world war I nerd Posted May 25, 2019 Share #1 Posted May 25, 2019 Is this image of a "Police" badge wearing man/soldier wearing what appears to be WW I era army clothing a member of the Army Military Police, the National Guard Police, the State Guard or does he belong to an entirely different civil or non-military organization? Clothing wise, he's wearing a white linen neck stock under what looks like a "stand" collar as found on the 1911 and later pattern army issued service coats. Over that is a 1909 (or earlier) pattern army issued overcoat with turn back cuffs, and a 1911 Campaign Hat sits atop his head. The lower third of the photo is too dark to determine what pattern of shoes, or leggings, or puttees, he's wearing. The only equipment is the baton or "billy club", which could or could not be military issued. To date, I've not found any information regarding an army issued baton, billy club, or night-stick. The only insignia is the silver, shield shaped badge, which clearly has the word "POLICE" stamped or engraved across its top. There is additional writing under the word police, but it is illegible. So, who exactly in the WW I era military, would wear a badge, as opposed to an MP Brassard, proclaiming he is a military law enforcement official? If not military, what sort of civil organization might this guy belong to? Thanks for looking ... World War I Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted May 25, 2019 A closer look at the upper torso of the would be MP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted May 25, 2019 And an enlargement of the "police" badge. Does anybody recognize this badge or know who would wear it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted May 25, 2019 Share #4 Posted May 25, 2019 Railway or Railroad Police perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USARV72 Posted May 25, 2019 Share #5 Posted May 25, 2019 aznation may be right, or a facility police, dock, wearhouse or mfg???? Nice pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted May 25, 2019 Share #6 Posted May 25, 2019 WWI NERD - I think he is Home Guard. The badge and being armed only with a club is a very good indication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted May 25, 2019 Thanks everyone, for your input ... so far. You've all mirrored my thoughts that he may have possibly been a Quartermaster warehouse (or other military installation, or public works) guard, or a member of the home guard. I don't however, recall seeing home guard volunteers wearing badges. But then again, I've only seen a handful of home guard photos and there were home guard units in every state, many counties and and a number of cities ... each one with it's own unique insignia too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted May 26, 2019 Share #8 Posted May 26, 2019 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/318944-military-police-badges/ WWI Nerd - check out the above there are at least four Home Guard badges posted and I have several photos of Home Guard wearing badges in my collection. It is important to remember that Home Guard in WWI was basically to support local police and provide security during times of emergencies. Home Guard during WWII was for national defense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted May 26, 2019 Share #9 Posted May 26, 2019 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/319605-guarding-the-home-front-in-ww1-cincinnati-home-guard-medal/ Photo of Cincinnati Home Guard wearing badges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted May 26, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted May 26, 2019 MP25, many thanks for the two links. I'd seen the thread about the Cincinnati Home Guard and totally forgot about it. Thanks again for redirecting me and my memory. By the way, you have an astonishing collection of military police militaria! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted May 26, 2019 Share #11 Posted May 26, 2019 thank you WWI Nerd - Coming from you, that's quite a compliment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted May 26, 2019 Share #12 Posted May 26, 2019 Buttons appear to be pre 1912 rimless type. I would think Home Guards might well have been issued obsolete uniform parts. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted May 28, 2019 Share #13 Posted May 28, 2019 Waterbury CN. City Guard (Home Guard) wearing badge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted May 28, 2019 Share #14 Posted May 28, 2019 NYC Home Guard wearing badge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted May 29, 2019 Author Share #15 Posted May 29, 2019 More great Home Guard photos .... Thanks MP25! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted May 29, 2019 Share #16 Posted May 29, 2019 Very nice photos! One question, did the Home Guards wear State buttons or Federal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted May 29, 2019 Share #17 Posted May 29, 2019 Home Guard were very often issued obsolete uniforms and accoutrements - what ever was available in local armories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted May 29, 2019 Share #18 Posted May 29, 2019 Beast - by regulation they shouldn't be wearing Federal buttons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted June 2, 2019 Author Share #19 Posted June 2, 2019 MP25, I always thought that it was okay for State and Home Guard units to wear federal buttons on the military uniforms that they were authorized to wear. My understanding has always been that they were not authorized to wear military rank chevrons or military branch of service insignia. However, I am prepared to modify my position on that pending further (or better) research as I have not looked into the aspect of whether or not U.S. military buttons were authorized. Anyway, here is one of the other two suspected WW I era Home or State Guard images that I have. This one is thought to be from the Colorado State Guard because of the initials "CO" above the rifles on the collar disc. I suppose that those initials could also represent any city beginning with those two letters, such as Columbus, Ohio or Concord Massachusetts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted June 2, 2019 Author Share #20 Posted June 2, 2019 Close up of the above collar disc and brassard. By the way, it's really difficult to tell, but I think this coat has bronze eagle buttons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted June 2, 2019 Author Share #21 Posted June 2, 2019 Officer in the Massachusetts State Guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted June 2, 2019 Author Share #22 Posted June 2, 2019 This guy's insignia is comprised of Mass. state guard collar brass and either the numeral 11, the Roman numeral II, or the letter "H" for Home Guard. He's also wearing captains' rank insignia on his shoulders and a some sort of Mass. state brassard. His buttons do have the Mass. state seal on them, not the federal eagle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted June 2, 2019 Author Share #23 Posted June 2, 2019 Finally, this uniform, which was downloaded years ago from a now unknown website. It is a service coat worn by a member of the Cranford New Jersey Home Guard. The Cranford Home Guard was apparently an offshoot of the New Jersey Militia State Reserve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted June 2, 2019 Author Share #24 Posted June 2, 2019 Each of t his coat's buttons bear what I'm guessing is the state seal of New Jersey and the collar displays a New Jersey Reserve collar disc. It is unknown what the blue cuff band represents ... possibly rank or district or something like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted June 2, 2019 Share #25 Posted June 2, 2019 hello WW I nerd, maybe not the correct place but I'd wish contacting you on PM - it looks like it's impossible, tried twice. Please can you give me any tips? Thanx - Franco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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