Name/Title
Hastings Police male constable or sergeant's uniform cap c1940sEntry/Object ID
2574 Description
Dark blue wool cap with patent leather peak and embroidered patterned hat band. There are two metal embossed holes at the front, no chinstrap or badge and a label inside marked "7 3/8".Use
For a Hastings Police motor patrol male constable or sergeant to wear.Context
Hastings Police acquired its first cars in 1936, having used motorcycles since 1927. By the time of amalgamation in 1967 the force had six saloon cars, four large motorcycles, four lightweight motor cycles, a dog van, a mini bus and a Land Rover and trailer (Banks 1967 page 28).
Officers attached to what was called the Motor Patrol were issued with caps instead of helmets such as the one here. It is a little unusual for a police cap because of the two holes at the front. These are to secure the rather large cap badge that Hastings Police used. Unlike many other badges from the 1930s and 1940s, this was not attached to the cap with a slider or prong fittings but with two lugs, which required special holes to accommodate them. These caps and badges were in use until the force introduced a newer style coat of arms on its badges in the mid to late 1950s. From then on they used a smaller more generic style of badge with a slider.
This particular cap probably originally had a leather chinstrap. The cap had been in the possession of Angus Cargill who had been the chief constable of Hastings from 1942 until 1954, but would not have been used by him and appears to have had little if any wear. Cargill was instrumental in promoting the use of police vehicle in Hastings and insured that all members off the force could drive and have access to vehicles, not just those assigned to motor patrol duties (Obituary).