gilt rather that the more usual chrome. Any ideas?

Now, a question that might be answered by a member. This is another Cap Badge but the enamel is green rather than the blue normally found on Grimsby badges. Does anybody know the significance. I would suggest that it is for another rank but really don't know.

A better picture of the Lapel Badge.

This is an example of the Lapel Badge.

And another few from another Northern town which produced rather ornate SC badges. This is a Cap Badge.

And, lastly, a QC Cap Badge.

And this is an example of the more modest badge used during the Second War.

This is another quite ornate WW1 Lapel Badge from WW1. Kevin

Hello Brian, I thought that you might like to take a look at some SC badges from Rotherham. This one is quite stunning and somewhat unusual. It is a Cap Badge. Kevin

Hello Brian, A lovely little card that I also have in my collection. Cicarette cards are often overlooked as a very useful source of information. The attached scan is of a WW1 postcard produced by the Ealing SCs to raise funds for the Special Constabulary (Red Cross) Ambulance Fund. Regards, Kevin

Good evening All, I would like to draw a breath and try to get some feedback from others members. Whilst I find the contents of this bundle fascinating I am aware of the fact that such fervour may not be universal. I am also aware of the note made by Mervyn a few days ago asking the very perinent question about this thread being in danger of moving away from the intention(s) of its creator. If this has proved to be the case, then my profound apologies. The bundle, in my humble opinion, needs to shared and explored in whatever forum is appropriate. Or, for that matter, a variety of 'venues', dependant on the audience. As a collector of Special Constabulary memorabilia with a great interest in historical aspects of the subject, I am amazed at some of the content. Previous descriptions (the very few that exist) of SC activities in the Great War do not seem touch upon the very practical applications of Government policy as witnessed through these documents. Perhaps some of the later papers might add to this knowledge or lend a greater balance. As one with an interest in our history, I am quite taken aback at the detailed planning undertaken to counter the effects of invasion. I am also very mindful of the limitations of the plan(s). I had never given much thought to the possibilty of an attack against the UK, given the realities experienced over the sea. I have a lot more questions than answers. A few thoughts to share. I am mindul of the fact that I could transform into a pain in the proverbial. I am also mindful of the fact that contributions to this thread have slowed considerably since my attempts to publish the Northumbrian version of War and Peace. Equally, I am mindful of my own capacity in churning out continuous contributions. Any feedback would be most gratefully received. Kind regards, Kevin

The following transcript is from William Meech (Deputy Group Leader, No.2 Group. Parish of Alnwick - part of) and gives a fascinating insight into the vehicles to be found in the town in February 1915 :- 12, Bondgate Within, Alnwick. 17th. February 1915. Dear Sir, SPECIAL CONSTABLE'S VEHICLE RETURN. The following is a list of Vehicles &c. in my District :- CARRIAGES 14. 9. 4 Wheeled 2 Horse Carriages. 1. 4 Wheeled Phaeton. 1. Governess Car. 3. Bath Chairs (Horse Drawn). CARTS 67. 6. Dog Carts. 3. Traps. 5. Spring Carts. 1. Pony Cart. 16. Short Carts. 8. Long Carts. 17. Heavy Carts. 2. Flat Carts. 1. Lorry. 2. Game Carts. 2. Water Carts. 1. Skeleton Brake. 1. Old Cattle Van. 2. Hay Bogies. MOTOR CARS 4. 3. To carry 6 persons besides the driver. 1. To carry 4 persons besides the driver. TRACTION ENGINES 2. 1. Traction Engine (not at present in my District). 1. Motor Roller. Yors fiathfully, William J Meech. R.Middlemas, Esq., Alnwick.

COUNTY OF NORTHUMBERLAND CHIEF CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, MORPETH, 1st February 1915. MEMORANDUM TO SPECIAL CONSTABLES 1. The attached NOTICE of the Lord Lieutenant is being ciculated throughout the County and the Chief Constable directs all Special Constables to give effect to the provisions. 2. Your duty, therefore, in the event of an attack by aircraft, will be to wait for no further orders, but immediately to act in the district surrounding your own dwelling, or where you may be at the time, by using all your efforts towards keeping the inhabitants off the streets and generally in inducing them to carry out the suggestions contained in the NOTICE. 3. You will thoroughly visit the area for which you are acting and give assistance to those who may have been injured. 4. Should your Divisional Commander or Group Leader require extra assistance at any particular place you would receive special orders to that effect. FULLERTON JAMES. CHIEF CONSTABLE OF NOIRTHUMBERLAND. NOTICE PRECAUTIONS to be observed by the Inhabitants in the possible Event of ATTACK BY AIRCRAFT ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. On the 31st December it was thought necessary to issue a PROCLAMATION dealing with the possible bombardment of the Coast of this County by the Enemy's Fleet, and recent events show that the further question of attack by Aircraft should be provided against. 2. Several of the points mentioned in the Proclamation of the 31st December apply to an Aircraft attack, as for example :- a. The avoidance of people crowding together. b. The great desirability of all persond remaining in their houses and not running out to the street; further c. If an enemy Aircraft is seen or heard overhead, crowds should disperse, and all persons should, if possible, take shelter; the effects of a bomb falling on soft ground - ploughed fields etc. - are usually small and local. 3. - LIGHTS. Arrangements have now been made throughout the whole of Northumberland, by which, should any warning of the approach of enemy Aircraft at night be received, all the Town Lighting (and outside the area served by the Newcastle and Gateshead Gass Company - all private Lighting as well) will be turned off. This would necessarily be done without the possibility of communicating with the inhabitants. (This paragraph refers to Gas and Electric Lighting.) 4. Should the measures referred to in the above paragraph have to be taken, Inhabitants are WARNED :- a. To immediately turn off the gas at their meters and gas cocks to prevent escape of gas when the gas supply is turned on: b. To provide themselves with Candles or Lamps as the gas almost certainly, and the electricity light probably, will not be turned on again til the following morning. 5. The possibility of outbreaks of Fire in such emergencies must be provided for by the Brigades throughout the County. 6. The County Constabulary and Special Constables have already received their orders and it is most desirable that the inhabitants carry out any instructions that may be received from them. NORTHUMBERLAND, Lord-Lieutentant. 29 January, 1915.

Another document from the same period :- (No.1) QUERIES FOR LOCAL EMERGENCY COMMITTEES. 1. Q. Have badges been issued to all S.C? If not, how do you proposed to obtain them? A. Yes. Otherwise we should apply to the Chief Constable. 2. Are S.C.s detailed :- a. To assist Army Supplies Officers? Yes. b. Arrange for collection of tools, barbed wire etc..? Yes. c. Assembly & supervision of working parties for Military work? Yes, in Alnwick & Amble sections when required. d. To register names of labourers for above work? Yes. -ditto- -ditto- e. For point duty at important cross roads in country, towns and villages? Yes. f. To prevent civilias encumbering roads required by Military Authorities? Yes. 3. Are cycle despatch riders organised and attached to Group Leaders of S.C? Yes. 4. Have buildings been arranged as suitable for storage of tools &c.? No. but the Colliary Districts where most tools, arrangemnts made so as to a. Is an S.C. detailed to take charge thereof? dispose of tools. b. Is transport arranged for conveyance of tools? 5. What arrangements have been made for the destruction of petrol, rubber tyres &c. in case of emergency? Has a list been made of garage & cycle depots? Yes. 6. What arrangements are made for the housing, feeding, transport & handling of refugees? Are the routes of retirement all detailed? Yes. 7. Have local Emergency Committees of inland districts made joint arrangements with Central Local Emergwency Committee & gone over the ground together? Yes, but not gone over the ground together & arrangements in some receiving areas are not satisfactory. 8. Is you local Emergency Committee in touch with its neighbouring Local Emergency Committee? Does overlapping in works take place? Yes. 9. Are all members of Local Emergency Committee sworn in as S.C.? Yes. 10. Are all Emeregency Committees still complete in numbers? Yes. 11. In the absence of Group Leaders, have deputies been warned to take their place? Yes. 12. Have areas been selected & approved of for the collection of transport, animals, & vehicles in conjunction with neighbouring Local Emergency Committees? Yes. 13. Have lists been obtained of animals, motor cycles, vehicles, forage, stores etc. which may have to be removed or destroyed? Yes. 14. Have arrangements been made for removal custody or destruction of above when ordered? Yes. 15. Have arrangements been made for when ordered :- a. Demolition of bridges? b. Bridge Buildings? c. Blocking of roads from the Coast? d. Removal or destruction of boats, barges etc.? No. We should rely on the Military for this. 16. Who are the Military Officers acting in advisory capacity on the Local Emergency Committee? None. 17. State any arrangements for removal of bullion & important documents? None. 18. Give report of any tests you may have had? Tests have been made in each area merely to give notice to Farmers for stock. Specials at Cross Roads &c. but not dealing with the civil population except in so far as they would go by the same routes.

This transcript relates to the Almouth area and is, unfortunatel, undated. As it comes in sequence from the bundle I would assume that it was written around January 1915 :- LOCAL DEFENCE EMERGENCY COMMITTEE. PARISH OF ALNMOUTH. I. INVASION DIRECTIONS to POPULATION in AREA. I have caused to be distributed to every householder in the Area the following directions as under :- 1. On word being sent that the invasion is imminent any people desiring to leave the area are to go forthwith to the District Hedgeley North Whittingham South and by the following route - via Bilton to Shilbottle whence they will be directed by the Special Constable or the Vicar there. Failing such directions to proceed West by by-road via Deca Moor proceed South about 200 yards on main Highway thence by byway on reighthand side to Alnwick Moor thence by byway over back of Lemmington Bank and thence via Glanton. 2. Before leaving to run to waste all oil supplies and on leaving to take with them all food destroying the remainder. 3. All live stock to be taken with them, each householder to organise means of herding own stock. Any stock left will be destroyed. 4. Ant householder requiring accommodation to be found (if it is possible to do so) to notify me. (the following paragragh was scored through in pencil) 5. All householders forthwith to destroy all fire-arms and where possible to deposit remains forthwith at Village Institute. 6. Instructions are being issued in the village of Alnmouth iteself by William Earle SC. and the Vicar each being responsible for a defined area. 7. Throughout the country district of the Area each farmer is being given these directions and asked to undertake to make every householder on his farm cognisant thereof. II. VEHICLES. Attached hereto is a schedule of all available vehicles, cars, carriages, bicycles &c in the village of Alnmouth prepared by Tom Bickerton S.C. Similar list for the country area is being prepared by Mr Brewis of Wooden. III. CYCLISTS. The following cyclists have volunteered their services to be at my disposal to speedily distribute news or directions in apportioned sections of the area IV. CROSS ROADS. I can arrange to station Special Constables if need be at the following cross roads in my area :- 1. Hipsburn Corner. 2. Station and Lesbury Road junction. 3. High Buston Road Corner. 4. Schofield's Corner Alnmouth. V. FOOD SUPPLIES. For the village Mr John Earles and Mr John Moffitt are preparing comprehensive reports of food stuff in the village and also both shops and privates stores of oil supplies and will consider and undertake destruction if required. For country areas Mr Brewis will prepare report of approximate country supplies and advise as to destruction.

The transcript below is a letter from Arthur Schofield (? Special Constable Commander) to Mr Middlemass, Group Leader, which apparently refers to the Chief Constable's letter of 1 January 1915:- LINT CLOSE ALNMOUTH NORTHUMBERLAND Jan. 4th. 1915. Dear Sir, I enclose a copy of a circular I have just received from the Chief Constable and whilst it might apply to populous districts it would not apply to country districts. I havepointed out in my reply to the Cheif Constable that what we have worked for is rather to decentralise instead of centralising as his present proposal suggests and I shall be glad to have your opinion as to how you think his suggestion will work out. The forms referred to are ones which require to be filled up in view of an emergency and then only to be delivered when the emergency has occurred, and whilst I think that they would be properly used by the group leader for his particular section I doubt very much the wisdom of even attempting to make the Special Constable Commander responsible for having these orders transmitted after the emergency has arisen. Yours faithfully, Arthur Schofield As various matters have arisen since our last meeting I shall be glad to hear that you could conveniently attend anoth meeting of the group leaders to be held at my House on Saturday next the 9th. inst.. (3.15) Robert Middlemass Esq. ALNWICK

Chief Constable's letter dated 1 January 1915 :- CHEIF CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, MORPETH, 1st. January 1915. Dear Sir, I enclose herewith some prepared Forms for a scheme dealing with the movement Westward from the Coast. Shortly the scheme may be explained as under :- The Special Constables are divided into classes, each class having particular duties to perform, Thus :- Class "A" Special Cycle Despatch Corps: Class "B" Constables for duty at Shops and arranging for removal of foodstuffs; Class "D"Cartmen to remove foodstuffs (not always "Special" Constables); Class "E" Street and Road duty; and so on. The Forms to great extent, explain the scheme. Before the No.1 Forms are issued the respective classes should be called together, their duties explained, and the No1 Forms issued immediately after the meeting. A Register would necessarily have to be kept showing the number and name of the Special Constable, also the place at which he is to do duty. The final Forms, when to hand, should be addressed and have and have the necessary instructions filled in, then enveloped and made ready to issue at any time on the shortest notice. It is also considered that persons whose property is likely to be affected by the scheme should be called together and the position explained to them; thus for one meeting all Grocers and Provision Merchants should be invited, for another all owners of carts etc. In this way cooperation is secured. The loading of all food-stuffs should as far as possible be done by the shop proprietor &/or his assistants working with the Specials. I shall be glad to hear that the scheme will be suitable for some parts or for all of your division, after which the necessary forms and envelopes will be forwarded to you. Should you require any other or different Forms, I shall be glad if you will submit a rough draft of them to me. In requisitioning for Forms please say how many of each you require and if to be sent direct to you or to members of your Committee. Forms on which should be shown the resources of the various Divisions in the County are also forwarded to Commanders. These Forms should be distributed to Group Leaders who should gather on one Form the resources of their respective areas; this being done by utilising Special Constables to make a return for certain parishes, the Group Leader transferring the Parish figures to his return and the whole being eventually entered on Forms for us of the Divisional Commander. I have added some notes in red ink on some of the Forms; these notes are added in consequence of suggestions made by several Committees to whom I have shewn the Forms, in order to make them perhaps more generally useful. All the forms can be made appropriate for use by Group Leaders by the substitution those words for that of Commander at the foot. Yours fathfully, (s) Fullerton James. Chief Constable of N/Land.

And another :- CHIEF CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, MORPETH, 18th. December 1914. ROUTE BOOK. 1. The working out of the streams of traffic will require careful thought and much detail to avoid cogestion at converging points: this particularly applies to those areas which have a large number of transport animals and carts to remove or where the direction or arrangement of the road does not lend itself to the operation we are contemplating, viz :- a movement to the West. 2. Each Group Leader should for each village farm place or collection of houses in the district for which he is responsible set out the exact route by which the carts and horses and humans (if any) of those houses will proceed to the agreed collecting places in the West. 3. A careful comparison of the roads as marked on the map supplied will be necessary so that each road may get its fair share of the traffic and so the chance of congestion is minimised. If it is possible to get on separate roads the whole way from start to finish and so the streams of traffic do not met until the collection place is reached so much the better, but this will rarely happen; the longer this convergence can be deferred the better the plans will work out. 4. The various places to be mentioned at the lower half of each page should be obvious turning places or cross roads and should be such as are mentioned in the Reduced Survey Maps on the scale of 2 miles to an inch. At some of the places Special Constables would be stationed - to "hold up" it might be streams of traffic - or generally to ensure the orderly progress in the required directions. 5. A further advantage from a having a record in this form of intended routes might be that messages, e'g' to halt or alter certain streams of traffic for military or other unforeseen reasons could easily be carried out: information of the "stream" and its comonents and the exact position at any time of any part of it being readily obtainable by enquiry of the various Special Constables stationed on the route. 6. To explain the method of filling up the book - a map for Lincolnshire together with five pages of that County's Route Book are enclosed: as there are only a few copies will you kindly return both map and book in 2 days time. The arrangements in Lincolnshire appear to be Southward and to use one large collecting place rather than a few as is proposed in this County: it is hoped however that the enclosures may illustrate the use to which the route books should be put. 7. A Route Book will be provided for each Group Leader who is in charge of the district and a sufficient number are with that object: it is hoped that, acting under instruction of the Commander, will start and fill up his book to provide for his whole District - a copy should be made of of each of ther Group Leaders' books into the larger book which is intended for the District Commander. The exact description of the point at which at which each stream of traffic over into another Petty Sessional Division is to be noted. Commanders &/or his Group Leaders should arrange (if this has not already been done) to confer with the neighbouring Commanders &/or his Group Leaders so that the continuance of the route through the new Division may be on proper lines. 8. Extra books can sent if applied for, and pages referring to special areas could be filled in and torn out and handed to the Special Constable who might be acting in charge of that particular part of the operation in that special area. A separate book could, if considered desirable, be used entirely for cattle - but this might be unecessary as probably the intention is to use those fields which adjoin the roads that are being used by the Transport animals and carts. FULLERTON JAMES, Chief Constable of Northumberland.

Hello, The transcript below was published in November 1914 :- E. CONFIDENTIAL. SUPLLEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONS TO LORD LIEUTENANTS. 1. Certain questions have been raised by the Lord-Lieutenants of counties in connection with the "Instructions for the guidance of the Civil Population in the event of beligerent operations in the United Kingdom". As the conditions in different districts vary considerably, absolute uniformity in applying the instructions is impossible, a large discretion must be left to the local Emergeny Committees. Subject to this consideration the decision of the Government on the various questions raised is as follows :- SECRECY. 2. The Government are of the opinion that considerations of secrecy should not preclude full communication to local Emergency Committees of the purposes for which they are organised, nor the issue of instructions by members of the local Emergency Committees to special constables and to individual residents. The Lord-Lieutenants may, if they consider it desirable, announce in the local newspapers the constitution of their Central Organising Committee and of the local Emergency Committees but they should be careful to do it in a form that indicates that there are no new or special grounds for apprehension. COMPENSATION. 3. The Central Organising Committee should cause it to be understood that the Government will give reasonable compensation for properrty destroyed by owners under instruction of the military authorities or of the police orspecial constables acting under the military authorities. Orders for the destruction of property should, as far as circumstances will permit, be made in writing, of which a copy should be kept. Any person refusing to destroy or render useless his property when ordered by the military authorities will lose claim to compensation if it is destroyed or rendered useless by the military or police. REMOVAL OF STOCK. 4. The possibilty of removing stock is clearly rependant on local conditions. In certain parts of the country stock can be driven to moors and downs off the line of the enemy's probable line of advance, in others they can effectively be interned behind canals and waterways, the bridges of which can be destroyed if not required for our own military operations. The military authorities will instructed to treat each district on its own merits, and to consider beforehand with the civil authorities in each emergency what course ought to be adopted. The following extract from a letter from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries may be noted for action in the case of a district where the removal of stock is considered to be impractical and it is decide to destroy :- "Animals could simply be shot and left in fields; if the carcases are unbled and the entrails are not removed, the flesh becomes practically uneatable in an hour or two. But in any case the animals should be shote, not knifed, so that the blood may be left in them. For the guidance of those who are not experienced in this sort of work it may be mentioned that an animal should be shot either just above a line drawn across the head midway between the bony prominences of the eyes and the crest of the forehead, or from behind downwards on the flat part just behind the crest of the head. A pistol firing a soft lead bullet with a low velocity explosive is the best weapon, and several varieties are made expressly for the purpose." DESTRUCTION OF OTHER FOODSTUFFS. 5. The military authorities may, at their discretion, destroy, or require the police to destroy, wholesale stores of provisions, granaries, and flour mills. Retail and private supplies may be left untouched. Unless special directions are given by the military authorities unthreshed cereals should not be destroyed. EXPENSES OF COMMITTEES. 6. While the Government trust that the work of the Committees will continue to be carried out by the voluntary services they agree that the payment of necessary out-of-pocket expenses should be a central charge, and accounts should be sent to the Home Office or Scottish Office. All expenses incurred in respect of special constables are payable from the Police rate. ATTITUDE OF THE CIVIL POPULATION. 7. The policy of the Government is to encourage every man to take his part in the present struggle. If he is of proper age and physique, and not excluded from enlistment by employment in an armament works, railways &c., he should enlist. If he is not of proper age and physique he should join the nearest Volunteer Corps which is affiliated to the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps.* The War Office have recognised this Association and Volunteer Corps affiliated thereto. Every man who takes this latter course will be provided with a badge and will be counted as a combatant, though no arms, aumminition, or clothing (other than the badge) will be supplied from public sources, and no financial assistance will be given. Anyone who declines either to enlist or to join an affiliated Volunteer Corps should be informed that he must not take part as a combatant in the defence of his country, and in the case of invasion must be prepared to surrender any arms which he may have in his possession. He will be liable to all non-combatant duties, such as digging trenches, burying the dead, &c. PROCLAMATION TO THE CIVIL POPULATION. The result of the conference with Lord Lieutanants is to show that the course to be pursued by the civil population varies somewhat according to local conditions, and that the issue of instructions to be applicable to all counties is not practicable. In these circumstances the Instructions (Paper C issued by the Home Office and Scottish Office), which the Lord-Lieutenants have already in their possession, must be regarded as no more than a model and subject to modifications based on local arrangements and conditions. Instructions suitable for each district should therefore be prepared and printed under the authority of the Lord Lieutenant of the county, and copies should be held by the police and special constables ready for distribution. Draft Instructions, unless they follow the model form, should, before being printed off, submitted to the Home Secretary, or Secretary for Scotland. The Government will bear the cost of printing. November 27, 1914. * Headqurters - Judges' Quadrangle, Royal Court of Justice (Carey Street entrance)

Hello, Nick, Spot on sir!

The transcription below is from a secret document from the Northumberland bundle published in November 1914 and helps to put the work of the local emergency committees into some context. My apologies for the length :- PREVIOUS COPIES TO BE DESTROYED. NORTHERN COMMAND, C.R. No. 40016, dated 17th November 1914. "D" SECRET DUTIES OF CENTRAL ORAGINIZATION COMMITTEE. AREAS. 1. To select areas for Local Emergency Committees - these areas should generally be co-incidental with Petty Sessional Division; separate Committees may be formed for Cities and Boroughs having a separate Police Fotce; a map (4 miles to 1 inch) showing areas slected should be prepared and sent to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, York. SELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. 2. To select the Chairman of the Local Emergency Committee, and arrange with them for the selection andappointment of committees. The Chairmen selected should be those who are (a) always present in their district; (b) active; © own a motor car, motor-cycle or riding horse. The names and addresses of the Chairmen of the Committees should be sent to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, York. TRANSMISSION OF ORDERS. 3. To arrange means of communication of orders from the military, by motor despatch corps., to the Divisional Superintendant or Inspector of Police and the Special Constable Commanders (see Note, p.2). APPROVAL OF COLLECTING PLACES. 4. To approve and settle the collecting places which are to be selected by the Local Emergency Committee in the first instance, but are to be finally approved by the Central Committee so as to avaoid overlapping routes from places on the borders of two Local Committees. ORGANISATION OF MEANS OF DISBLEMENT. 5. To organise means of disblement of Flour Mills, Electric Light and Power Stations, &c., this work should be taken charge of by the Central Committee by arrangements made with owners or engineers connected to such works, and should not left to a Local Emergency Committee. DESTRUCTION OF PIERS, BOATS, Etc, 6. To organise destruction of Piers, Jetties, and the removal or destruction of such boats and barges in such localities as may be have been specially indicated by the Military Member of the Committee (See slso psragraph 7). WATERWAY EMERGENCY COMMITTEES. 7. In Counties where there are large rivers or canals, a Special Committee or Committees should be formed to deal with boats and barges, and any timber or waggons near spots where bridges might be destroyed. The River Committee should have as Chairman an active member of the River Conservancy Board, and as members a member from each of the Local Emergency Committee adjoining the river or canal. The Committee will be informed by the Military Officer of the special local application of this general statement of its duties. BADGES FOR SPECIAL CONSTABLES. 8. To arrange with the Chief Constables to provide badges for the Special Constables. COMPOSITION OF THE LOCAL EMERGENCY COMMITTEE. CHAIRMAN. The Charman to be appointed by the Central Organising Committee; the Members to be selected by the Chairman, after consultation with the Central Organising Committee. COMMITTEE. The Committee should be representaive of the area, but it is even more important thatit should be small, and consist of active men; it should not exceeed seven in number. The local Superintendant or Inspector of Police should be made an ex-officio member of the Committee. The Committee will have the advice of a Military Officer in the early stages of organisation, but will be responsible that the owners owners of transport animals, live stock, motors, bicycles, and vehicles, understand their duties, and that Special Constables are told off to specific work, and to understand from whom they will receive orders. The Committee is an organising advisory committee; the actual executive orders will be given, either direct by a Military Officer or through the Chief Constable or Divisional Superintendants or Inspectors. SPECIAL CONSTABLE COMMANDERS AND GROUP LEADERS. Generally, the Chairman of the Committee should be the Special Constable Commander. Members of the Committee should be Group Leaders. Each Group Leader should be allocated a district within the area, and be responsible that the Special Constables in district are efficient, and able to carry out the specific duties allocated to them, and that the means of transmitting orders is constantly maintained in working order. A list showing the names of the Special Constable Commander and Group Leaders to whom duties have been assigned should be sent to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for purposes of immediate reference. Note :- It is hoped that in order to avoid confusion, all Emergency Committees throughout the Northern Command will utilise the titles "Special Constable Commanders" to denote the head of the Executive in the emergency area, and "Group Leader" to denote the Chief Special Constable of the district within the area. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ DUTIES OF THE LOCAL EMERGENCY COMMITTEE. APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL CONSTABLES. 1. To submit to the Chief Constable the names of suitable men for appointment as Special Constables; these appointments will be made by the Magistrate on the recommendation of the Chief Constables, and badges will be provided. In many districts Special Constables have already been appointed; their names should be obtained from the Chief Constables, and the selection made as far as possible from among them. CYCLE DEPATCH CORPS. 2. TO organise a Cycle Despatch Corps to be attached to the Group Leaders of the Special Constables for the transmission of orders, so that each group leader shall have cyclists or mounted messengers to distribute messages. SELECTION OF COLLECTING AREAS FOR THRANSPORT ANIMALS. 3. To advise the Central Organising Committee of suitable collecting areas for transport animals and light carts; the areas should usually be westward, and approached by minor roads (thus leaving main roads free for military use), and about 15-20 miles from the coast or other point of departure. The collecting area need not necessarily be within the Committee's boundary. LIVE STOCK. 4. Cattle removal and destruction: Instructions will be given by the military representative of the Committee. TRANSPORT VEHICLES. 5. To advise the Central Organising Committee of suitable collecting places, to register the names and addresses of owners of mtors and bicycles, and to instruct them that on receipt of the order they are immediately to start the motors and bicycles on the road to the collecting place, and to render useless for transport any vehicles left behing either by removing and taking with them, or destroying wheels or other necessary parts. Heavy carts and traction machinery should not be moved, but should be disabled. In populous centres it will not be possible to register the names of owners of bicycles; arrangements should, however, be made for clearing bicycle shops and garages. ENTRENCHING TOOLS. 6. On receipt oforder to collect entrenching tools, barbed wire and other wire, wire netting, ans anything useful for blocking roads, or for military fields works; also axes, saws, and bill hooks, at or near points which will be indicated by the military officer. Police Stations or houses or farms near roads may be used for storage. Each storage place should be put under the charge of a Special Constable, who shall be responsible for producing or destroying the stores when the order to do so is given. At or near the storea cart or motor for transporting them should be set apart. Lists of such tools, &c., with names of owners, should be drawn up at once, and if directed by the Military a supply should be collected at once. REGISTRATION OF LABOUR. 7. To register the names of labourers available to assist the military in making entrenchments and earth works, and to assist the Police in destructive work. A Special Constable should be told off for the purpose in each district, and he should be responsible for summoning them when required, and he should know where the tools required by them are to be obtained. ASSIST SUPPLY OFFICERS. 8. To give all assistance to our own Supply Officers if called upon to assist in collecting supplies that may be required fr for our troops. PETROL, RUBBER TYRES Etc. 9. To arrange for the removal or destruction of stores of Petrol, Rubber Tyres. BOATS AND BARGES. 10. To arrange for the removal or destruction of such Boats, Barges and Rafts as may be indicated by the Central Organising Committee. SPECIAL CONSTABLES AT CROSS ROADS. 11. To arrange for posting two or more Special Constables at important cross roads, to keep roads clear for the military, and to direct them and the civil population as required. DIRECT THE CIVIL POPULATION. 12. To do everything possible to keep the inhabitants from encumbering the roads required by the Military Authorities and to distribute any instructions to them which may be issued by the Government. ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ MILITARY AND CIVIL CO-OPERATION. TRANSMISSION OF ORDERS. Orders for any of the duties to be carried out by the Special Constables will be given either through the Chief Constable of the County, Riding, City, or Borough, as the case may be, or direct by a Military Officer. It should be borne in mind that in the event, gainst which provision is being made, telephones and telegraphs will probably either be out of working order, or else occupied by the Military, so that alternative methods of communication must be arranged. The original orders to put the machinery in motion may emanate from the Headquarters of the Northern Command, and it may be possible to communicate to the Chief Constables in most Counties &c., for transmission to the Special Constable Commanders and or Group Leaders in the Local Emergency Areas. The Divisional Superintendent or Inspector and the Special Constable Commander and Group Leaders should use the Cycle Corps for the transmission of orders to the Special Constables. This Cycle Corps will be organised by the Local Emergency Committee (see Duties, para. 2). GENERAL STAFF, NORTHERN COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, YORK. 17th November 1914.

Good Morning Mervyn, Many thanks for your most helpful comments. There are a couple of issues which I feel are of interest. Firstly, I think that it would be desirable to place the efforts of this division of the Special Constabulary into the context of the workings of the Northumberland Constabulary, under whose directions they worked. I am a little surprised to see the amount of planning work apparently carried out by the Special Constabualry which does not appear to give any reference to the interface with the regular police that would have existed. Reference is made to the local emergency committee(s) structure and the interface through that medium with the Military and the Lord Lieutenant, who appeared to have had a more active role; far removed from our modern interpretation of what appears to be a largely ceremonial office. Perhaps the remainder of the bundle may shed more light. Secondly, I am intrigued to know how different the workings of the Northumberland Special Constabulary differed from more densely populated areas. This may be teased out through this forum but I suspect that a lot more research would need to be undertaken. The recently displayed Birmingham Waterworks Medal is a case in point. Also, how did the close proximity of this particular division to the North Sea, coupled with the rural location, colour the early planning and later operational aspects of their activities? Thirdly, your point on preserving this reference material is (as usual) spot on. I am enjoying immensely going through the information and encouraging a dialogue and the sharing of ideas and views. I am also very aware of the amount of material that makes the journey to the skip when our days on earth come to an end. The collector's 'treasure' in the upheaval of bereavement too often becomes magically transformed into rubbish. Last year I managed to get hold of a pocket book from a City of Bradford Special Constable which related to the whole of the Second World War. I have copied the contents and started to liaise with a local historical group at Bradford who should be interested and may be in postion to shed spome light on the contents. The book, however, is now in the Police and Prison Museum at Ripon where it rightly belongs. Perhaps at some stage a home can be found for this material. Last year my wife and I spent a couple of hours on a lovely sunny afternoon seated on a bench in Alnwick enjoying a sandwich. We had not visited that area before. Little was I to know that this material would appear a few short months later. A possible first point of reference could be a local historical society in the area. I would be amazed if one did not exist, given the rich history enjoyed by that part of the Country. Kind regards, Kevin

Hello Alan I quite agree. There must be plenty of certificates around. The sectret is finding them. I thought you might be interested in this Christmas Card sent by the Gloucestrshire Special Constabulary during WW11. I haven't seen an example from another force but I wouldn't be surprised if there were others. I am a firm believer in creating a repository for SC memorabilia. Perhaps this forum is the embryo.

Hello Brian, This is a certificate from Sunderland which I picked up last year. The art work is superb. Kevin