This is another photograph my grandfather passed on to me and again there was no information on it. I recognised that it was the Market Street Police buildings straight away, and then by studying the photograph and legible collar/helmet numbers I gradually began to establish when it was taken, why it …
On the evening of 11th September 2020, I was going through my emails and one of them was from Maurice HANN. ———————————————————————————————————– Dear Ian, It’s Anita Hazell here (Maurice Hann’s daughter). I am writing to inform you that Dad sadly passed away on Wednesday evening (9th) at 17.30. It was a peaceful …
DORSET CONSTABLES WHO WERE ARMY RESERVISTS CALLED UP IN 1899 I knew basically nothing about the Boer War. Whilst trawling through old newspaper reports I came across reports of Dorset policemen being involved, which naturally, then made me want to know of their experiences and whether they came home safely. So I …
This photograph was taken at HQ in 1956, but long before this, dogs were thought to be valuable and a possible asset to police work and detection. The first mention I have found of Dogs being used was in March 1901. In General Orders dated 18th April 1901 it states: “The …
The photograph above, has no more information other than what is appended beneath it, and is from page 30 of Melvin HANN’S book, Bobbies on the beat, 150 years of Dorset Constabulary. The book can be picked up quite cheaply on ebay and large on line book stores. Thanks again Melvin , who …
In this black and white photograph, there is one thing for sure, the cat is a very light colour or white, or even more white and albino , it certainly seems to have a lack of melanin. Now I do not know much about cats, but I guess a cat of this …
This is for Alfie BARRETT, who created the Entertainers. I was going to put Alfred BARRETT’s life and career in the “Good, Bad and Unlucky” post, but I think this post shows the man at his best ! Alf, was born at Piddlehinton, on 23rd December 1884 and on the 1881 census his …
Above is a photograph of the last Sgt Major in his uniform. His uniform was different to any other Sgt as it has the 4 reverse stripes on his right arm and above it the crown. As far as I am aware, the Dorset Constabulary were the only Police Force to have …
Late 1966 or early 1967, this is the retirement “do” of Charles BAIGENT. This photograph has been lent to me by Richard SYMES, son of Jack, so thankyou Richard. The BAIGENTS , Sidney, Richard and Charlie all had good careers and Charlie was the last as far as I know ! …
I love this photograph because of the iron work. The pit shaft support in the background and the finials (rounded spikes) on the helmets. In the days of cottages with low ceilings, the finials would often punch holes in the plaster work as policemen were not allowed to remove there helmets till inside …