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Collection: State Force and Public Order

Collection: State Force and Public Order

By: Hedda Maartens
In: State force and public order Army Navy
12 min read
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Every type of state force and public order in one place — 9 chapters, Army, Navy, Air force and the rest, with the plates and an inventory to download.

Everything in this family is issued by a state, and every garment in it carries the same implicit sentence: the person wearing this may tell you what to do. That is the design problem the whole family shares. A police tunic and an army service dress are solving it for different audiences under different law, but both are built to be legible at distance, unmistakable at close range, and difficult to counterfeit.

The nine chapters below are the nine ways a state dresses the people it authorises. Some are older than the states that issue them — naval dress predates most navies as institutions — and some were invented within living memory, in the case of civil defence almost overnight and under bombardment.

The contents are public. The plates and the inventory are for subscribers.

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You are viewing a free sample. The full collection contains 2,600 images of 9 uniform subtypes and an inventory spreadsheet with metadata. Free for personal and commercial use. No attribution required. Share individual images, never the whole collection.

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Up to five plates from each of the 9 chapters, in full, free to anyone. Every one is credited to the collection that holds it and links back to the record.

Army

Reckle Rank Insignias Sergeant FC
Reckle Rank Insignias Sergeant FC Wikimedia Commons · 120089512 · 2022-07-04 · I0BackFire0I · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reckle Rank Insignias Senior Sergeant
Reckle Rank Insignias Senior Sergeant Wikimedia Commons · 120089513 · 2022-07-04 · I0BackFire0I · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reckle Rank Insignias Sergeant
Reckle Rank Insignias Sergeant Wikimedia Commons · 120089514 · 2022-07-04 · I0BackFire0I · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reckle Rank Insignias Corporal
Reckle Rank Insignias Corporal Wikimedia Commons · 120089515 · 2022-07-04 · I0BackFire0I · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reckle Rank Insignias Private
Reckle Rank Insignias Private Wikimedia Commons · 120089516 · 2022-07-04 · I0BackFire0I · CC BY-SA 4.0
Norwegian Sailor Suit (Private)
Norwegian Sailor Suit (Private) Wikimedia Commons · 11493945 · 2010-11-18 12:00:42 · Jannizz · CC BY-SA 3.0
JAN1 Uniforms Insignia Navies of WWII (70) RUSSIAN NAVY (Soviet Union) Warrant Officers Petty O. Seamen. Marines, Chevron, button, belt buckle Specialty Insignia upper left sleeve etc US Naval Intelli. manual Feb 1945 Public domain
JAN1 Uniforms Insignia Navies of WWII (70) RUSSIAN NAVY (Soviet Union) Warrant Officers Petty O. Seamen. Marines, Chevron, button, belt buckle Specialty Insignia upper left sleeve etc US Naval Intelli. manual Feb 1945 Public domain Supplement page to JAN #1 UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA · 133131977 · February 1945 · Military Intelligence Division of the United States Department of War during World War II. US Governmental publication originally published 1944. Public Domain. · Public domain
JAN1 Uniforms Insignia Navies of WWII (66) RUSSIAN NAVY (Soviet Union) Comm. Officers. Rear Admiral, Captain, Lieutenant, cap visors, buttons, Marines, winter overcoat etc - US Naval Intell. recog. manual Feb 1945 Public domain
JAN1 Uniforms Insignia Navies of WWII (66) RUSSIAN NAVY (Soviet Union) Comm. Officers. Rear Admiral, Captain, Lieutenant, cap visors, buttons, Marines, winter overcoat etc - US Naval Intell. recog. manual Feb 1945 Public domain Supplement page to JAN #1 UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA · 133131978 · February 1945 · Military Intelligence Division of the United States Department of War during World War II. US Governmental publication originally published 1944. Public Domain. · Public domain
JAN1 Uniforms Insignia Navies of WWII (67) RUSSIAN NAVY (Soviet Union) Shoulder boards Sleeve insignia. Line officers. Corps officers. Shoulder emblems. etc - US Naval Intelligence recog. manual Feb 1945 Public domain
JAN1 Uniforms Insignia Navies of WWII (67) RUSSIAN NAVY (Soviet Union) Shoulder boards Sleeve insignia. Line officers. Corps officers. Shoulder emblems. etc - US Naval Intelligence recog. manual Feb 1945 Public domain Supplement page to JAN #1 UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA · 133131979 · February 1945 · Military Intelligence Division of the United States Department of War during World War II. US Governmental publication originally published 1944. Public Domain. · Public domain
JAN1 Uniforms Insignia Navies of WWII (68) RUSSIAN NAVY (Soviet Union) Warrant Officers Petty O. Seamen. Cap Red Star Insignia band Summer service uniform etc - US Naval Intelligence recog. manual Feb 1945 Public domain
JAN1 Uniforms Insignia Navies of WWII (68) RUSSIAN NAVY (Soviet Union) Warrant Officers Petty O. Seamen. Cap Red Star Insignia band Summer service uniform etc - US Naval Intelligence recog. manual Feb 1945 Public domain Supplement page to JAN #1 UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA · 133131980 · February 1945 · Military Intelligence Division of the United States Department of War during World War II. US Governmental publication originally published 1944. Public Domain. · Public domain

Air force

Kim campbell a10
Kim campbell a10 Wikimedia Commons · 1090521 · 2020-02-05 16:54:59 · SSgt Jason Haag, United States Air Force · Public domain
Kathy Sullivan T-38 flight suit Womens Museum
Kathy Sullivan T-38 flight suit Womens Museum Wikimedia Commons · 12778084 · 2009-10 · Photo: User:FA2010 · Public domain
John Borling Flight Suit
John Borling Flight Suit Wikimedia Commons · 22193004 · 2012-07-25 10:55:44 · Haste1066 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Members of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center honor guard stand in formation during a welcoming ceremony for Ivory Coast Gen. Soumaila Bakayoko, the Economic Community of West African 130626-A-ZZ999-016
Members of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center honor guard stand in formation during a welcoming ceremony for Ivory Coast Gen. Soumaila Bakayoko, the Economic Community of West African 130626-A-ZZ999-016 Wikimedia Commons · 27059951 · Taken on 26 June 2013 · MSG Montigo White · Public domain
Lockheed YF-12A (2183418677)
Lockheed YF-12A (2183418677) USAF museum · 3376923 · 2008-01-12 15:19:00 · USAF · Public domain

Marines and special forces

Air dropped by the 437th Troop Carrier Wing, paratroopers of the 187th Regimental Combat Team - NARA - 542238
Air dropped by the 437th Troop Carrier Wing, paratroopers of the 187th Regimental Combat Team - NARA - 542238 U.S. National Archives and Records Administration · 17285290 · 19 October 1951date QS:P571,+1951-10-19T00:00:00Z/11 · creator not recorded · Public domain
103-vdv-vitebsk-01
103-vdv-vitebsk-01 Wikimedia Commons · 19070010 · 2006-08-02 · Serge Serebro, Vitebsk Popular News · CC BY-SA 3.0
103-vdv-vitebsk-02
103-vdv-vitebsk-02 Wikimedia Commons · 19070015 · 2009-08-02 · Serge Serebro, Vitebsk Popular News · CC BY-SA 3.0
Air dropped by the 437th Troop Carrier Wing, paratroopers of the 187th Regimental Combat Team decend to earth during... - NARA - 542238
Air dropped by the 437th Troop Carrier Wing, paratroopers of the 187th Regimental Combat Team decend to earth during... - NARA - 542238 U.S. National Archives and Records Administration · 27332203 · 19 October 1951date QS:P571,+1951-10-19T00:00:00Z/11 · creator not recorded · Public domain
A British Army paratrooper with 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, descends during an airborne mission for Operation Black Warrior at the Luzon Drop Zone, Fort Bragg, N.C., July 18, 2013 130718-A-GI910-320
A British Army paratrooper with 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, descends during an airborne mission for Operation Black Warrior at the Luzon Drop Zone, Fort Bragg, N.C., July 18, 2013 130718-A-GI910-320 Wikimedia Commons · 27668316 · Taken on 18 July 2013 · Staff Sgt. Sharilyn Wells · Public domain

Police and law enforcement

Gule politi veste
Gule politi veste Wikimedia Commons · 10233870 · 2010-05-01 · heb@Wikimedia Commons (mail) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Austrian Police Motorcyclist
Austrian Police Motorcyclist Wikimedia Commons · 12760775 · 2007-04-16 · Bernd Hofmeister · CC BY-SA 3.0
Assistant Commissioner City London Police
Assistant Commissioner City London Police Wikimedia Commons · 15832310 · 2006 · S. Pakhrin · CC BY 2.0
Jewish Warsaw Ghetto Police Arm Band early 1940s
Jewish Warsaw Ghetto Police Arm Band early 1940s Wikimedia Commons · 19207830 · 2012-04-24 · woody1778a · CC BY-SA 2.0
New York City Police Museum Exhibition (WTM by official-ly cool 016)
New York City Police Museum Exhibition (WTM by official-ly cool 016) Contributed by author. · 3833416 · 2008-04-04 · This photo was taken by participant/team official-ly cool as part of the Commons:Wikipedia Takes Manhattan project on April 4, 2008. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. You are free: to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work to remix – to adapt the work Under the following conditions: attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. share alike – If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same or compatible license as the original. BY-SA 3.0 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 truetrue · CC BY-SA 3.0

Border, customs and immigration

Otočki graničari (Croatia).2
Otočki graničari (Croatia).2 Wikimedia Commons · 15423749 · 2011-06-06 · Silverije · CC BY-SA 3.0
Border Guard Trooper and Type 11 light machine gun
Border Guard Trooper and Type 11 light machine gun 『別冊一億人の昭和史 日本植民地史1 朝鮮』毎日新聞社 1978年 p.50 · 16426344 · 1934 · creator not recorded · Public domain
Pyrénées - Garde de la douanne espgnole au port de Vénasque, Bagnère Luchon (sic) - Fonds Ancely - B315556101 A PINGRET 032
Pyrénées - Garde de la douanne espgnole au port de Vénasque, Bagnère Luchon (sic) - Fonds Ancely - B315556101 A PINGRET 032 Wikimedia Commons · 25998605 · 1834date QS:P571,+1834-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 · Édouard Pingret · Public domain
3LännereckSchmëtt
3LännereckSchmëtt private collection. · 26956441 · circa 1910date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 · Unspecified/unknown. (Reproduktioun vum Zinneke, Bildbeaarbechtung vum Cornischong) · Public domain
Railway, pistol holster, border patrol, peaked cap, glasses Fortepan 89270
Railway, pistol holster, border patrol, peaked cap, glasses Fortepan 89270 Wikimedia Commons · 51187793 · 1968 · FOTO:Fortepan — ID 89270: Adományozó/Donor: Urbán Tamás. archive copy at the Wayback Machine · CC BY-SA 3.0

Coast guard

U.S. Coast Guard Academy chief petty officers gather at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., April 3, 2013 130403-G-MF861-005
U.S. Coast Guard Academy chief petty officers gather at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., April 3, 2013 130403-G-MF861-005 Wikimedia Commons · 25454602 · Taken on 3 April 2013 · PO3 Diana Honings · Public domain
U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Paul Llamas, center, an avionics electrical technician at Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., speaks to crew members about Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month 130403-G-XD768-018
U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Paul Llamas, center, an avionics electrical technician at Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., speaks to crew members about Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month 130403-G-XD768-018 Wikimedia Commons · 25454623 · Taken on 3 April 2013 · PO3 Tara Molle · Public domain
U.S. Coast Guard master chief petty officers, senior chief petty officers and chief petty officers pose for a photo in Norfolk, Va., April 3, 2013 130403-G-ZZ999-002
U.S. Coast Guard master chief petty officers, senior chief petty officers and chief petty officers pose for a photo in Norfolk, Va., April 3, 2013 130403-G-ZZ999-002 Wikimedia Commons · 25454686 · Taken on 3 April 2013 · LTJG Matthew Malacaria · Public domain
Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Michael Leavitt discusses Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month during a chief's call at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., April 3 130403-G-ZX620-005
Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Michael Leavitt discusses Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month during a chief's call at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., April 3 130403-G-ZX620-005 Wikimedia Commons · 25454699 · 2013-04-03 · CPO C.C. Clayton · Public domain
U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Andrew Pierce, right, the first lieutenant aboard the cutter USCGC James Rankin (WLM 555), watches as crew members move equipment off the deck in Curtis Bay, Md., April 3 130403-G-MD940-035
U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Andrew Pierce, right, the first lieutenant aboard the cutter USCGC James Rankin (WLM 555), watches as crew members move equipment off the deck in Curtis Bay, Md., April 3 130403-G-MD940-035 Wikimedia Commons · 25454781 · Taken on 3 April 2013 · PO2 David Marin · Public domain

Corrections staff

Warden Matthew McCauley
Warden Matthew McCauley Edmonton Public School Board Archives · 10444396 · between circa 1906 and circa 1910date QS:P,+1950-00-00T00:00:00Z/7,P1319,+1906-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 · creator not recorded · Public domain
Prison guard parra jail
Prison guard parra jail Wikimedia Commons · 6361235 · 2009-03-29 · Adam.J.W.C. · CC BY-SA 2.5
Officiele ingebruikstelling gevangenis Havenstraat in Amsterdam cellen, bewaker, Bestanddeelnr 933-9789
Officiele ingebruikstelling gevangenis Havenstraat in Amsterdam cellen, bewaker, Bestanddeelnr 933-9789 Wikimedia Commons · 65633506 · 1987-05-14 · Roland Gerrits / Anefo · CC0
V.M. Doroshevich-Sakhalin. Part II. Prison Guard Khanov and His Family
V.M. Doroshevich-Sakhalin. Part II. Prison Guard Khanov and His Family Wikimedia Commons · 8107104 · First publication: 1903 · Uncredited photographer · Public domain
Page 076 Illustration by Stanley L Wood for Convict 99 by Marie Connor and Robert Leighton -Courtesy of British Library
Page 076 Illustration by Stanley L Wood for Convict 99 by Marie Connor and Robert Leighton -Courtesy of British Library Wikimedia Commons · 90284181 · 1898 · Illustration by Stanley L Wood (1866-1928) for Convict 99 (1898) by Marie Connor (1867-1941) and Robert Leighton (1858-1934) · Public domain

Civil defence

Stadtmuseum Iserlohn-07176
Stadtmuseum Iserlohn-07176 Wikimedia Commons · 130201215 · 18 March 2023 16:20:56+01:00 · creator not recorded · CC0
Air Raid Precautions Department warden badge, air defence instructions for families issued by the British Hong Kong government
Air Raid Precautions Department warden badge, air defence instructions for families issued by the British Hong Kong government Wikimedia Commons · 151005098 · 2024-07-20 · Starcopter · CC BY-SA 4.0
Air Raid Precautions Department helmet, ARP warden badge, air defence instructions for families issued by the British Hong Kong government
Air Raid Precautions Department helmet, ARP warden badge, air defence instructions for families issued by the British Hong Kong government Wikimedia Commons · 151005102 · 2024-07-20 · Starcopter · CC BY-SA 4.0
"Air raid wardens at a sector meeting in Washington, DC, discuss the zones they control during a practice air raid.", ca - NARA - 535827
"Air raid wardens at a sector meeting in Washington, DC, discuss the zones they control during a practice air raid.", ca - NARA - 535827 U.S. National Archives and Records Administration · 17057202 · between circa 1941 and circa 1945date QS:P571,+1941-00-00T00:00:00Z/8,P1319,+1941-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,+1945-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 · creator not recorded · Public domain
Air raid wardens and Red Cross worker on duty outside a hotel 8d23514v
Air raid wardens and Red Cross worker on duty outside a hotel 8d23514v Wikimedia Commons · 34132329 · November 1942date QS:P571,+1942-11-00T00:00:00Z/10 · Marjory Collins · Public domain

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Hedda Maartens
Hedda Maartens — MA in fashion design, then eleven years in the industry designing for people who had no say in what they wore. Now writes about prescribed dress: how a garment was made to work, and what it was made to make a person into.