Interesting, Named - 1914, WW1 Era 'Metropolitan Police Long Service' Medal / Badge

[dpast32]

 

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Date:  25 August 2024 

   

      Hello Gentleman, I just now picked up this somewhat interesting WW1 era U.K., Metropolitan Police, Special Constable 'Long Service' Medal / Badge, which I feel is interesting due to the fact of it being named / identified on the Reverse to the following Metropolitan Special Constabulary Sergeant named below;

©>>> 'Sergt. Kingsley', in semi-scroll style, above the letters 'K. D.' & below those somewhat oversize letters is the date; '17 6 1917'

I wasn't initially all that interested in it, due to fact that I currently have more than enough Research Projects going on at the moment, & just did not need anymore to tie my up. But, the fact of it being identified, therefore having the potential for Research, along with the fact that I obtained it for what I believed was a very reasonable price compelled me to purchase it. I thought I would 'present' it here on the Forum to possibly solicit a few opinions as to its potential originality, in regards to the naming type, style, & or format, along with any other related & relevant comments ? Please note that it's an average, 'Metropolitan Police, Special Constable, 1914 Long Service Badge', & below are a few representative photographs to illustrate the engraving style, along with the other accompanying data. I of course realize that this Badge / Medal is nothing out of the ordinary, with an estimated total of ark 15,000 having been either produced, & or awarded to deserving recipients. I picked it up primarily based upon my fondness my Met. Police items, & for the fact that it may actually be traceable to the recipient ?  I've already looked into J.H.F. Kent's awesome 'Bible' concerning Met. Officers, & found 3 potential 'possibles', all of which require further investigation to determine 'if' any are a correct match. I do have one relatively big concern about the aforementioned Book, & that is, does it include the Special Constables also, not only the Full Time Personnel ?  If anyone here has some insight into either the Badge itself, & or my locating the recipient within Kent's Book, I will deeply appreciate hearing from them. THANK YOU Gents,

 

                   Regards,       Dom P.

 

 

 

   ©>>> End of Scans

[Dave Wilkinson]

These medals were often privately engraved on the reverse by their recipients and in that respect the medal is not unusual. The photo also suggests that it has been "cleaned" at sometime in the past. As issued, as I'm sure you will be aware, it would have been a chocolate brown colour.

 

The "book" that you refer to records details of full time serving Metpol. regular officers. However, by the law of averages, there may be some named officers who served as special constables prior to their appointment to the regular force.

 

As far as I am aware the Metropolitan Police have not retained any historical personnel records of persons who served as members of their special constabulary.

 

I hope this information is helpful.

 

Dave.   

 

 

 

 

[dpast32]

THANK YOU Dave, Your kind reply is most appreciated ! Your summation is exactly what I was afraid of. I knew it had been polished somewhere along the line, but although I definitely would have preferred the original, beautiful chocolate brown color of the original strikes, I wasn't too alarmed as in my collecting of British & Commonwealth Medals, I've observed this polishing far more frequently than I have with similar American Medals & Awards ? Plus, what I obtained this for was well within reason, therefore I purchased it under the, 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained' expectation. I will at least give it a search or two focusing on the period U.K. Census Records via Ancesty.com. as this approach has proven dividends for me before by matching up Employment / Occupation listings. I tracked down a Durham, UK WW2 era Special in this manner about a year or so ago. Yet, due to the lack of a first name in this case, I fear my success is somewhat doubtful in this particular case though. I am pm curious as to the intended meaning of the letters K. D. on the Reverse ? His respective Divisions served with ? THANKS !!

 

                     Best,      Dom P.

[Dave Wilkinson]

The initials "K.D." could indeed be the divisions that he served in as opposed to the lead letters of his first and middle name. If they are divisional designations then I doubt that this will be of particular help in tracking down Mr. Kingsley. The lead letters of his first and second name would be a better option for you. In any event, I hope you have some success.

 

Dave. 

[dpast32]

THANK YOU Dave,  I too am thinking along those lines. It almost assuredly one or the other ? There is one, albeit remote possibility which is to search within the L.G. Notices of the particular time frame ? I'm not all that well versed in this Badge / Medal type, so I'm not certain that these were Gazetted upon presentation ? And if so, that may present a small chance of success, 'if' of course I can manage to navigate my way through the L.G. Postings, & or Notices ? Unfortunately, my prior experience in searching the Gazette hasn't been crowned with success, therefore although it is an option, I don't hold up a great deal of hope. It's so annoying that the recipient didn't include his first initial !! But, it is what it is as they say, so at this point, I fear it might remain forever unidentified within my Collection. 

 

                 Best,      Dom

[Tom King]

Divisions at that time where designated by one letter. K division was East London area stretching from Bow out east.

to Dagenham. KD was a later designation for Romford Police Station but that didn't come into the Met until the 1960s it was in Essex Police at that time. D division was West end Marylebone?Tottenham Court Road . It is unlikely he served in two areas which are geographically not that close. 

[dpast32]

THANKS Tom, Your input is much appreciated. The K. D. may indeed be his first & middle names, but again it's only an assumption on our part. And, the fact remains that it's difficult enough to track him even with his full name, due primarily to his being a 'Special', & not Full Time Personnel. Sadly, at this point I'm proabably going to hibernate along with my other 'unsolved' British mysteries, at least until the unlikely availability of the Met. Special's Records becoming available, if ever ? I'm still attempting to research a relatively high Ranking Policeman's Medal, & so far he too remains amongst the missing, so to speak ! 

 

              Best,      Dom P.

[Dave Wilkinson]

17 hours ago, dpast32 said:

THANK YOU Dave,  I too am thinking along those lines. It almost assuredly one or the other ? There is one, albeit remote possibility which is to search within the L.G. Notices of the particular time frame ? I'm not all that well versed in this Badge / Medal type, so I'm not certain that these were Gazetted upon presentation ? And if so, that may present a small chance of success, 'if' of course I can manage to navigate my way through the L.G. Postings, & or Notices ? Unfortunately, my prior experience in searching the Gazette hasn't been crowned with success, therefore although it is an option, I don't hold up a great deal of hope. It's so annoying that the recipient didn't include his first initial !! But, it is what it is as they say, so at this point, I fear it might remain forever unidentified within my Collection. 

 

                 Best,      Dom

I can confirm that SC Long Service Medals, including the version we are discussing, have never been "Gazetted".

 

Dave. 

Edited August 27 by Dave Wilkinson

[dpast32]

And  yet again, I THANK YOU Dave, for this most relevant bit of information will surely save me an significant amount of time searching !! To be honest here, I can't truly say exactly why I keep buying Medals / Badges which tend be far removed from my 'designated' Collecting Field, which is 'usually' any Military related items identified, & or marked to the U.S. State of Rhode Island. ( Which is in southern New England, adjacent to Massachusetts & Connecticut. )  Yet, as I've mentioned earlier, I simply can't pull myself away from my love of British, & to an extent Commonwealth Medals & Decorations, no matter how I try. IIRC, my very first collection item was an WW1 BWM, named to the 62nd Punjabi Regiment, along with a few related Unit Badges, etc. So, I guess what I'm trying to say here is that it is, without doubt an extremely difficult 'addiction' to break !! THANKS

 

                   Best regards,   Dom Pastore Jr.  /   'dpast32'