East Sussex Constabulary cap badge for constables and sergeants 1937 - 1951
Name/Title
East Sussex Constabulary cap badge for constables and sergeants 1937-1951
Entry/Object ID
143
Description
Chrome plated round East Sussex Constabulary King's Crown cap badge with voided (cut away) East Sussex coat of arms centre. Marked around edge "East Sussex Constabulary". Has rear slider.
Use
For use on caps worn by East Sussex Constabulary constables and sergeants. This particular badge was worn by PC Ceil E. Martin who served in East Sussex Constabulary from 13th April 1937 until his accidental death in March 1951. This type of badge was in use throughout his service.
Context
In 1920 the new Chief Constable of East Sussex Constabulary, Lt. Colonel Ormerod, decided to make changes to the uniform, which included abandoning the use of the helmet and adopting a peaked cap as standard headwear for all ranks. The new caps were used from the Autumn of 1921 and the first badge used for constables and sergeants was similar, if not identical to the East Sussex shield, which was also used as a collar badge.
The type of badge pictured was introduced in 1935/1936 and has a King's or Imperial Crown. It was in use until 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne, and it was replaced with a similar badge with a Queen's or St Edward's Crown (see item 258).
Badges such as this were only used by constables and sergeants. More senior officers had star shaped badges with blue enamel rings.
Helmets were eventually re-introduced in East Sussex Constabulary in October 1954 and caps were only used by constables and sergeants on certain duties.
