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Edward James Thomas was born in 1853 at Newbury in Berkshire, the son of a Great Western Railway porter. Between 1881 and 1891 he lived in Croydon and Clapham (both on W Division) with his wife Arabella and four children, Jeannie, Edward, Alberta and Kathleen. In 1899 he retired as a constable in the Metropolitan Police and returned to Berkshire where he lived in the village of Kintbury situated between Newbury & Hungerford. In 1911 aged 58 he was still living with Arabella and youngest daughter Kathleen who was by now a school teacher. The life of a Victorian Metropolitan police constable re discovered after the chance purchase of an old book page!!!

Great group -very interesting to see the 40 year bar ! - looking forward to see some more of your City of Liverpool collection

Pc Charles Holdaway - warrant number 71420 - joined the Metropolitan Police 23/02/1886 & posted Y Division (Highgate) - left 29/04/1893 with gratuity as Pc on N Division (Islington) - only entitlement is 1887 Jubilee medal. Pc George Luxford - warrant number 70253 - joined the Metropolitan Police 07/03/1885 & posted to K Division (Bow) - Dismissed from the Force 02/04/1891 as Pc on K Division - only entitlement is 1887 Jubilee medal. At the moment having trouble finding Pc Smith on P Div who is entitled to the 1887 Jubilee medal with 1897 clasp. Both Holdaway & Luxford joined too early to have a record of service available in the National archives.

On my first ever beat in 1976 I passed my Divisional Inspector and didn't salute this resulted in a pocket book caution - I remember being up town on aid and saluting officers as it was expected - the last time I saluted was on anti robbery patrol along the South Bank by Tower Bridge when I spotted the then Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and his bag carrier waiting to go into the Greater London Authority building for a meeting with the mayor. He was in shirt sleeve order and obviously didn't want to be spotted but being old school I went over to him and gave the usual 'all correct' & saluted.

Yes it is

Jon You certainly saved the best to last !! , I wonder if he is here ? Thanks for sharing your collection and research today.

Maam, Guv or Boss - The first name thing makes me cringe but you do hear it - I dread to think what would have happened if I had called my old relief Inspector 'George' !!!!!

You really uncovered a brilliant story with your research . So many good policeman have ruined a career by doing something stupid !!! , How many H Div medals have you in your collection ? Alex

Yes Merv Inspectors & above always called 'Guv' in the Met although 'Boss' seems to have crept in these day's!!

Interesting research Jon and what a bonus to to discover a photograph on Ancestry - always nice to put face to a the man ! Alex

Only this one - as you say a Hero !!!!

The Metropolitan Police - Special Escort Group recently hosted a visit from a WWII D Day veteran who retired from the Met in 1972. Chuck Harris joined the Metropolitan Police Force on the 27/5/1947 after an illustrious career with the Royal Marines. His warrant number was 131144 and he served at West Ham and Forest Gate. Having survived being shot twice during the war he was again shot during a robbery in Forest Gate in May 1948. He attended various courses at Hendon Driving School both driving and with the technical training wing. In March 1950 he joined Traffic Division and was posted to Bow Garage as PC 316H. He rode a Triumph Speed Twin 500c motorcycle and was one of the outriders during the visit of President Tito in 1951, which led to the formation of the Special Escort Group. In 1942 Chuck had fought with the Yugoslavian partisans behind enemy lines as had President Tito who recognised Chuck during the official visit. Chuck also escorted Princess Margaret on her wedding day and remembers working at King George VIth funeral, HM the Queen's coronation and Winston Churchill's funeral. In 1967 Chuck transferred to Hendon Driving School and retired from there as an Inspector in October 1972.

Rory Nice snap shot of a Victorian Metropolitan policeman's life - I take it the research was as a result of the medal purchase ? Alex

Fantastic -Thanks Odin - I'm sure you have found my man !!! - It's brilliant you have the ability to trace such old Met Divisional numbers. Now I'm looking forward to doing a bit more digging on him - I will post what else I find. I notice that that the attestation register shows him first posted to G Division in 1874. I will try again with the image but it is small and loses a lot of definition when I try and enlarge it. Thanks again Alex

Orpington War memorial - located on a roundabout at one end of Orpington, High Street, Kent (London Borough of Bromley) UK - Remembers those of the Borough who died in service during the WWI, WWII (including residents from enemy action) and those killed in more recent conflicts.

Sorry - made an error in the title - the constable is Pc 128. W.

I recently purchased this book illustration dated 1898 that has the title 'A sharp look out' - It shows Metropolitan Police Constable 128.W (Clapham) looking around the corner of a brick wall while smoking a clay pipe. It always makes me smile - Is he on the look out for street crime or the Duty Sergeant while he is having a crafty smoke. I'm in the process of getting it framed and it would be great if anyone can put a name to the constable.

Think this photo answers your question about what Division Notting Dale was in. As regards joining the Met in 1888 but still being shown as RA until 1990 - maybe kept on reserve list ?

Nottingdale As you say your Great Grandfather was first stationed on J Division ( Bethnal Green) - he received the 1897 Jubilee medal while stationed on F Div (Paddington) - 1902 Coronation medal while stationed on F Div (Paddington) and 1911 Coronation medal. Left service while stationed B Div (Chelsea). Info from 'The Metropolitan Police the mean & their medals Vol 1 by J H F Kemp'. Single constables sometimes lived at section houses based at police stations or boarded at local lodgings (sometimes with married constables) - when married they usually lived on or not far from their Division. As you have your Great Grandfathers army number & Met Police warrant number you will be able to do a great deal of research through the National archives - National census - Ancestry etc. Have you any photographs of the old boy to share with us ?

Know this is an old thread but thought this was interesting to add. It appears to be a Metropolitan police Mess jacket for a sergeant .

Mervyn It was a slow news weekend in the UK and the Mail on Sunday decided to bash the police here yet again !! They had obtained figures via the Freedom of Information act on how many Police officers had registered business interests & what they were. This is something they are required to do and ensures they are not involved in anything that is not compatible with being a police officer. The story was complete rubbish - since when was it a scandal for a Met police sergeant to study in his spare time to become a vicar when he retires after 30 years. The pole dancer was in fact not even a police officer but a civil member of police staff who taught pole dancing as a form of aerobics.

Craig Never really fancied taking to the water but I was a cadet at Tower Bridge !! Penge was my first station but I have served all over the South East - P, RDPG, TSG, R, M & SO. Penge police station is one of the oldest working police stations in the Met police (1872 - present) although I think its days are numbered under the service re organisation that is coming.....

Metropolitan 1959 Police Christmas card - has a photograph of Scotland Yard inside. This is the last of my bits with a Christmas theme - Merry Christmas to you all !!

Metropolitan Police Christmas card date unknown but believed 1940's

1934 Metropolitan Police Christmas card was sent by PC 561X Arthur Quemby. PC Quemby was tragically killed in 1948.