MACRAE Posted 12 January , 2009 Share Posted 12 January , 2009 Can any one tell what this cap is Military or Police or perhaps Prison service. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 12 January , 2009 Share Posted 12 January , 2009 Dan There may be a few other options too,say,Government service such as Messenger,Chauffeur, Commissionaire/doorkeeper etc. When I joined the Civil Service in the 1950s hats like this were all over the place,but mostly black then. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 12 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2009 Dan There may be a few other options too,say,Government service such as Messenger,Chauffeur, Commissionaire/doorkeeper etc. When I joined the Civil Service in the 1950s hats like this were all over the place,but mostly black then. Sotonmate Well yes and no why the WO2 badge I thought perhaps naval Royal Mail Ship ? Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 12 January , 2009 Share Posted 12 January , 2009 Dan RMS would be Merchant Navy but probably not a grey hat. It occurred to me also that an early RAF Warrant Officer might wear it. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 12 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2009 Dan RMS would be Merchant Navy but probably not a grey hat. It occurred to me also that an early RAF Warrant Officer might wear it. Sotonmate Ermmm my bad photography its not a grey hat its dark blue Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 12 January , 2009 Share Posted 12 January , 2009 The corded 'chinstrap' does not look like anything I have seen for UK armed services; more like a chauffeur's or the smarter type of security officer? Is there any maker's name inside? D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 12 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2009 Ermmm my bad photography its not a grey hat its dark blue Dan took another pic . Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 12 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2009 The corded 'chinstrap' does not look like anything I have seen for UK armed services; more like a chauffeur's or the smarter type of security officer? Is there any maker's name inside? D A J G Man Aldershot 1920 on the sweat band under it it has the crows foot and WD 1921 Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 12 January , 2009 Share Posted 12 January , 2009 Hmmm. That puts me out of the prizes! D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tintin1689 Posted 13 January , 2009 Share Posted 13 January , 2009 It may be one of the more senior grades in the Scottish Prison Service. They used the crown on its own as a cap badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 13 January , 2009 Share Posted 13 January , 2009 It may be a Chief Officer Prison Service. Is the cap band oak leaves? Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 13 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 13 January , 2009 I was talking to the Postal museum in Bath today and he seems to think its post office rifles due to the wo2 badge he recalls something re this kind of badge on caps . New one to me but rifle brigade was suggested by a one long term collector personally i would say no but I am still open to suggestions. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 14 January , 2009 Share Posted 14 January , 2009 The reason I asked about the cap band being a pattern of oakleaves, the prison service cap I was issued with when i joined the service had an oakleaf band, not sure whether that is exclusive to that organisation though. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted 14 January , 2009 Share Posted 14 January , 2009 Oak leaf bands in black mohair were commonly worn on police caps throughout the empire as well. The crown badge suggests that it is an official organisation- people were much more careful about the use of official government insignia in those days, although some crowns were worn by private organisations such as the Corps of Commissionaires, above company badges by Cunard Line officers and on some early airline badges . This type of badge was worn by senior police officers in forces like the Queensland Police force and I have also seen some in the UK. This helped to distinguish them from the rank and file who wore a metal badge. I don't think, on this basis it is a WO2 Rank badge- the use of 'rank' badges on headgear was not common in the British Commonwealth tradition.The use of the cords rather than a strap is interesting and makes me think of a more civilian service. Have you thought of something like Indian Railways or another railway owned by a government, or perhaps Customs/Excise, Harbours or immigration -particularly given the association with the Merchant Navy cap? Might be worht running this on the Navy part of the forum there was a discussion of Merchant Navy uniforms and RN uniforms there a few months ago. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted 14 January , 2009 Share Posted 14 January , 2009 Just looking again at the postings the War Department mark is odd if it is prison, police etc. I seem to recollect there was a War Department Constabulary which guarded buildings and bases- I guess a progenitor of the Minstry of Defence Police of today It was started in 1925. Might it be possible that it adopted a standard pattern of cap made already? Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 14 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 14 January , 2009 Hi Greg A good idea customs and excise. I am running out of options but who knows some one some where knows what this is. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 18 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 January , 2009 Another has suggested Army Postal Services !. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbrydon Posted 18 January , 2009 Share Posted 18 January , 2009 I dont know when they first started wearing them but uniformed members of HM Customs and Excise wear a badge very similar to a Naval officers but with a portcullis replacing the anchor. P.B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 18 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 January , 2009 Look at the two men in centre from the school of musketry 1905 one is wearing a identical cap to the one I have Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardog Posted 18 January , 2009 Share Posted 18 January , 2009 I don't realy think so. I do not see a badge the same as yours and they look to have officers leather chinstraps. I'm sure it will be pinned down, but if it was British Army of the 1900's, I would have thought someone would have hit on it by now... but we shall see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 18 January , 2009 Share Posted 18 January , 2009 Dan NOT Customs and Excise ! pbrydon is right with his facts ! Sotonmate (C&E-retired) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 18 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 January , 2009 I don't realy think so. I do not see a badge the same as yours and they look to have officers leather chinstraps. I'm sure it will be pinned down, but if it was British Army of the 1900's, I would have thought someone would have hit on it by now... but we shall see. I did not say that the badge on my cap was there. The other picture that i failed to take a picture of has the same cap with NO BADGE !!!!. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardog Posted 18 January , 2009 Share Posted 18 January , 2009 Well, I see dark caps and yes, yours is a dark cap. If the other picture showed more detail and you are happy it is the same type of cap then well done. Sorry if I failed to grasp your use of the word identical. Best regards, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 19 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 19 January , 2009 Well, I see dark caps and yes, yours is a dark cap. If the other picture showed more detail and you are happy it is the same type of cap then well done. Sorry if I failed to grasp your use of the word identical. Best regards, Paul. Hi Paul No apoligies are required I was just saying these caps was the same. I wish I had taken a picture of the other one it was very clear that it was the same kind of cap . Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now