Please help ID Policeforce/Country Bobbies and ?

[GreyC]

Hello Gentlemen,

I´d appreciate your help in getting as much information as possible relating to this photo. As I am not at all familiar with the history of police uniforms I´d have to rely on your expertise. I think that some of the men in the picture are British policemen, but from what country do the others come from and are they also policemen? Could the photo have been taken on he occasion of an international police-meeting? I bought the photo because of the man photographing the photographer. The reverse is blank save the imprint Postkarte so the other men could be Austrian or (to my mind less likely) German.  The back is undivided so the photo must have been taken before Nov 1904 (Austria) or Spring 1905 (Germany). I have seen military uniforms of the Netherlands that look somewhat similar.

Thank you!

GreyC

Edited September 13, 2017 by GreyC

[NickLangley]

Not necessarily British policemen. The traditional British police helmet was modelled on the army's Home Service Helmet and military fashion would suggest that other organisations followed suit. For example Pennsylvania State Police wore British pattern helmets for a time.

A close inspection of the helmet plates shows that there is no crown on the eight pointed star. Now a few British forces did wear crownless helmet plates, but  commonsense would suggest that these are continental soldiers wearing the latest military fashion Circa 1904-5. 

[GreyC]

Hello NickLangley,

very interesting information, I thought that these helmets were unique to the British Police. Thank you for clarifying this. I wonder what continental force would wear these helmets. Maybe one of the specialists on this forum can pitch in.

Thank´s a lot!

GreyC

[coldstream]

Just an observation but are they definitely Police Officers, they look a little over equipped and over armed to  my mind.

Regards Simon

[coldstream]

Having looked again, the light coloured leggings or gaiters being worn remind me of Italian Colonial type Uniforms. May be way off the mark but it could be a meeting of Austrians and Italians somewhere along their mutual Border,

Simon

Edited September 14, 2017 by coldstream

[Dave Wilkinson]

I can confirm that they are not British Police Officers. The Italian police did, and some still do, wear British style police helmets.

Dave.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Dave Wilkinson

[GreyC]

Hi Simon and Dave,

thank you for your insights. Very helpful, if a little disappointing. Would have liked to have some British policemen in my collection.

The next step will be to find out what unit these guys belonged to. Austrian/Italian border meeting seems tempting.

Thanks again,

GreyC