Metropolitan Police Police uniform 1960s - shirt

[costumechic]

Hello all!

I am looking for some information on what a police shirt from the 1960s would look like. Would it have had epaulets and patch pockets like modern versions? Or would it be more like a dress shirt.

Unfortunately, the research I've found only shows the shirt under a tunic. I am working on a production of "What the Butler Saw," which has our sergeant stripping to his unmentionables, so we would see the shirt without the tunic,

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-17639-0-70801400-1413399733.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-17639-0-55800200-1413399778.jpg

[Dave Wilkinson]

It would have been an RAF style blue/grey fleck shirt without epaulettes and patch pockets. To be strictly accurate it should have a detachable collar with stud front and back. If his tunic were removed the shirt would obviously be visible together with probably braces to hold up his trousers.

Dave.

[Mervyn Mitton]

The pattern that Dave describes was also for the Metropolitan Police. The detachable collar was something that should

have been banned under the international cruelty act. Try putting it together on Early Turn - with parade at 5.45a.m.

The Met in about 1968/9 then changed to a drip-dry shirt with collar attached - same light blue. This lasted until about

1970 when we changed to white shirts with attached collars. This caused a bit of an outcry as white had been reserved

for Inspectors and above. Never the less the change went through and we looked much smarter. Many - indeed most -

of the Counties did not change and still wear the blue shirts. Blue or white we had epaulettes and twin front pockets with

flaps - the left one having a sewn section on the right for pens. Although Dave mentions braces - and the trousers had

the correct buttons I think most of us wore a belt. You couldn't take your tunic off - the braces lookes so untidy.

1949 was the first change to open collars and gradually restrictions were eased. Shirt sleeve Order was allowed to us in

about 1968 , but the sleeves had to be rolled-up to an exact height. We used to use pieces of cardboard to measure.

White shirts with SHORT ssleeves were issued from about 1971. I hope I remember these dates correctly. Mervyn

[costumechic]

Thank you both for steering me in the right direction. I greatly appreciate it!