Alan Baird

Hi Nick, Many thanks and it all makes sense now because when you think of it..... he was a station sergeant from 1937 to 1940 and station sergeants were responsible for the overall administration of the station. Station sergeants had 4 chevrons, instead of the 3 chevrons identifying a normal sergeant. Although, I cannot remember when the 4 chevrons were dispensed with as a rank marking. I should have also guessed that the letter 'A' may have been used to indicate administration. Anyway he spent 15 years in the administration the Metropolitan Police and there would have been hundreds of civilian staff involved in supporting these uniformed staff. I really do appreciate this information and now I know what he was actually doing at Scotland Yard. Alan.

This is just an observation but it always seems funny how it can be so difficult to locate more recent information ie A3 department at Scotland Yard in the 1940's and 1950's and yet when you go back much further, say 130 or 160 years etc, then there can be a mass of information at your fingertips i.e.................... Inspector Charles James John Law's grandfather was :- Inspector John Law, Metropolitan Police. Born 14/8/1840, Devonshire. Joined the Metropolitan Police 21/4/1862. PC [H205/collar number] in 'H' or Whitechapel division. Retired on pension 4/10/1887, Inspector with 'B' or Chelsea [Westminster] division. John Law was over 5 feet and 9 inches tall. Dark hair, Hazel eyes. Fresh complexion. Scar on right wrist. 47 years old. [ in 1887]. Maybe this fact, encouraged his grandson, to also join the Metropolitan Police. Alan.

Hi Mike, Many thanks for keeping me on the right track and thanks to the moderators for moving the post for me. Alan.

Hi, I just thought I would add some more details on Inspector Charles J. J. Law, in case, it might help in identifying what is the A3 department in Scotland Yard in 1940 or assist in providing any other information on him. Charles James John Law, born Marylebone, in London, on the 25/6/1902. Served in the Army between 1921 to 1925. [don't know the actual military details] Joined the Metropolitan Police in 1925, assigned to 'J' or Bethnal Green division. Promoted to sergeant and transferred to 'C' or St James's division in 1931. Promoted to station sergeant and transferred to 'P' or Camberwell division in1937. Promoted to Inspector and transferred to A3 department at Scotland Yard in 1940. Retired in 1955, Inspector at Scotland Yard. [I think he was still an Inspector.] Died on 30/4/1993. My impression would be that A3 is likely to be a sub-group/section with the main department ie C.I.D. department and A3 could be fingerprint section etc but I just do not know. regards, Alan.

Hi, I was hoping somebody might be able to assist me with some information on Scotland Yard during the 1940's and 1950's period. I am researching an Inspector Charles James John Law who was promoted to Inspector in 1940 and transferred to the A3 department at Scotland Yard and he remain there until he retired in 1955. This might seem a bit daft but I cannot identify what department A3 refers to....... would that be the fingerprints or photography department or does it refer to the division or something else. Any help would be much appreciated and I hope I have done this entry properly, as it is now only my second posting on the forum. many thank. Alan.

Hi, I totally agree with you that during the height of the JTR murders, there would have probably been hundreds of suspects taken to the Police Stations each week. The majority of these would have been cleared and released quite quickly but you would think that there would be a mass of information relating to these incidents and the Police Officers involved but that is not the case. Ebay has its advantages but it also has many disadvantages, prices go from good to outrageous. Often there are better deals to be had by going directly to dealers shops and auctions etc. H or Whitechapel division medals relating to 1888 are extremely difficult to find but it can also be rewarding collecting from another famous period in H or Whitechapel division history. For example the ''Siege of Sidney Street in 1911.'' That whole period of the Tottingham Outrage and Sidney Street shows great courage by the officers that dealt with the incidents. There is greater scope in finding interesting items, as these are less well known incidents nowadays. Alan.

Hello, This is my first posting on the club forum. I also watched the auction of PC W Saundery's medals and did some basic research on him. William Henry Saundery - dark hair, grey eyes, a fresh complexion, five feet ten and a half inches tall and had a slightly deformed left hand. PC H471 William Saundery was 1 of only 42 Police Constables that were permanently transferred to H or Whitechapel division during the infamous Jack the Ripper murders. That is 42 out of a total of 11,000-12,000 Police personnel. It should be remembered that the majority of the Police Officers serving with H division, during this specific period, have not been identified. All good stories should be evidenced and that is done by Police Order 31/10/1888. PC H471 William Saundery served with H division until the 7th of February in 1890 which was also an interesting period because you have various murder scares where it was feared JTR had returned. 8/2/1890 joined A Whitehall division. 26/8/1890 joined E or Holborn division. 27/12/1893 joined Y Highgate division. Retired from the Met. and Y division on the 4/3/1912 and all evidenced by his Met. Police pension records etc. Saundery is an unusual surname and there is also a good deal of information on his family life. PC H471 William Saundery's story and medals are extremely interesting and have the potential for researching in many ways. In many years of collecting I have never seen any of these particular Police Constables medals come onto the market and I suspect it will be many years again before we see a similar event. One last thought - this particular sale was accidentally done very badly, the listing title of the auction gave the wrong Police officers details and this error may have even resulted in many collectors missing the importance of these medals and also the start of the Summer holidays is never a good time to sell. The market value is what collectors and dealers are willing to pay and whenever you have a good story, then you are likely to be able to command a good price. Well that is my opinion and I thought I would share it with you all.