Name/Title
Liverpool Police belt clasp c1928 - 1939Entry/Object ID
2561Description
White metal rectangular ornate belt clasp decorated with the coat of arms of Liverpool and the latin inscription "Deus Nobis Haec Otia Fecit".Use
For use by Liverpool Police constables and sergeants.Context
This clasp belonged to Angus Cargill who was the chief constable of Hastings Police from 1942 until 1954. Prior to leading Hastings he had been an officer in Liverpool Police, joining in 1928. Initially he had to become a member of the police fire brigade as there were no vacancies in the police force proper. He was promoted to sergeant in 1934 and inspector in 1939. When appointed to Hastings he was a Divisional Inspector in Liverpool, having been awarded the British Empire Medal in 1942 for his work organising Air Raid Precaution control in the city. It is interesting that despite being Scots, both Cargill and his brother joined the Liverpool force.
Clasp's like this were used on leather belts that were worn with uniform tunics until the early 20th century, when new styles of tunic were introduced that were not worn with belts. From then on in most areas belts were only used for night duties. In Liverpool clasps like this were discontinued from normal wear by 1914 but after that it appears they may have been retained for wearing with winter greatcoats, if indeed Angus Cargill was issued with it, as opposed to him having acquired it as a souvenir.
The coat of arms depicts Neptune and Triton together with a Liver bird. The moto translates as " God Hath Granted Us Ease".
If Angus Cargill wore this clasp it would have been on a belt over a greatcoat during his time as a constable and sergeant from 1928 until 1939. The police fire brigade in Liverpool prior to 1914 were issued with a larger version of this clasp with an elaborate border decoration. Again it was discontinued from normal wear but is known to have been retained for some ceremonial occasions.