Framed photograph of Hove Borough Police officers at Remembrance Sunday c1921 - 1929

Photograph

Old Police Cells Museum Brighton

Name/Title

Framed photograph of Hove Borough Police officers at Remembrance Sunday c1921 - 1929

Entry/Object ID

2476

Description

Glass fronted framed original black and white photographic print on card of two Hove Borough Police officers holding a large wreath, with a church choir in the background. The frame is not contemporary. The rear of the card is marked with handwritten biro "Remembrance Day Grand Ave Hove", "Ernest Goble Later to become sergent in Hove Police served 27 years Joined 1921?" and "Mr R Goble 17 Elmstone Close Lancing SX BN15 9QS". The front of the print is embossed at the lower right corner "Sussex Daily News Photograph".

Context

The War Memorial in Grand Avenue Hove was unveiled on 27th February 1921, though the writing on the rear of this photograph indicates that this image was taken on one of the later Remembrance Sunday events which are held in November. Though the war memorial itself cannot be seen, one of the corner pillars surrounding it can and the actual plinth appears to be covered with a cloth. It is not yet known what year this photograph was taken but it is thought that it was sometime in the 1920s. The uniform tunics being worn are interesting as they appear a ceremonial version based on Victorian styles. At this time the normal uniform tunic used in Hove Police had two breast pockets and was not worn with a belt. The other point to note is the use of the duty band on the left cuff of the officer on the right, Hove Police using bands with horizontal stripes. For many years the police played a significant role in Remembrance Day events and in Hove as in many other placers would carry or help present wreaths on behalf of the civil authorities. In this case this large one would have probably been on behalf of the council or the mayor. It is not yet known which of these officers is the PC Goble mentioned on the rear. This photograph came from John Street Police station Brighton together with other photographs of Hove Police and may well originally have come from the old Hove Police station in Holland Road which closed in 2013.