219PG Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
219PG Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share Posted April 8, 2013 Sorry - made an error in the title - the constable is Pc 128. W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Done that a few times! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin Mk 3 Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 (edited) On 10/07/1899 a PC Edward J Thomas retired - his Warrant Number was 58017 but more importantly his Divisional Number was 128W. He had joined the force on 06/07/1874. Given the date of the book I think it is highly probable that this is your man, particularly as I can't find anyone else serving just before that date with that Divisional Number. The Discharge Register shows PC Thomas got a Class 2 Certificate (Very Good) so clearly his Sergeant didn't catch him smoking very often. Incidentally they didn't waste much time as on the same day they re-allocated his number (128W) to a new recruit - PC Frederick Meyer-Dixon. It would be great if you could post a large size image of the picture. Edited April 9, 2013 by Odin Mk 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin Mk 3 Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 And here is the Discharge Register entry for Thomas (bottom of the part page) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin Mk 3 Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Second attempt at posting this - just as one line from the page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
219PG Posted April 10, 2013 Author Share Posted April 10, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
219PG Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 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!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjarofwasps Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 On 09/04/2013 at 18:13, Odin Mk 3 said: The Discharge Register shows PC Thomas got a Class 2 Certificate (Very Good) so clearly his Sergeant didn't catch him smoking very often. That's why it's captioned "A sharp lookout" Jim ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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