Police Truncheon

Ewen S L MacPherson

1. What is your object and how did it come to be in your possession?
My police truncheon. One of the ‘appointments’ of a British police officer since it was first formed in 1829 is the issue of a baton or truncheon. My truncheon is a wooden 15” cylindrical shaped cudgel. It is probably made of cocus wood, a tropical hardwood also used for making musical instruments such as bagpipes mainly during the 19^th century. It has a leather strap at the narrower end that hung out of the pocket but was unseen due to the uniform tunic. When used, the hand was inserted through the leather strap and gripped the carved slots around its circumference.

I joined London’s Metropolitan Police Force (changed to Service in 1989) as a cadet in 1957 but it was not until 1959 when attested as a ‘constable’ and received training in its use that I was issued with my personal truncheon. It is very old and had acquired several caretakers over the years, with three of them having scratched their divisional number on it. There is also the divisional number ‘F209’ stamped into the wood. These numbers indicate that it served police officers in a number of different areas in west London. It has various small chips and scratches along its length but the main impairment is at either end. The truncheon is frequently used in an emergency for breaking into cars and houses, and this may account for some of the damage.

When issued to me, the truncheon was the only means of self-defence carried. It was before the arrival of personal radios, body cameras, stab-proof vests, instant response units and shields. Firearms and handcuffs were locked in the police station safe, and during riots and serious disturbances, a refuse bin lid if spotted nearby was quickly commandeered.

2. Why have you chosen this object for the Macphersoniana project?
It has had a very strong physical and mental attachment to me over many years. A special pocket was stitched on the inside of male uniform trousers to hold the truncheon. No matter the rank, a truncheon was carried by all police officers. The truncheon was my constant companion and was to remain by my side, or rather right thigh, whenever I was on duty for the next thirty plus years.

3. Why is this object important to you and what does it mean to you?
Incidents whilst in possession of the truncheon were memorable and varied. It was with me at royal weddings, including Princess Margaret in 1960 and her subsequent protection at Kensington Palace for a number of years. Also, protecting Winston Churchill during the same period at his home 28, Hyde Park Gate, Kensington and during his funeral in 1965. It was happily dangling in my trousers on many ceremonial occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament, Trooping the Colour and State Visits including several Presidents of the United States of America and President Hirohito of Japan.

It was also beside me on the day I fortunately met Margaret, who was from Perth and working in the area, outside the Russian Embassy. It was a comfort when called to a lady giving birth in the back of a car in Putney High Street whilst on her way to hospital. I was nervous but the mother held my hand and told me not to worry as it was her third child. This was on the day after Margaret gave birth to daughter Ailsa in Perth but that is another story!

It accompanied me during examinations and promotion boards, at service funerals, guard of honour at weddings and produced daily for inspection on service parades. It has seen action at the scene of riots, sieges, disturbances, fatal accidents, murders, burglaries, suicides, major incidents, large public demonstrations and much more. It was used defensively and although suffering injuries requiring stitches and losing teeth on several occasions, plus the near amputation of a finger whilst in the mouth of a night serial cat burglar high on the outside of a building in Earls Court, it could all have been so much worse but for the help of my trusty friend.

4. What does this object tell us about what it means to be a Macpherson?
Throughout history, Macphersons have made their mark in public service and this truncheon has helped me to play a small part. I am fortunate I was allowed to retain it on retirement from the police. Today, it has pride of place in my office along with my whistle with chain and attached key for the old blue police boxes, together with my blue and white striped armband worn on the left forearm of the sleeve to signify when on duty. The whistle and key along with the old police boxes have since been phased out and the armband abolished in 1968. A new style expandable baton was introduced in the mid-1990s.

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