Harry Flashman

I must say - the picture of PC114 looks more modern than the pic of the officers outside Bowling Station - could the two really both be from around 1900?

I don't have many:

1. A portrait of him (formally posed) in the uniform of an Inspector (I think - two rows of lace on the cuff).

2. What looks like a snap of him standing in a park (?) wearing uniform and a greatcoat.

3. A newspaper picture of hm with some of his men winning a First Aid trophy. This was published in the Bradford T&A some 27 years ago when I was at school - they were asking what the photo was about. I spotted Sam and wrote in telling them who he was.

4. A print of a newspaper picture of a parade where some of the men are wearing the cutlasses talked about previously - quite a variety of uniforms on this.

5. A posed group photo of when my Grand Father joined up for WW1. There is my Grandfather in his RAMC uniform, one of his brothers in a Tram Driver uniform, another brother (George Briggs) in a Constables uniform and Sam in uniform with a medal that looks like it may be a King's Police Medal.

These photos are squirreled away in various places, but I'd be happy to photocopy 'em and send them to you as and when I come across them - just let me have an address

I don't think I can post pics on here can I?

I believe that Bowling Station was one of the places where My Great Grand Father (Sam Briggs) was Inspector - maybe even at the time of your photo?

Kevin - the account of the strike made very interesting reading and one quickly realises that even in the UK the difference between law and order and chaos - is a very thin blue line. This has always been so - I have advocated massed shotguns for years (!) Usually the old reports are dealing with London or, other major centres - this was different being for a County town. What would the population have been at that time ?

When I was in the Met. we used to have to go to special training days - they taught what would happen in serious trouble. I always remember that it would take only 3 atom bombs to wipe out London and that the estimate between food shortages and rioting was 2 to 3 days. I witnessed this in Bournemouth (of all places) in the 70's. We had heavy snow for several days and supplies couldn't get through - by the third day crowds were trying to break into shops and were fighting amongst themselves.

I was particularly interested in mention of Bradford buying redundant navy cutlasses. I have never heard of this for any Force and rather doubt if it is correct - although as we explored once before - the Bradford Watch Committee seemed to be a law unto itself ! Are any still in your local museums ? Mervyn

Hi, Mervyn. Although I don't have any real detail. I have heard within my family that the Police themselves had a strike somewhere between the wars (but, understandably perhaps, it isn't mentioned in the book.

Also, reference the Cutlasses. This is indeed true - I've a photograph of a parade in Bradford where the Police have them and I've also seen the actual items when I visited the Police HQ Museum many years ago.

Aye, I have a copy of that book - interesting reading from cover to cover :)

Hello,

I have not come across anything but will certainly have a look to see if I can finds a reference.

I'd be really grateful - thanks. Others of his family were involved with Bradford Police - so any mention of a Briggs may well be of interest (I know George and Eric both served)

This is all incredibly interesting.

I wonder if you've ever come across anything about my Great Grandfather?

His name was Samuel Briggs and I believe he rose to the rank of Chief Inspector. I have photos of him - one at least during WW1. He looks younger on others but is still wearing officer uniform (he has the boars head within a wreath badge on page 1). On the WW1 photo, he appears to wear the (then pretty new) Kings Police Medal.

I've searched the net to no avail, I wonder if you've come across anything mentioning him?