Original WW1 era postcard of civilian working voluntarily on the home front - he is wearing a Metropolitan Special Constabulary Inspector police lapel badge on his watch fob chain, with regulation armband, otherwise he is wearing civilian clothes of long overcoat and a bowler hat, this could date the image to circa 1914 / 1915. The Special Constabulary was established in August 1914. London,
The Metropolitan Special Constabulary was an unpaid force supporting full time policemen in London during WW1. The Special Constabulary was founded because so many police officers were signing up for military service in WWI that the authorities needed to fill the ranks. This man is not a regular Police Constable in the Metropolitan Police, but a Special Constable. - he is primarily identifiable as such by the crowned Special Constable badge visible on his lapel, plus the Duty Armlet being worn on the upper left arm (worn by regular PC's on the lower left arm) - the latter was a hang-over from wearing the armlet in civvies and after issue of uniform became more widespread, it did eventually move to the same position as the regulars and is generally a good indicator that this image is of a slightly earlier date in the war. Source: Andrew Upton - The Great War (1914-1918) Forum. This volunteer’s Metropolitan Special Constabulary Inspector police badge was made of bronze, crowned with a title circlet and the Royal Arms to centre. The crown was inlaid with enamelling. Research shows that early recruits wore civilian clothing before being issued with a uniform dating this image to the early part of the first world war, circa 1914, 1915.
Size: 4587px × 6888px
Location: London, England UK
Photo credit: © ThislifeThen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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