Queensland Police Museum Treasures: Helmets, Hats and Caps

For nearly two hundred years, helmets, hats and caps offered head protection for police, be it from the climactic or criminal elements, enabling safer duty. In this Queensland Police Museum Treasures post, I will be looking at police headwear. Colonial policemen wore helmets, hats, or high caps. Mounted men, ordinary duty police and bush police each had their own headgear. The high cap with French peak was introduced in Queensland in 1866. Cap badges consisting of separate district letter and number were issued in 1884 and remained in use until 1906. These caps and helmets were sturdy, glazed covers protected caps from the rain and white cap covers with neck flap, protected men from the heat of the sun. The hats were made from wool. The Queensland helmets were reminiscent of the Dublin and London Metropolitan Police uniforms, or the Irish Constabulary.

Various police uniforms from English and Irish Police upon which the Queensland Police uniform have copied elements such as ‘snake’ or ‘s’ buckle of the belts, tunic, caps of helmet shape, c1900. PM3343.

A soft khaki hat was introduced in 1896 to be worn with the khaki uniform for bush and rural duties. This hat was in use until 1978, when uniform change brought another style in use, a broad-brimmed hat.

Gold Escort group photograph at Normanton, note G on the collars, c. 1895. PM 0025.

Woollen hats and caps were suboptimal for Queensland summers…

A so-called forage cap was introduced in 1906. These were made from dark blue woollen fabric with a black ribbon band and peak. The badge used on these hats and foot policemen helmets (note image below) was worn until 1960s.

Image: Foot Constable, PM 0005.

Cadets

In 1934, Police Commissioner Cecil James Carroll (1934-49) introduced cadet system in the Queensland Police Force, this allowed applicants of 18 years with a junior pass or a senior level school certificate to join the police.

Image: A Dukova

In 1965, women entered the Queensland Police Force with full powers, they were assigned uniforms and registration numbers denoted PW. Police women caps featured white leather dome with a black fabric rim and a white and black diced fabric band.

Police woman uniform, 1970s. PM2981

1990s onwards

In 1990, a new motto ‘With Honour We Serve’ was introduced to the Queensland Police Service (1991) which was followed by a uniform change.

Queensland Police Museum displays police uniforms and accoutrements spanning the organisation’s 155 years history.