United Nations Police

[leigh kitchen]

Reverse, the serial number of this piece is "2195".

These insignia were quite commonly worn withn UN IPTF in UNMIBH, sometimes pinned directly to clothing.

[leigh kitchen]

Similar, infereior quality, private purchase "UNPOL" breast shield worn in UNMISET (United Nations Mission in Support of East Timor).

A one piece badge, t has a gold chrome like finish, the scrolls being siver coloured, the light blue of the central device & the black lettering being painted:

[leigh kitchen]

The reverse:

[Mervyn Mitton]

The first ones had great quality - the last one looks really 'cheap'. Very interesting topic - I had no idea there were so many variations.

[leigh kitchen]

Insignia produced in totally different styles in different parts of the world, bearing in mind of course that so much is private purchase.

Some insignia in East Timor was / is painted on thin brass sheet, with a brooch pin glued to the back - eg a sheld shaped UNMO (United Nations Miltary Observer) badge that I have.

And some of the cloth looks a bit "strange", eg the bhue thread & bullion UN beret badge, & the for some reason blue & gold instead of white & gold version of the UN metal beret badge.

Some UN police looked like christmas trees, covered in brghtly coloured insigna, & there's a tendency to wear the insgnia that your mate in a different nations police service wears.

In Bosnia at least one British police officer got his hands on the large metal US police "shields", gold coloured with UN & US flags, & wore it with the Stars & Stripes repanted as the Union Flag.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Leigh - I think this enamel shoulder title would fall under your heading. I think it must be Denmark and it was for the handing over of South West Afica to become Namibia. Helpfully, the badge shows where Namibia is. The diamond is because it is one of the main areas for them. They can be found on some beaches - which is why they shoot you if you go near them.....

[leigh kitchen]

Interesting badge Merv, I've never seen one of those before - looks like the sort of manufacture you'd find in the South African army "shields", metal with a shiny plasticised coating?

[boonicootza]

I have a few UN items but only one Civpol patch.

CIVPOL Sarajevo

[Mervyn Mitton]

An interesting patch - Leigh has the great interest in these UN ones and will be pleased to see your post. I'm trying to work out it's meaning ? The sword is the weighing balance and in one pan it looks like a 'loaf of bread' and in the other a 'genie's lamp' ? I have probably got it quite wrong - but, if I'm right - what on Earth does that represent ?

[Gordon Craig]

Mervyn,

The lamp represents the "lamp of learning". When I taught electronics in the Canadian Air Forces the pocket badge we wore to indicating which command we were in (training command in this case) had this type of lamp as its central theme.

Regards,

Gordon

[Mervyn Mitton]

Thanks Gordon - but what on Earth is in the other pan ?

[Gordon Craig]

Mervyn,

Now that is a good question. I have no idea.

Regards,

Gordon

[bmsm]

Here is a RUSBAT 1 badge which I have had for awhile. I'm not sure if it is an authorized or unauthoized badge. It is 2-1/2 in. wide, 1-3/4 in high and has a screw back. It has Sector East in yellow above the parachute canopy and I have seen it in black also. Does anyone know why the different colors? The only information I have on it is that it was for the UN Peacekeeping Forces in Bosnia. If anyone has any more information, please post.

Bob

[Mervyn Mitton]

Sorry - double post. Windows 7 seems to close if an email message pops-up. Then you are left with a double window - has anyone else experienced this ?

Edited November 5, 2010 by Mervyn Mitton

[Mervyn Mitton]

Thanks, Bob. I had no idea Russian Forces were in Bosnia. From the badge does that mean they were a para unit ?

[Les-Art]

Bmsm,

Just wondering why you think that this is a POLICE badge, peacekeeping forces are generally the Military with the Police being involved with the Training of Local Police Forces.

There is nothing on the design that suggests Police. Would think but just guessing that RUSBAT is an abreviation for RUSSIA BATTALION, don't know of the term being used by the Police.

Just my two cents worth.

Best Regards,

Les

[bmsm]

Bmsm,

Just wondering why you think that this is a POLICE badge, peacekeeping forces are generally the Military with the Police being involved with the Training of Local Police Forces.

There is nothing on the design that suggests Police. Would think but just guessing that RUSBAT is an abreviation for RUSSIA BATTALION, don't know of the term being used by the Police.

Just my two cents worth.

Best Regards,

Les

Les,

I had thought about not posting the badge but thought others might enjoy it. Yet, it is still a UN badge whether official or unofficial. Even though it is a military badge the troops are a peacekeeping unit. If the moderator doesn't think this is the right topic for the badge to be in than he can remove it.

Bob

[Mervyn Mitton]

Bob - I think Les was quite right to point out that the Russian Unit is probably not a Police one - however, they were all basically serving as peace keepers and performing police duties of keeping good order and separating the opposing forces. My enamel shoulder patch for Namibia falls under the same criteria - in all probability the Danes were troops. I hope someone who was there at the time will pick-up on this and be able to say what they did ? Certainly, I think you have put this in the right place for discussion. Mervyn

Edited November 9, 2010 by Mervyn Mitton

[speagle]

I have a few UN items but only one Civpol patch.

CIVPOL Sarajevo

REF Entry #33

Couldn't find out anything about the patch doing a quick search, but found this interesting. Thought you might be interested in this bit of info:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htpara/articles/20060428.aspx

Ed

[Irish]

Hello I am a new member to this forum and collect U.N as well as other era's. I will post some photos, although I think I need to upgrade my membership to do this. Best John

[Mervyn Mitton]

Hi - Irish, and welcome to the Forum. The photographs sound interesting and we will look forward to seeing them. Do you collect anything else ?

Mervyn

[Gordon Craig]

John,

I would like to echo Mervyn's words and welcome you to the forum. You don't have to upgrade your membership to post photos. There are restrictions on the size of a photo that a new member can post. If you look through the information at the top of the forum when you first log on you should be able to find that information. I can not remember the size restrictions myself.

Regards,

Gordon

[Irish]

Thank You Leigh and Gordon, here is a small portion of my U.N badges. These as I have learned would have been worn from pocket hangers "French Style" This group would be from the period of 1970- 1980's or so in the mideast. Please excuse the glare. Best John

[Les-Art]

Hi Irish,

Nice collection of UN pocket badges.

It's difficult to tell ,but which ones are for Police Units ?

Is the little gold badge applied to the Senegal, Ghana, Indonesia and Chad badges the UN badge ?

Look forward to seeing more photos of your collection , especially cloth Police Insignias.

Best Regards,

Les

[Irish]

Yes the small gold emblems on the badges mentioned is the U.N. symbol. I veared off of the this thread topic by showing general U.N. pieces, I will try and keep my posts focused on Police items.

Best

John