Colonial Police Colonial Prisons

[oldscrew]

Thought these Department of Corrections (themed) patches from my collection may be interesting to some. First two are Florida DOC patches (1st-Right shoulder 2nd-Left shoulder)

More pics later.

Ed

Hello Ed,

Thank you for posting pics from your patch collection I will post some phots from my collection of prison badges when I discover how.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Oldscrew (first name please ?) welcome to GMIC . If we can establish this to be Dartmoor - that will be good. However, how do you account for the

skin colour of most of the convicts - and the guard on the left ? Might the Cape authorities who would of been

responsible if this is South African - have copied a prison they could have been familiar with ?

I appreciatiate with your Avatar that you are /were a British Prison officer - however, do you have any photos from that period

that would show this view ? Mervyn

[peter monahan]

Hi Peter,

The Prison is Dartmoor not Dartmouth and is situated on the Devon moor in Southern England...

My ignorance of the prison services is exceeded only by my incompetence as a typist!

Edited January 25, 2013 by peter monahan

[dante]

Interesting photo. If these are Zulu convicts, then the warders would no doubt be members of the Natal Police, which trebled-up as police force, regular army, and prisons service.

I can confirm this is Dartmoor, having worked there for 3 years.......the reverse of the long service medal is based on the inner gate in the picture, the photo show prisons marching to the quarry, healthy work with lot of open air and sunshine

Edited January 25, 2013 by dante

[Mervyn Mitton]

Thankyou Dante - nice to have that confirmation - and also we now know your past career ............

This new identification changes the past threads - but, only with regard to this picture. I am still a little confused as to why the

prisoners and the guard appear to coloured. I can only think now that the original photo must have 'darkened' them ?

We have said several times that the Prison Service is a neglected collectors field - along with Customs and Fire Services. Perhaps

now would be a good time for some good articles and photos - the earlier the better. Although this is a Police Forum, I am sure

that Brian will go along with me that these other Services will fit well - after all, we are the 'Essential Services'. (with Ambulance) Mervyn

[peter monahan]

Mervyn

Interesting that the men look black to you. To me/on my screen they looked white, which is why I wondered about white prisoners in a SA prison. Maybe one of us needs new specs!

Peter

[oldscrew]

I can confirm this is Dartmoor, having worked there for 3 years.......the reverse of the long service medal is based on the inner gate in the picture, the photo show prisons marching to the quarry, healthy work with lot of open air and sunshine

Hi Dante,

Thank you for posting the pictures.That is some epaulette that you have there Principal Officer with the designation DA001 very nice.

[oldscrew]

Oldscrew (first name please ?) welcome to GMIC . If we can establish this to be Dartmoor - that will be good. However, how do you account for the

skin colour of most of the convicts - and the guard on the left ? Might the Cape authorities who would of been

responsible if this is South African - have copied a prison they could have been familiar with ?

I appreciatiate with your Avatar that you are /were a British Prison officer - however, do you have any photos from that period

that would show this view ? Mervyn

Hi Mervyn,

Firstly may I thank you for your welcome.My name is Gwynne Jones and I was the gentleman that phoned you last week making enquiries about the Orange River Prison Colony Badge.

In Dantes post you can see a modern day view of Dartmoor Prison the only difference being the old prison bell, which I presume was from inside the prison and rang at specific times to denote the daily running of the prison regime has been placed on top of the inner gate entrance.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Gwynne - very unusual - and very good news that we have two new members with a different background. I hope that we will

have some interesting posts in the future. What is the significance of the low number on the epaulette - and what would be the

equivalent police rank ? Police don't have a lot to do with prisons and the warders. I have taken a few prisoners to the London

prisons - and on one occasion helped to escort a very unpleasant woman to Holloway. We actually went inside and it was a place

I wouldn't have wanted to work.

Under our Blog section you will find posts from one of our US members who is a Sgt. in one of their women's prisons. Mervyn

[dante]

The epaulette is from Dartmoor and the rank is Principal officer, there is no police equalivant per say (although as the second uniformed rank, Inspector would fit), (day to day management) of about 50 staff and 500 prisoners). the rank has now gone which makes the epaulettes rare and collectable, the number one was (when initiated) based on the persons first letter of the surname A=1 and so on, my replacement when I was promoted I believe got my epaulettes.

[oldscrew]

Gwynne - very unusual - and very good news that we have two new members with a different background. I hope that we will

have some interesting posts in the future. What is the significance of the low number on the epaulette - and what would be the

equivalent police rank ? Police don't have a lot to do with prisons and the warders. I have taken a few prisoners to the London

prisons - and on one occasion helped to escort a very unpleasant woman to Holloway. We actually went inside and it was a place

I wouldn't have wanted to work.

Under our Blog section you will find posts from one of our US members who is a Sgt. in one of their women's prisons. Mervyn

Hi Mervyn,

Thanks for the info and to Dante for the explanation in reference to the epaulette and how they were designated.I had hoped to down load some photos but apparently they are to large will have to work at it.

Gwynne

[oldscrew]

My first attempt at downloading resized photos from collection.The badge underwent a repair from when the first photo was taken as you can see the rear has now got the correct lugs.Maker Dowler.

This particular badge in not in Colin R Owens Book.

[dante]

Currently an advisor to the Papua New Guinea Correctional Service, here are some medals and badges

[dante]

Some more.........

Distinguished Corrections Medal, MBE, Independance and 25 year Jubilee, and Corrections Valour medal

BEM (Has since been awarded the Distinguished Correction Medal) Independence and LSGC at the end

Edited April 27, 2013 by dante

[oldscrew]

Hi Dante,

Some very nice pieces thank you for posting. Could you tell me if the earlier PNG prison badges bore a Crown on them ?

Regards.

[dante]

No but it was muted, and indeed it has been discussed, some of the senior staff want to change the name to HM.......

[oldscrew]

Hi Dante,

Thank you very much for the answer.

[kitinsignia]

Hi,

I have a small collection of British colonial Prisons badges on Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States. Can anyone guide me how to add images to share with you gentlemen.

Thank you, Kit

[Mervyn Mitton]

Kit - our Chairman has a section at the top of the Forum which sets out how to make posts and pictures. It is

in a box where other problems are covered. Should you have any problems after reading this, then please get

back in touch. We will look forward to seeing the pieces from your collection. Mervyn

[kitinsignia]

Thank you for all the help and directions.

I have attached some Prisons badges used in both Straits Settlements and Malaya.

Regards, Kit

[Mervyn Mitton]

Kit - well done, some nice badges. I don't think we welcomed you to GMIC.

The first helmet badge has a King's Crown and early wording - would this have been the pattern at the time

of the Japanese invasion ? I know they took over and used , the main prison in Singapore - was that Changi ? Mervyn

[kitinsignia]

Hi Mervyn, the 1st badge with the King crown was likely to be from the Victorian era. As there was traces of refitting of the crown, probably to save production cost. I have a couple more KC SS Prisons hat badges with similar conditions. Yes, it may be the possible pattern used on ceremonial dress only, before the Japanese Occupation. regards Kit

[HMPbadges]

Hello Gents, I'm fascinated reading this thread. Has it been continued in a new Prison blog elsewhere on the site that I have not seen yet?  

[Mike McLellan]

Hi HMPbadges. You can revive this thread or create a new thread if you'd like a fresh start. Among the members, there are several who possess an astonishing amount of pertinent knowledge. I'm not one of them, but I've spent 25 years as a prison officer in Fairbanks Alaska and consider myself a avid student of HMP related things. Post some pictures, ask some questions, and share what you know. 

There are HMP related threads that are within reach. Use the search thingy at the top of the page to find them. Welcome aboard. Mike.

[Yorkstone]

Re Dante comment on the HMPS long Service medal revers being based on Dartmoor gate this is just coincidental.

I was on the design team and the gateway portal is just a generic Victorian gate drawn by or designer chosen from numerous images.

sorry to say not based on any one prison Gate.

regards to all

Stephen