Name/Title
Hastings Police chief constable's cap 1942 - 1952Entry/Object ID
2557Description
Dark blue wool cap with leather chinstrap, two rows of bullion wire laurel braids on the peak, and fitted with a King's Crown star shaped white metal and blue enamel cap badge marked "Borough of Hastings Police" with a shield shaped coat of arms centre. The only markings inside are the words "Real Roan Leather"Use
For use by Angus Cargill, the Hastings chief constable between 1942 and 1954.Context
This cap came directly from the family of Angus Cargill, who was the chief constable of Hastings Police from 1942 until 1954. The King's Crown badge dates it to before 1953 and the two laurel braids are the cap rank insignia for a chief constable or deputy chief constable. However, Hastings did not have a deputy chief constable rank and in line with many other police forces at the time the superintendent or senior superintendent would have acted as a deputy.
Interestingly the badge on this cap is not sterling silver, which was commonly used for chief officer badges, even though sterling silver badges of this design are known of from Hastings. Also given that Angus Cargill retired in 1954, this badge is unlikely to have been his last, which most likely would have had a Queen's Crown. We can only speculate that perhaps upon retirement he handed back a silver badge and swapped it for this one or that the cap dates from his initial appointment during the war when he had to make do with a white metal example as used by inspectors?
The term "Roan" refers to a particular type of leather used for headbands in hats.