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This is not an official site.
Queensland Police Service
Queensland
Police, Queensland Police Force and Queensland Water Police badge history.
Queen Victoria Crown Queensland Police Force, nickel plated, brass, helmet plate. 1884
- 1906.
This was the first Queensland
helmet plate issued by the Queensland Police and records indicate may have been made by Thomas Stokes (Stokes Melb); in
conjunction with their agents, Stevenson and Sons, Melbourne, in 1894.
This is a nickel plated, "one piece",
diestruck, flat, helmet plate with the letters and numbers soldered into a black, laquered background.
The letter was for the specific District ("A" is for Brisbane/Moreton) and the number is the officer's district
number. Nickel plated, "letters" and "numbers" (made by Stokes Melbourne), were also worn solely on the "kepi" until c
1906, when the new "Russian style" forage cap and a new "King's Crown" cap badge and helmet plate were introduced (see
below).
* One of the
Rarest.
NOTE: A "brass" coloured, slightly
curved, replica of this helmet plate was apparently made in 2009 and unlike the original, the district letter, "A", is
indented into the badge (see back). This plate also does not have the original side "lip" and is unmarked.
This brass type, Queen Victoria Crown, "F" District version was made of a unique
"5 piece" design with removeable numbers and letters which are fixed through a leather backing and "pinned" onto
a separate removable back plate. It still has to be authenticated as an original, issued plate ( as we have no photos
of anyone wearing it, as yet), but most likely is authentic. It's unique design seems to be the precursor to the later "King''s
Crown", "5 part" design (below). Records indicate they were probably made by "Tower and Lyon", New York, USA,
in 1890, to facilitate the easy changing of District letters and/or numbers. They were withdrawn due to the
"softening of enamel due to climate". *One of the Rarest.
*Ozbadge thanks the Queensland Police Museum and Grant Linwood.
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The Queensland Police, (QVC), "Commissioned Officer's", Queen Victoria
Crown, bullion style badge; possibly second version. This style of badge was initially issued on a kepi or helmet
and is possibly based on an early Royal Navy or H.M. Customs Officer's badge of the time. This style of badge may have been originally used by the Superintendent of the Queensland
Water Police in 1870; who was also the local Customs officer. It was eventually adopted by all "Commissioned
Officers" and used on kepi's, caps and helmets over the ensuing years; see right. As they were all hand made, they were issued
in slightly, varying styles (see right).
Unfortunately, no originals of the QVC version are known to have survived. Note: Framed reproduction
sets (50) of the historical bullion badges were remade by Ozbadge in 2005, under authority of the Queensland Police Service
and are serial numbered; and hallmarked on the back of the badge.
The Queensland Police "Copper" or "Bronze" coloured Helmet Plate; without surmounted
crown. The crown may have been added to the top of the badge in later versions, due to "Royal Protocol" (see right);
as the crown is supposed to be on the highest point of a badge. These "5 piece" brass and leather helmet plates
and a smaller " 1 piece" matching brass cap badge, were originally issued to "other ranks" of the "foot
police" in 1906. Original maker was JR Gaunt and Sons Ltd, London. Extremely Rare. c 1906.
The black or subdued "night" style version King's Crown Helmet Plate;
possibly made for use during WW2.
c 1938. Hallmarked: Myers & Co. Extremely Rare.
The small King's Crown Cap Badge. This badge was originally issued in c1906
in "brass" for use on the new forage or "Russian style" cap for "other ranks" of the "foot police" and was hallmarked: JR
Gaunt and Son Ltd. London until c1915, and is "Extremely Rare". Later issues, in "brass" and
then "silver" are Very Rare and were also made by A.J.Parkes, Wallace Bishop, Myers and Co, Flavelles
and Miller and Sons; and issued until c1960. Note:
A replica version of this badge, with a "clear coat" laquer on it, was remade in c2008 with the raised
hallmark of "A.J. Parkes".
The Queensland Police Queen's Crown cap, bush hat and helmet
badge. c 1960-1978. Second last obsolete badge. Known as the
"Pineapple" badge. There were at least 5 versions of this badge made by various makers including "Wallace Bishop" and "AJ
Parkes" before being replaced. Not all hallmarked. Scarce.
A small version was used by all officer's and NCO's as collar or gorget badges from 1960 until 1978; then only
by Commissioned Officers until 1990. Water Police officers had a "gold" version of the small collar badge.
The Queenland Water Police, King's Crown, badge. These intricately enameled
badges were originally made by Rothwell's Ltd. Brisbane; but were not hallmarked. The Queensland Water Police was formed
in 1859 in Brisbane and is one of Australia's oldest independant Police Forces.
* One of the Rarest. c 1923 - 1960.
N.B: This badge was also issued, nearly exactly the same, but with a Queen's Crown from
c 1960 -1978; made by Myers and Co.
Note: Some replica versions were made, using solid plain enamel,
rather than a "vitreous glass" or "cloisonne" type enamel; and without "gold flake".
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Ozbadge gives special thanks to Grant Linwood for all his research and dedication.
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The "Brass" or "Bronze" version of the helmet plate, with
the King's Crown, was issued with a smaller brass cap badge; for use by "other ranks" of the "foot police" in 1906. This series of beautiful badges were made of " 5 parts" with leather or another exotic
skin, used in the background of the centre piece. The first brass/copper
colour versions were made solely by J.R. Gaunt (London) from 1906 - 1915 and then (to circa 1960 or later), also
by Jepson Bros. (London and Sydney), Wallace Bishop (Brisbane), Myers and Co (Sydney) and also Miller and Son (Sydney). Extremely Rare.
The Queensland Police Mounted QC helmet plate in chrome and enamel.
The Mounted Trooper version has two lugs and a slight curve (as
above) for use with a helmet, whilst the "Pipes and Drums" plate (see right) is flat and has a pin back; for use
on their feather bonnets. Very Rare.
c 1982.
The King's Crown, "silver", "High Collar" or "Gorget" Badge was issued
for use by Commissioned Officers only. Very early versions are hallmarked JR Gaunt and Son, London. This badge normally has an "unvoided crown", black enamel type and "North-South" lugs. After
1920, some versions were also made by Wallace Bishop and also by A.J.Parkes. Normally worn in pairs on
the Officer's "high collar" until c1949 and then on
both lapels of the new uniform on a "gorget" cloth tab.
c 1906-1959. Extremely Rare. This badge
has also been rarely, but mistakenly, used as a cap badge. Also made, for a short time, in a Very
Rare, Queen's Crown version; c 1960.
The Queenland Police QC Constable's and Sergeant's cap badge. The
constable's badge number was in the plinth area. 1978 -1989. Scarce for the constable's badge
and Very Rare for the Sergeant's badge. Hallmarked A.J. Parkes. A version with "PIPE
BAND" in plinth with a safety pin with circle fitting on the back, was also made for the bands "feather bonnet" head
dress. Extremeley Rare. A now Scarce IPA momento badge, which were all numbered "1111", was also made after it was withdrawn.
The obsolete Queen's Crown Queensland Water Police Sergeant's badge.
A badge "number" or the "SGT" Sergeant rank was normally in
the plinth area. There was also a rare "blank" VIP momento badge made. Badges numbered "1111" were not issued and are local IPA momento badges; now considered Scarce.
All original numbered "Water Police" badges (except 1111) are Very Rare and the Sgt's badge is Extremely Rare.
The Queensland Water Police unit now use the current
standard issue badge. Hallmarked: A.J. Parkes. c1978-1989.
The Current Queensland Police Service "Plaque" badge.
A new cap
badge and smaller flat ID badge design was introduced in 1989 by Commissioner N.Newham.
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The Queensland Police, King's Crown, "Commissioned Officer's", bullion cap
badge. c 1901 -1957. Various styles were hand-made over the years. Extremely Rare.
Ozbadge.com thanks Ed.Wortman.
The Queen's Crown, "Commissioned Officer's", bullion badge. Varying
styles were issued. c 1958. Very Rare.
Ozbadge thanks Queensland Police Museum.
The "Silver" coloured version of the Queensland Police helmet plate was
originally issued only to "other ranks" of the "Mounted" or "Cavalry" troop in 1906; “to correspond with the silver
spike and chain on the mounted men’s helmets". The original maker of this badge (helmet plate) in 1906, was J.R.Gaunt
and Son Ltd. London. Other makers, after c1915, included Myers & Co, AJ Parkes and Wallace Bishop; to c1960.
Most are hallmarked and are Extremely Rare. Note: There are "chrome" type replicas, with a soldered back plate, which were apparently
made for a movie in c 1990.
The Queensland Police QC "Pipes and Drums" type helmet plate was
flat and has a special separate bar and pin fitting, with a full circle safety wheel, on back; designed for use
on feather bonnets. Hallmarked: "AJ Parkes". c 1984. Very Rare. Note: There is NO evidence that a gold or gilt helmet plate (as above) was ever issued.
The Queensland Police Probationary cap badge. There were two versions
with slight enamel variations. Hallmarked AJ Parkes. Rare. c 1955 -1972.
The first issue Queensland Police ID badge. It is a flat badge
and was carried in a fitted leather wallet with the officer's warrant card. No fittings on rear. The plinth was blank. Very Rare. Hallmarked. 1980-1989.
The Queensland Police
Cadet badge was originally issued in 1970, to all Cadets at the old Police Depot, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane and was "trialed" with a new dark blue police
uniform; with a white "crowned", blue banded, peak cap. On January 1st 1971, the new dark blue uniform replaced the old
khaki uniform for all "sworn" ranks; with a blue cap, the new chequered cap band and the "Pineapple" badge. Cadets wore dark blue slip-on cloth
epaulettes with the words "POLICE CADET" embroidered in white (instead of nickel badge numbers). Oxley Police Academy opened on 24 March
1972. Cadets
at the Oxley Academy had different coloured epaulette sleeves denoting seniority. There were at least three versions of this
badge made over the years. Most hallmarked: "AJ Parkes". Rare.
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