Women in Uniform – What we wore

Policewomen's Handbag

This is the official issue Policewomen’s handbag issued from 1976 with the introduction of the vitric blue uniform. Essentially the same as its predecessor, but blue in colour, it came complete with key lock for security, plus coin purse and small hand held vanity mirror. The bag was made as large as practical as it had to carry items such as handcuffs and baton, but despite its size, the female issue baton had to be much shorter than that issued to men. Manufactured by Jack D. Phillips Ltd., of Wellington New Zealand, it was of the "Clarrissa" style 326 design.

Clothing common to men and women to be identical. Women’s skirts to be phased out as stocks used up. Women will have the choice of light or medium weight trousers or culottes. Women’s blouses to be replaced with shirts similar to men’s style.

1952 Policewomen

Although first recruited and trained from 1940, policewomen did not receive their first uniform until 1952. As can be seen here, it consisted of an open necked button front tunic worn with shirt and tie, a three quarter length skirt, wide rimmed hat and gloves. The original badge for this uniform was issued with a Saint Edwards, or Kings Crown and had to be replaced shortly afterwards upon the accession to the Throne of Queen Elizabeth II. Photo courtesy of “Trentham in Retrospect,” a history of Police Training in New Zealand by the NZ Police.

Group of women police recruits at Lyttelton Police Training School 1953-54, with instructor Sergeant E. J. G. (Ted) Hotham. NZ Police Centennial Museum. The women's uniform, except for colour, closely resembles that of the NZ Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Tunics of women and commissioned officers were belted; those of male constables and NCOs were not. The register number has moved to the left side of the collar (see following entry). See Insignia section for practice relating to chevrons during the 1950s and 1960s. Men wore a blue-grey shirt and women a white one (see below NZ Police Gazette 11 February 1959). NZ Police Centennial Museum

1952 Policewomen’s Wide Brimmed Hat

This photograph of Auckland’s Constable Molly Sim was taken in 1952 when New Zealand Policewomen were first issued with a uniform, despite some being recruited in 1940. The wide brimmed hat was the crowning glory of this historic uniform and is shown her to good effect. The first curved “NZ Police” cap badge with the Tudor Crown is clearly visible and was introduced with this headgear. It was to be quickly withdrawn and replaced with the Saint Edwards Crown variant following the Kings sudden death and the accession to the Throne of Queen Elizabeth II.

...smart, was individually tailored and made of dark blue serge ... “big balloon pockets and upper pockets over each breast and the buttons did up the men’s way. The calf length skirt was in keeping with the fashion of the era”. White shirts with detachable collars that required studs and a navy tie were worn with the suit. The outfit was complemented by black nylon stockings and comfortable laced walking shoes that were not to o low - one careful measurement made them an inch and a half high. Each police woman was issued with two uniforms and a gabardine raincoat. To “cap” it all was a navy, broad-brimmed felt hat, turned up at the back and down at the front with a police badge.

In 1956 the men’s ‘other ranks’ uniform was completely revamped to follow the trend set in 1952 by the new female uniform. Still in dark blue serge material, it now featured an open necked style, with blue nylon shirt and tie. For the first time the tunic could be discarded during summer and the men were permitted to conduct their duties in shirts only, which required the introduction of the first epaulettes for their use. The seniority numbers were now worn on the lapel instead of the collar and this uniform was worn by all non-commissioned ranks. This photograph shows the Auckland husband and wife team of Nora and Dougal Crawford taken shortly after Dougal received his new uniform. A shoulder flash was added to the tunics from 1957. Photograph courtesy of the late Nora Crawford.

5^th Pattern NZ Police Cap Badge Variant

This was the production version of the previous badge and was worn on the wide brimmed hats of the first police women’s uniform issued in 1953. It was also intended to be worn on the forage caps of Constables and NCO’s when their redesigned, open necked uniforms were issued from 1956. It is based upon the design of the previous prototype badge, but varies with the Tudor Crown being the open style instead of solid. This variant was made just prior to King George VI death in 1952 and had only been issued to policewomen. With Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne, all badges should have been changed to replace Tudor Crown badges with new examples bearing the St. Edwards Crown. The cost of the sudden change meant the replacement badge was not available until 1956, so this variant was worn until it was phased in. In order to receive a new version, this badge had to be handed back in and as a result they are now quite rare. Measuring 4.0 cm tall by 5.6 cm wide, they were made of stamp pressed chromium plated brass by Meyer and Keen of Wellington, New Zealand (Who were renamed in a new partnership at about this time to become Meyer and Toye Ltd.). It bears the stamped inscription of “M & K LD” behind the crown and is fitted with two horizontal loops on the reverse for split pin attachment, the latter being just visible.

The women’s original felt hat was replaced by the forage cap in 1957 (women have never worn any version of the Police helmet).

New Women’s Hat Shows photo of proposed peaked cap. The Bulletin, July 1957

A new style of peaked cap for policewomen to replace the wide brimmed version is selected and submitted for formal approval.

The uniform for women police was reviewed for the first time in 1957... The felt-cap, with a peak in front, was modelled on that worn by the Queen at a Trooping the Colour Ceremony ... Patrolling in summer temperatures later that year was also made much more comfortable by the introduction of a white open-necked blouse, worn with navy-blue epaulettes.