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Customs Uniforms

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  • 07-01-2011 5:01pm
    #1
    UrbanFox
    Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭


    Apologies in advance if I am in the wrong department !

    Why do uniformed customs officers wear naval type uniforms. I am thinking particularly of the shoulder boards.


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    #2
    donvito99
    Registered Users Posts: 5,818 ✭✭✭donvito99


    i'm gonna guess that its due to Customs always being attached to the sea. After all, trade is still mainly carried out by ships, so I would guess customs have a strong maritime aspect to their history.

    Customs House also, located on the river. etc


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    #3
    arybvtcw0eolkf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    I think its just an old custom.




    /grabs coat!.


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    #4
    Zambia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,333 ✭✭✭Zambia


    Can we dispense with the customary one liners. . .


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    #5
    Shield
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 9,703 CMod ✭✭✭✭Shield


    Is it not our duty to post them?


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    #6
    Esel
    Registered Users Posts: 22,056 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    You could ask the same question about aircraft pilots, but that wouldn't be germane to this forum either.

    Where is deadwood when you need him? :D

    Not your ornery onager



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    #7
    goldie fish
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,195 ✭✭✭goldie fish


    Back in the old old days, crews of HM customs cutters were naval officers on half pay. The tradition stuck.
    Unlike the Navy, the Customs service did not cease operations post independence. Indeed you can still see where the "H.M" letters used to be on the older customs post. (Custom house in cork is a good example).
    The white top cap is a useful aid to visability during other operations, whether at sea or on land.


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    #8
    belacqua_
    Registered Users Posts: 257 ✭✭belacqua_


    goldie fish wrote: »
    Back in the old old days, crews of HM customs cutters were naval officers on half pay. The tradition stuck.
    Unlike the Navy, the Customs service did not cease operations post independence. Indeed you can still see where the "H.M" letters used to be on the older customs post. (Custom house in cork is a good example).
    The white top cap is a useful aid to visability during other operations, whether at sea or on land.

    Do the shoulder board and cuff insignia correspond to seniority/rank/appointment?


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    #9
    goldie fish
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,195 ✭✭✭goldie fish


    belacqua_ wrote: »
    Do the shoulder board and cuff insignia correspond to seniority/rank/appointment?

    Yes.


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    #10
    belacqua_
    Registered Users Posts: 257 ✭✭belacqua_


    Following on from Goldie Fish's post, I thought this website might be of relevance to the OP. The HM Waterguard were the antecedents of HM & Irish Customs officers:

    http://www.hm-waterguard.org.uk/

    I may be wrong, but have the UK Border Agency completely replaced/absorbed uniformed HM Customs officers?


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