HELP Police force identity

[Rob Rose]

HI

Wondering if anyone could identify which force from the attached photo - I'm guessing 'The Met' ?

Helmet Plate reads J261

Also, if there is a way of finding a name / history / service record for the officer

Message reads 'To Frank, Merry Xmas 1928'

Frank being my grandfather Frank Rose b 1899 Bromley / Beckenham

Regards

Rob Rose

Edited October 12, 2010 by Rob Rose

[Monty]

Hey Rob.

Yep, Met alright.

J Division is Bethnal Green.

Do a google search on 'The friends of the Met police'. They will be able to help you find service records.

Monty

:)

Edited October 12, 2010 by Monty

[Rob Rose]

Cheers Monty - will give them a shout

Rob

[Mervyn Mitton]

Hello - Rob. Welcome to GMIC. Are you 'Job' - or, just have an interest? I was interested to see your photo - as Monty said in those days it was Bethnal Green - now it is 'H' Division and I served there for 7 years. 'J' Div. is now Hackney.

The Helmet Plates that had the officer's number and Div. are now very collectable. For some reason you don't see so many photos showing them in greatcoats - the belt has long been discontinued. I hope we hear more from you. Mervyn

p.s. - I've just noticed how the whistle is fixed - the style changed for this as well.

Edited October 13, 2010 by Mervyn Mitton

[Rob Rose]

Hello Mervyn

Just interested in finding out about PC Rose J 261 - I assume his surname is Rose - by no means certain.

He looks very young, probably taken when he joined the force ?

All I know is the photo, which was sent to my grandfather Frank Rose in 1928 ...... (he would have been living in Cardiff at the time)

My grandfather & / siblings were from Lewisham / Bromley / Beckenham

Regards

Rob

[Monty]

Yes Mervyn,

I noticed the way the Whistle was fixed. Very loose.

Hi Rob,

Some forces took photos of new boys for their records. Manchester, Portsmouth and I believe the City of London Forces did, as did the Met.

LMA may also be an option.

If you are interested in the joining up procedure, regulations etc, drop me a line.

Monty

:)

Edited October 14, 2010 by Monty

[Rob Rose]

Gentlemen

Mystery solved

The photo is of : P C Henry Ulric Rose b 1906 Nottingham (living in 1911 Beckenham / Bromley, Kent)

Appointed 22 Oct 1928 - Warrant No. 117918 - J Division Bethnal Green

http://www.flickr.co...57619598686347/ (photo record of joining date)

It has been suggested the Helmet is a 'Met Police Night Helmet' ?

Another suggestion was that he may have been Ministry of Defence Police, in that period it was probally a sub division of the Met. ?

Thanks again

Rob

[Nick]

The Metropolitan Police had responsibility for Dockyards until 1923 when the Admiralty Constabulary were formed, the Ministry of Defence Police were not formed until the 1970s. He may have worked a Dockyard in his service but the uniform above is Metropoitan Police J Division.