Hastings Police black painted Brunswick star helmet plate with new style centre c1954 - 1959

Object/Artifact

Old Police Cells Museum Brighton

Hastings Police black painted Brunswick Star helmet plate with newer shield centre 1952 - 1959

Name/Title

Hastings Police black painted Brunswick star helmet plate with new style centre c1954 - 1959

Entry/Object ID

2559

Description

Black painted Brunswick star helmet plate with chrome plated shield centre bearing the Hastings coat of arms, marked "Borough of Hastings Police". The small cross at the very tip of the badge is missing. There are three lugs to the rear.

Use

For day and night use on male constable's and sergeant's helmets in Hastings Police

Context

There is some debate as to whether black Kings Crown Brunswick Star hemet plates were used in Hastings for both day and night use, or just night use between 1936 and 1952. However when Queen Elizabeth came to the throne in 1952 a black helmet badge was definitely adopted for both day and night use by Hastings Police. This was very similar to the previous version (see item 2552) but had a Queen's style crown instead of the domed King's Crown. The centre of this new badge was the same as used previously and consisted of a shield containing the Hastings coat of arms. However during the 1950s it was discovered that the shape of the shield was incorrect and new helmet badges such as the one pictured were introduced, which had a more elaborately shaped shield. All other badges used by Hastings Police were also changed to incorporate the new shield. It is not known exactly when the revised helmet badges were adopted but this particular badge is known to have been in the possession of Angus Cargill who was the chief constable from 1942 until 1954. Assuming that it acquired it whilst still serving, it suggests that this badge with the new shield was used from 1954/55. In 1959 these black painted badges were replaced with an identical chrome plated version, which was used for day and night duty until the force was amalgamated into Sussex Constabulary in 1968.