ONTHE WATERFRONT
Badges of office for Watch
Established in 1840, the River Wear Watch was responsible for delivering river policing and fire fighting services within the Port of Sunderland until the force disbanded in 1961.
This week we look at uniform and insignia worn by the Watch during its formative years.
Little information is available on the design of uniform during the early period of the force’s existence, although there is every reason to believe that it resembled a Royal Naval pattern.
A booklet entitled “Rules, Orders and Regulations for the Guidance and Government of the River Wear Police Force, 1840” gives insight into the standard clothing issue, namely:
First Year: Greatcoat, jacket, waistcoat, two pairs of trousers, two pairs of boots, cape and hat; Second Year: Jacket, waistcoat, two pairs of trousers, two pairs of boots and hat.
A set of oilskins was later issued for use during inclement weather.
The fact that a hat as opposed to a cap is mentioned indicates the probability that a hat with rounded straight brim and flat crown was worn, similar to the shape of a boater.
This notion is supported by the design of headgear issued to the Thames Police at this time.
When the Thames Marine Establishment had been formed in 1798, its members were not issued with uniforms except for a greatcoat.
On September 1, 1839, however, the force became the Thames Division of the Metropolitan Police and uniforms – based upon a naval style – were introduced during the first year of existence of the new division.
Straw hats, with black canvas cover, of the type referred to earlier, were issued to the men, these being similar to tarpaulin hats which were officially adopted as regulation uniform for ratings in the Royal Navy in 1857.
Such regulations standardised what had become an accepted pattern for a number of years.
In all probability, the Thames Division imitated the naval style with the River Wear Watch following its example in choice of headwear.
Each member of the Watch was identified by his force number and the letters ‘R.P.’ which were conspicuously displayed on his uniform.
It is not until the 1870s that we are given further insight into the development of uniforms and insignia by means of a photograph of the entire Watch establishment which can be dated as taken between December 30, 1875, and November 21, 1877.
By this time constables and sergeants had been provided with kepis as a replacement for their boater type hats. Kepis had round circular tops with horizontal peak.
A white metal cap badge, comprising a “foul” (or “fouled”) anchor had been introduced for constables only, it being of note that sergeants did not wear cap badges.
To be continued ...