Deelibob

Many Thanks Odin mk3, I am indebted to you for all your assistance, as a novice to Met.Police Medal collecting I am thankful for all the help you have given me.

Regards

Peter

Can a member assist with information on the below named officers : -

1887 Jubilee medals to -

PC J. Barnes "P" Division

PC E. Andrews "N" Division

1897 Jubilee to -

PC C. Cox "V" Division

I would be most obliged for any information at all.

Thanks

Peter

Hi Alex,

Thanks for that, I will indeed visit when down that way. Re Christie, many years ago I was informed by a dealer (Long Dead) that he had owned the group and sold it on before realising its significance. If true it is out there, probably the owner unaware of its story.

Thanks Alex and Dave,

Alas I do not have the Commend certificate to George, that would have been nice but not to be, Yet ! I carry a mental list of names to all the medal fairs Etc that I attend and have had some success, George White's pair being one. As I said I do not have an interest in the insignia/Medals of the Special Constabulary but One group I am assured is out there would be of interest to you Alex and may turn up one day and that is the First World War Pair (to the R.A.) Defence Medal and Special Constabulary Faithful Service medal to J.R.H.Christie. I am sure he needs no introduction.

Special Constabulary medals are notoriously difficult to research unless you have a Force or the recipient has an unusual name.

I do not have an interest in the Special Constabulary but when the pair to Special Constable George White came on the market I made it my business to obtain them as I was aware of the story behind them.

At ten minutes past six on the evening of 20th July, 1965, a Caledonian Airliner took off from Speke Airport ( now the John Lennon Airport) and almost immediately crashed into the Mothack Chemical Plant near Woodend Avenue and Speke Boulevard, Liverpool.

Two female factory workers were killed as were the Pilot and Co-Pilot. The Police and Fire Service were quickly on the scene and commenced to search for survivors. It was soon realised that there were fatalities and a call went out for assistance.

Amongst those responding was Special Constable George White from "A" Division, the senior officer present was informed that George was an undertaker by calling, the officer informed George that the scene was harrowing and asked if he would assist in the recovery of those killed, George volunteered and then worked throughout the night recovering and dealing with the victims.

For his actions George was Commended by the Chief Constable and soon after promoted to Special Sergeant.

I am sure there are many such stories and also acts of bravery behind the Special Constabulary medals we see for sale every day but they remain untold because the recipient has a common name or threw the box of issue away.

Thanks for the information. I have found that John was born in Morcott, Rutlandshire c.1847. In 1891 he was resident in Middlesex.

Thanks Again, Regards.

Peter

Yesterday on attending a Swap meeting of my collecting club I was well pleased to obtain an 1887 Met Jubilee medal and bar 1897, albeit not in the best of condition, it has at some time been heavily stained and someone has cleaned it, with judging from the result, a scouring pad !!! leaving a scratched surface on the obverse. I was also well pleased to obtain access to a book listing the men entitled to the medals who joined 1879 and later. I was doomed to disappointment, on eagerly searching for my man : - PC J.Scott "K" Division alas he does not appear presumably having joined prior to 1879.

Can anyone assist with information on this mans service

Peter

Glad I was able to clarify the Division. I have been able to trace a little information on Arthur Bragg, he was born in Tendring, Essex, c 1863/4 and during his early years lived in the districts of Andleigh and Thorp. He died aged just 47 in 1911.

Thanks for your help,

The medals arrived today and the 1902 is as stated to "R" Division, However, the 1887 is clearly and correctly stamped "E" Division. Any Ideas ? Thanks.

Peter

Thanks Nick and Chris,

Very little information has come into the public domain. A lot of personal files were lost during the withdrawal in 1948, indeed I have had at Least30/40 groups/singles to Palestine Officers that the PP OCA had no record of at all. Many of the men joining were after excitement between the wars and went in their droves. However, some had no sooner got there than the Second War broke out, and they saw it as all the excitement was now in Europe, many volunteered for the RAF, Army and Navy but many were denied permission to leave the PP ( Which came under the Military for Period of War. Hence entitlement to Defence and War medals) and went AWOL making their way to SA, North Africa or Home to join up. Many of these men, both Official and AWOL, perished in the war and took the secret of their PP membership with them leaving behind a medal that cannot be attributed to them unless accompanied by further information. I have an almost complete set of OCA Magazines 1948 to Present) and glean a lot of information from them but even these are useless if his service was not recorded. Those that went AWOL presumably joined the Military under false names and this too would prove a stumbling block.

Oops !

I am sure that many of us older collectors have medals that they have come across over the years and although not within theme collected have remained in a safe, box or whatever. I have about 15/20 such Victorian items, some that I have had many years ( 3 bar QSA that I gave 3/6 for(17p) I could not afford the Waterloo medal at 7/6 (72p) For p read Cents )some I have not had as long but are result of failed swaps.

I was today being harried to move stuff around because of Decorators and came across my album of such items, two lovely clean Indian Mutiny medals stood out with their beautiful distinctive ribbons. I realised that I know very little about the men and wondered if someone more experienced with military research could point me in right direction.

Both medals are to the 1st Battalion 8th Regt.

1. Geo(rge) Thwaites. Medal no bar

2. Jose(ph) Mitton Medal bar Dehli

A simple group to a dedicated Colonial Policeman. Joseph Kealey, who preferred to use the name Patrick was considered to be a very brave undercover intelligence gatherer, some thought him Reckless, others say he knew no fear.

I have been informed by Ex. Palestine Police officers that on occasions they had raided suspected Terrorist hideouts only to find Patrick there at home among the Arab or Jewish incumbents. One former officer said he had visited an Oasis in the "Middle of Nowhere" only to find Patrick sat around the camp fire in full Arab garb.

Patrick featured in many high profile Terrorist trials and I am informed that several of those found guilty paid the supreme penalty. It is believed that Patrick was marked for assassination and in fact survived at least two attempts on his life but left him severely wounded. He Therefore kept a low profile and did not associate with old comrades or join related associations. He seems, when he returned to UK, to have remained unmarried and moved around lodgings and private residential homes.

This could be your man. Herbert Richard Tiddy was born in Ellham, Folkestone, Kent c.1888, by 1911 was living in St Marlebone, London. He returned to Ellham in April 1914 and married a Miss Kelway, probably prior to going to war. I have traced a Richard H Tiddy to Cornwall where he died in 1951, this is more than likely a son of the union. You could now try researching the Military side to get his war service, if any. Hope of use.

Peter

I always tell people to wear copies, which can be replaced. Mine are still in their boxes but I have mounted miniatures.

Thanks. I am a bit of a purist but they are beautifully, expensively and expertly mounted by a very well known and long established medal company who would know better but probably followed instructions. I made the decision to leave them as the Family obviously wanted them displayed.

Thanks Again.

Peter

Excellent, many thanks.

Peter

Hi Ulsterman,

There are several factual books on the PP, one of the best is "A Job Well Done" by Ted Horne BEM also "Bailing with a Teaspoon" by Douglas V Duff who wrote over 70 Fictional books including several Mystery novels about "Harding of the Palestine Police" There are more than a few biography type books also.

Thanks Alex.

Peter

I have today obtained an 1887 Bar 1897 Jubilee medal accompanied by a 1902 Coronation medal to PC A. Bragg. The dealer states that this man served in four Divisions during his service and died young. I am in the embryonic stage in Met. Police collecting and would be grateful for any research that may be about regarding this man or a pointer on where to look.

Thanks

Peter

Thanks for comments I am glad they please, I have reduced my PP collection dramatically and it is now quite small but select and consists of groups containing Orders and Decorations with the exception of one groups which has a sad story behind it and I will give it a good home for as long as I can.

I have listed a Group under the Forum (Before I got used to the site) Colonial including South Africa. It is under the heading Bill Pilkington and I think makes a good read for those interested.

Listed here is a group to Cyril Oswald Kennedy, a brave Scot and worthy Policeman, the group is British Empire Medal for Gallantry, General Service Medal bars Palestine (First insurrection 1936-1939 by Arab population) and Palestine 1945-48 (Second insurrection by Jewish population) Defence medal, War medal and Colonial Police long service medal. Cyril died in Poole, Dorset in 1983.

Kennedy 2.doc

Hi Nick,

I have obtained copies of London Gazette but only the awards are listed, the citation is not, coupled with the fact that the Palestine Police OCA are also silent on the subject I conclude that it is a sensitive matter. I have a group to a PP officer who died not so long ago and he would not join the OCA as he was a "Marked Man" unquote. As I said above I assume he got the medal for the single handed retaking of Jericho but I do not know for sure.

I have another group of medals which are unique within the Palestine Police and probably throughout the Colonial Police Service. Kings Police Medal, British Empire Medal and Colonial Police medal, all for Meritorious Service, GSM Bars Palestine (1936-39) and Palestine 1945-48, Defence and War Medal to Superintendent Albert Edward Conquest, born Luton 1902 and joined PP in 1929. a very able officer in Counter Intelligence and progressed through the ranks. He was very successful and was marked down for assassination. He told friends that he had a presentiment that he would never leave the Holy Land Dead or Alive. He never did.

Peter

The following group is to Sergeant and later Inspector Philip Robert "Buck" Adams, Palestine Police, and consists of the Colonial Police medal for Gallantry with a Clasp for Gallantry, this being the first Clasp ever issued and the only one for Palestine out of only nine ever awarded. General Service Medal Bars Palestine (1936-39) and Palestine 1945-48, Defence Medal, War Medal and Colonial Police Long Service and Good Conduct. It appears that Buck is entitled to a further Clasp to the GSM, that of "Canal Zone" Research is on going re this. Buck Adams Gallantry on two occasions earned the CPM (G) and Clasp but like a lot of awards for clandestine work in Palestine the citations were not Gazetted but I feel the Medal was probably for an incident in Jericho in 1939 and outlined in attachment.

Buck Adams Died in 1986 and his fulsome obituary is also attached.

I hope this group also pleases those with an interest.

Peter

A Rather insignificant looking group of medals, but the tale behind the medals is a story of outstanding Gallantry and determination. I do not know if or how badly Constable Winter was injured but he did not remain in the Palestine Police.

He joined the Palestine Police c. 1940, his date of discharge is not known. The Kings Police (and Fire Service Medal) for Gallantry is distinguished from the KPM for Meritorious Service by the addition of word Gallantry on reverse and 3 slender red stripes superimposed upon the white stripes of ribbon.

Peter

They were repatriated to Israel and Presumably buried with Honours because they were seen as Freedom fighters. Much the same scenario as the repatriation of (Sir) Roger Casement's body to the Republic of Ireland some years ago.