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Leith Miscellany Vol XI
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Edinburgh Mechanised Specials, Leith
Unknown, 1923, Photograph, Reproduction
Item
of 17
Edinburgh Mechanised Specials, Leith
Edinburgh Mechanised Specials, Leith
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Location
Category
Library Item
Item no
38173
Title
Edinburgh Mechanised Specials, Queen Charlotte Street, Leith
Artist / maker
Unknown
Date
1923
Size
15.3 x 21.2 cm
Type
Photograph
;
Reproduction
Copyright
The copyright status of this item is unknown. If you have information related to the copyright holder please
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.
The history of the formal Special Constabulary in Edinburgh goes back to 1914, although there are records of special constables being appointed as needed as early as 1868. Throughout World War I three sections of Specials operated - the foot, the mounted (who provided their own horses) and the motorised unit (who provided their own cars or motorcycles). The Specials disbanded in 1919 as members of the regular police force had returned from the war, but a register of those who had served and those willing to serve again was kept. The special constables had carried out about 300,000 hours of duties during the war years and in recognition of this were given a Civic Reception, a medal, souvenir batons and the right in perpetuity to wear uniform buttons with the coat of arms of the City embossed upon them.
The Special Constabulary was called on again in the General Strike in 1926. Several thousand joined up very quickly and were widely used, again in the same three units. After this attempts were made to formalise the Specials into a permanent unit but these were unsuccessful, with only the mounted unit remaining, appearing mostly on ceremonial occasions. The Special Constabulary was not re-formed until 1936, with formal establishment of a mechanised unit in 1938.
Exhibitions with this item
Leith Miscellany Vol XI
ReDrawing Edinburgh: Edinburgh in 1920
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