Dave Wilkinson

Depending on who currently hold the contract for producing the LS&GC medal (and it may not be the Royal Mint), this could have a bearing on it. The delays may not be at force level, but at the Govt. Depts. honours secretariats. The devolved governments almost certainly deal with them differently. Add to that the different procedure which applies to medals awarded to the non-Home Office forces (Railway, Ports, Tunnels, Nuclear etc). Perhaps the large production of jubilee medals has had an impact. Dave.

I certainly could envisage a long serving RNLI crewman wearing his medal in uniform. Some RNLI members are also Auxiliary Coastguards and even members of the Special Constabulary. Whilst not military uniform, the basic principal applies. Dave.

It probably doesn't help much, but this "Lion" emblem was used extensively by the former Denbighshire Constabulary, prior to 1967. Denbighshire is a county in the Principality of Wales (UK). Denbighshire Constabulary ceased to exist in 1967 upon amalgamation with other police forces in the area. See below an extensive collection of badges from that police force. Dave.

RNLI medals are in the same catagory as Royal Humane Society, Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society, RSPCA and other similar medals. They can be worn on a uniform but on the right side. Dave.

The surnames SMITH and HARRIS are amongst the most common in the UK and this together with the lack of any accompanying documentation would render any research, I would suggest, extremely difficult if not impossible. In addition "service records" for members of the special constabulary (unlike those of the regular force) are invariably destroyed following their ceasing to hold office. Dave.

I worked with two officers who were denied their PLS&GC medals because of conviction for discipline offences. In other words when they reached their 22 year point of service they did not get the medal. Their discipline transgressions occurred during their early years of service and they subsequently had to serve for twenty two years from the date of their conviction before getting their medals. They were both just able to do this before going on pension. Had the transgressions occurred later in their service, they would probably have reached retirement before achieving the required 22 year threshold and would not have received the medal. So, in the case you mention this was probably the reason why there is no PLS&GC medal for the man you mention. Or, was the medal never mounted with the group and has become separated? That's another possibility. Dave.

Very interesting. But, I don't think that he joined Kent Police in 1932, as suggested by you. It seems that he joined the Folkestone Borough Police in 1932. That force was temporarily amalgamated into the Kent County Constabulary on 1st April 1943 under the Defence Regulations. The amalgamation was ratified as permanent on the 1st April 1947. So, all his policing activities prior to the 1st April 1943 were as a member of the Folkestone Borough Police. He was fortunate not to find himself embroiled in the following. In October 1940 allegations were made by a member of the public that members of the Folkestone Borough Police were engaged in criminal conduct whilst on duty (shop and house breaking), and had been systematically doing so since 1935. Following an enquiry by Detectives from New Scotland Yard, the Chief Constable of Folkestone, Alfred S. Beesley (a former Metropolitan Police officer) was required to resign. Five Constables made statements admitting involvement and resigned. A Sergeant denied involvement but was dismissed as being found unfit for office. It was decided not to take them to court, as in the event of the charges not being found proved, it would then be difficult to convict by way of discipline and rid the force of their presence. A nice addition to your collection with such supporting paperwork. Dave.

You've cracked it then! Dave.

So, in the whole of the UK in 1939, there was only one person named William Ross serving as a Constable? If that's the case you seem to have the right man. Dave.

Try the National Archives at Kew. As you are (or appear to be) in London, a personal visit would probably be the best course of action. As an aside, William Ross is quite a common name. How have you made the Admiralty Civil Police connection? Did the medal come with the named box or similar? Bear in mind that the Admiralty Civil Police ceased to exist in 1949 and was re-named the Admiralty Constabulary at that time. The medal in question was not created until 1951, so it will have been awarded to him (assuming its the right man) whilst a member of the latter force (Constabulary not Civil Police). I hope this is helpful. Dave.

This relates to a regular officer and not a Special Constable, so its not likely to be your man. Insofar as the naming of SC long service medals is concerned, sometimes the first name only is shown and then the first letter of of any middle name etc. But, on many occasions just the first name and surname, with any other middle name initials omitted. The format depends upon the documentation submitted by the Commissioner/Chief Constable when application for the medal is made. Dave.

Looking at the Census Record, I think that it actually says, "RASC 21 years" if correct, "RASC" would mean "Royal Army Service Corps". Nothing to do with the Special Constabulary. It suggests that he held the rank of "Private" and was in receipt of a pension. Dave.

Whilst some personal service records of regular members of the Metropolitan Police are held at the Public Record Office, those of the provincial police forces are not held there. I'm unable to say whether the personal records of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary still exist, and if they do, where they are held. Insofar as the records of the provincial forces are concerned. These are usually (but not always) held at the County Record Office. That said, records of the Special Constabulary and its members were often not retained and were destroyed following a suitable period after the individual ended his service. Your medals were awarded (post August 1919) during the reign of George V. At that time in England, Scotland and Wales there were approximately 200 separate police forces. All those forces maintained a Special Constabulary, whose members would have been entitled (subject to service conditions) the award of the medal. So, there is no easy way of tracing the force the recipient belonged to. Best of luck. Dave.

This would have been quite feasible. Prior to the 1960's, many Special Constables served into their 70's. Quite why there is only one bar on the medal, I can't explain. The the surname is a fairly common one as is the first name, so I suspect that this, in the absence of any other clues, will render any research difficult if not impossible. Don't discount the possibility that the 1939 bar may have been added by someone other than Ernest Wright. Dave.

The rank of Superintendent exists (and has always existed) in the Special Constabulary, so it follows that there will be SC Long Service Medals with that rank thereon. Dave.

Sorry, no. I didn't think of taking a photo. Dave.

Yes, I have. I was shown one during a visit to Jersey a couple of years ago. Dave.

It is not a British police uniform nor are the badge/s. Dave.

A generic item, worn by police and military the world over. Dave.

A generic item worn by police and military the world over. Very non-specific. Dave.

Not all "official" medals manufactured in the UK for HM Government are manufactured by the Royal Mint. Dave. Vaughton & Sons are still in existence and still manufacture silver items including insignia and medals. They did not cease in 1992 as your posting suggests. Dave.

I feel bound to comment on how poorly made and designed, the majority of these medals appear to be. This coupled by the somewhat haphazard way in which they are worn (by some, not all) does not, in my opinion, reflect well upon Trinidad and Tobago. Dave.

These medals were awarded by a great many local authorities in the UK, and appear with several different Monarch's heads. A search of eBay will usually reveal a dozen or so. They are relatively common. Dave.

Please see the appended images. The Lancashire Constabulary did use an identical helmet plate to that which is fitted to the helmet with the obvious exception that it had their force title on it and the County shield centre. I hope this is helpful. As an aside, I'm not aware of any forces in the north of wales who wore a similar helmet in Victorian or Edwardian times. On the balance of probabilities your helmet originates from a force in the North West of England. Dave.

I have an identical helmet of similar age, also manufactured by Christy's. This type of helmet was worn by many police forces in the North West of England. My own originates from Burnley. Also, its not unusual for helmet plates to be interchanged on helmets once the helmet leaves its original issued force. Dave.