Sussex Constabulary early style sergeant's epaulette insignia c1968 - 1975
Name/Title
Sussex Constabulary early style metal sergeant's epaulette insignia c1968 - 1975
Entry/Object ID
2411
Description
Single chrome plated metal sergeant's epaulette insignia, with raised decoration around edges and lug fittings to rear. No maker's marks.
Use
For attaching to the uniform epaulettes of a police sergeant
Context
Following the introduction of open necked tunics for constables and sergeants in the early 1950s, cloth epaulettes were introduced for these officers to wear on their shirts to show their numbers and rank. Metal chevron/stripe insignia were used to identify sergeant's, used in pairs, one on each epaulette along with the officer's number. Larger epaulettes with the same insignia were also attached to the shoulders of raincoats. This style of stripe insignia was initially used by Sussex Constabulary from 1968 but was replaced with a less elaborate version in the mid 1970s. This simpler style continued to be used in Sussex until metal epaulette insignia was replaced with embroidered epaulettes in the 1990s.
This particular stripe badge is part of a collection of items from an ex Brighton Borough Police sergeant who went onto serve in Sussex Constabulary and Sussex Police. The museum has one of his Sussex Constabulary raincoats with identical epaulette stripe insignia and also a later pair of his epaulettes with the plainer insignia.
