Sussex Constabulary special sergeant's epaulettes c1969
Name/Title
Sussex Constabulary special sergeant's epaulettes c1969
Entry/Object ID
2496
Description
A pair of dark blue/black cotton epaulettes each with chrome plated metal "SC" badge topped with a Queen's Crown, over the chrome plated numbers "1576, themselves over chrome plated metal sergeants 'insignia.
Use
For a sergeant in the special constabulary to wear on a uniform shirt.
Context
By the late 1950s most if not all of the police forces in Sussex allowed their officers to wear shirts without tunics in some capacity. This meant that epaulettes were needed to display a constable or sergeant's warrant number on their shirt, with sergeants having the addition of rank insignia as well. Ranks of inspector and above, did not display numbers but only rank insignia as was the case on tunics.
These epaulettes were used by William Frederick Turner who served as a special constable in Brighton Borough Police and later Sussex Constabulary. They date from when he was promoted to sergeant in February 1969. At this time the Sussex Constabulary specials were using the same ranks as regular officers. Later they would adopt a totally different rank system and rank insignia unique to the special constabulary, consisting of bars and including the ranks of "section" and "divisional" officers. The "SC" signifies "Special Constabulary"
The type of sergeant's insignia used here is that first adopted in Sussex Constabulary who later in the 1970s, changed to a simpler form of three chevrons.
