This should not be confused with a Special Constable, which was a voluntary British police officer, that existed alongside the War Reserve Constable.
War reserve constable (or WRC, war reserve police constable, WRPC) was a voluntary role within the ranks of the British police forces. As suggested by the title, the role was as a voluntary police constable during the war. War reserve constables were sworn in under the Special Constables Act 1923, and had the full powers of a police officer.
The War Reserve Police was introduced in 1939 and at the height of World War II in 1944 there were 17,000 war reserve constables.[1] The rank was dissolved on 31 December 1948, causing 686 officers to be discharged from service, and the remainder being recruited for service as a regular or special constable.[2]
Most officers were aged between 25–55 and undertook twelve hours of unpaid annual training.[3]
Despite British police traditionally being unarmed, officers were armed with Canadian Ross rifles during wartime for protection from enemy action, enemy sabotage and to assist with the armed forces.
Duties of a WRC included the usual activities of a constable, as well as:
Regular police officers were supported by 39,500 male auxiliary officers on full-time service (War Reserve Constables) as well as thousands of Special Constables.[5]
Uniform and equipment was the same as a regular constable, with the exception of uniform epaulettes which were detailed WRC above the collar number and divisional sign. During the war officers wore named Brodie helmets, with "W. R. Police" or "POLICE" marked on the front, instead of traditional police headgear. However, peaked caps were sometimes worn.[6]
The traditional police whistle was worn, as well as the police duty cuff-band.[7]
A total of three war reserve constables, listed below, were killed in the line of duty during WWII.
The WAPC was set up in 1939 and was similar to the WRC, except only some of its members were attested as constables. At most, there were 5,000 full-time WAPCs, including 500 attested WAPC constables.[9] This was the first step towards allowing women to join the UK's special constabularies, which they had still been unable to do in 1939.