British Army officer's Sam Brown belt c1944 - 1947
Name/Title
British Army officer's Sam Brown belt 1944 - 1947
Entry/Object ID
2573
Description
Brown leather Sam Browne belt and cross strap.
Use
For use by a British Army officer when wearing a dress uniform
Context
A belt like this is named after Sam Browne, a Victorian British Army officer who devised it so that he could draw a sword using only one arm as he had lost his due to wounds sustained in combat. These belts became standard for army officers as part of a dress uniform even when swords were not being carried. This particular example was used by Angus Cargill who was the chief constable of Hastings from 1942 until 1954. From 1944 until 1947 he was seconded to the army in order to help prepare and organise future policing arrangements for the liberated countries and the occupation of Germany. He was given the rank of lieutenant colonel and wore the appropriate uniform of which this Sam Browne was part.
Interestingly as early as 1942 as the chief constable of Hastings, he wore a Sam Browne belt with his police tunic, although that would have probably been black with was more in keeping with a police uniform.
