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Home » War and Rebellion » Second World War (1939-45) » Police forces

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  • The Women's Auxiliary Police Corps was formed in 1939, and its members were afforded no police powers, but employed to take on clerical and driving duties. When the Corps was disbanded in 1946 many of its members applied to join the regular police force.
Lapel badge, Women's Auxiliary Police Corps, 1939-1946
City of Cardiff Special Constable's Long Service Badge,1939-45
  • A map of Glamorgan, kept by the Glamorganshire Constabulary, marking the sites where various types of bomb were dropped during the Second World War. The coloured pins represent different types of devices. The concentration of bombings around the docks and industrial areas are evident.
Map of Glamorgan showing Second World War bomb sites with coloured pins, 1939-45
  • The dress of the Glamorgan Constabulary during the Second World War period. Protective helmets were issued to all police officers to protect them from shrapnel and debris. The helmets were called 'Tin' helmets although they were made of steel. At the beginning of the war they were padded, but this practice was discontinued as materials became increasingly scarce. Police officers would have worn these helmets for up to 8 hours or the duration of an air raid. Unlike civilians who carried their gas masks in a wooden box, police officers carried their gas masks in a strong canvas bag.
Glamorgan Constabulary tunic, tin helmet and gas mask, Second World War issue, 1939-45
  • Special Constable 168 Edward Besley joined the Special Constabulary at Merthyr in 1940, during the difficult year of the Blitz. Mr Besley was a veteran of the First World War. During the Second World War, working as a Special Constable was a full time, paid, occupation. Large numbers chose to stay on after the stand down date of 31 December 1945, in a voluntary capacity.
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Special Constable's tunic, worn by Special Constable Edward Besley, during and just after WW2, 1939-45
  • This armband, worn on the police officer's right arm, would have shown that he was on duty. As many police officers were on active service in the armed forces, this left many constabularies staffed only by older officers. To fill this gap the war reserve police was set up; many retired officers returned to work and men from the reserved occupations were recruited as special constables. Boys bewteen the ages of 14 and 18 were recruited as Police Auxilliary Messengers.
Second World War Glamorgan Police Reserve Arm Band, 1939-45