Description
Physical description
Chrome headdress badge to other ranks of the Ministry of Defence Police, being a St. Edward's (Queen's) crown surmounting a circlet with textured ground on which embossed MINISTRY OF DEFENCE / POLICE, within the voided centre of the circlet an eight-point star with plain rays over the centre of which a disc with textured ground on which the EiiR Royal cypher, behind the outer rim of the circlet a laurel wreath. Captioned: "Soldiers Cap Badge", the word Soldiers lightly crossed through and a ms note to the right stating "Non Supervising Grades". Slider to reverse stamped FIRMIN LONDON.
Physical description
Box 121: Mounting card captioned: "Ministry of Defence Police" (11701-11703). Reverse with two deposits of green sealing wax on each of which an oval seal bearing MINISTRY OF DEFENCE / PATTERN ROOM, with across the centre, ARMY / OFFICERS, the upper one largely obscured.
History note
BADGE. This badge dates from reorganizations in 1971 when the Army, Air Force and Admiralty Constabularies were combined and re-named the "Ministry of Defence Police". The new organization came into being on 2 October 1971.
History note
The design was significantly different from the preceding Army Department junior ranks badge, principally by the introduction of the star motif and the laurel wreath. As with the senior officers' badge, the new design derives from the badges of the three previous Constabularies. A common feature, carried over into the new badges, was the Royal crown, denoting state service. The Laurel wreath surrounding the circlet of the 1971 badge derives from the predecessor Admiralty badge of 1949, which itself was originally included to commemorate the origins of the Admiralty Constabulary in the Royal Marines. The eight-point star, here again with the Admiralty pattern plain rays, was also new to the other ranks' badge, possibly introduced to emphasise the link with the senior officers' badge. The Royal cypher on a solid ground provided a similar link.
(obverse) embossed
(obverse) ERII MINISTRY OF DEFENCE POLICE