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 was taken and who was in it.
You cannot see the officers and numbers very clearly though, so here are closer up views of the photograph, after splitting it in two.
So can you see any collar numbers clearly ?
It is possible to see that all the constables have collar numbers, but the Sgt’s and other senior ranks do not. The constables have either 2 ( numbers 10-99 ) or 3 numbers ( 100 plus ), but I still need to magnify the photograph more.
The Sgts also had numbers, but unfortunately only on their helmet badges, and being virtually impossible to see.
From other photographs on closer inspection I could see several officers I recognised, which was a good start.
Starting with the Superintendent, it looked very much like Ernest SPRACKLING.
SPRACKLING was the Poole Commander between Sept 1919 and Friday 30th May 1924, when he retired.
SPRACKLING took over from William BOWLES ( 1914 – 1919 ) and was succeeded by William WHITE ( 1924 – 1927 ). They all look very different, so I knew it was neither of them, and here is another photo of SPRACKLING, probably when he was promoted to Supt in 1914., to show the resemblance.
Identifying the Sgts in the above photograph, straight away I can recognise Reg KENT who is the tall one next to the Supt and the other looks like George CHURCHILL.
We will return to seniority, so next, look at the officer siting to the left of Supt SPRACKLING . It would be another 15 years before the rank of Chief Inspector was created, so this fella must be an Inspector, as his jacket and cap are not as fancy as the Supt.
Poole Division first got an Inspector in 1923, Ernest CLARKE was the Inspector but in the papers he is not mentioned by name. Ernest CLARKE was promoted from Swanage around that time. The inspector is mentioned from about March 1923, so that narrows the photo down now to, March 1923 – 30th May 1924.
So inspector Ernest CLARKE is the officer wearing the flat cap, but now lets look at the two Sgts to his left.
Well straight away I recognised one from the tug of war team, Tom “Podge” HARVEY who is two away from the Inspector. “Podge” was promoted in 1919 and moved to Poole where he and his family moved in to 7 Market Street. I an not sure who the other Sgt at the moment, but he maybe more senior than Podge as he looks older and is next to the Insp.
In the above photograph, there is one Sgt but at the moment I am not sure who he is !
In the below photograph I recognise the Sgt as John DARK, he was promoted to Sgt in Jan 1921 and moved to Poole.
Time to identify the Constables.
In the above photo you can see senior PC siting, tis is PC 145 Sidney PRIDE. Sidney and his wife lived in the police station and looked after the single men. The two young officers in front are PC 65 Charles TAYLOR and PC 218 Albert REEVES.
The Constables numbers above appear to be from top to bottom. PC 48, which will be Harold NEAL, PC 20 William BEALING, PC 35 Henry FORSEY, PC 19 Francis STAINER, PC 14 Samuel EASTMAN and PC 171 Harold MONTAGUE. You can see they are all wearing there WW1 medals .
Above numbers for the 8 Constables, from top to bottom appear to be: 138, 209, 81, 150, 103, 163 131 and 17. So they are 138 Joseph GALPIN, 209 Walter WHITE , 81 Herbert PAULLEY, 150 Harry LILL, 103 Herbert SARTIN, 163 possibly Arthur TRENT (?), 131 Cecil POPE and 17 William BARRETT .
Above appear to be: PC 63 Harry DIXON, 172 George TREVISS, 165 Ernest SARTIN , 73 Fred MALKIN, 84 Maurice BUGLER, 68 Wilfred COLE and 153 Tom TITE
Above constables appear to be PC 185 Joseph JACKSON, 23 Arthur STICKLEY, 84 Maurice BUGLER, 178 John GEE, 108 Thomas FORSEY, 168 William TOOP, 34 Samuel LAKE, 12 Wilfred SMITH and 1?? which logically should be 115 Fred FRANKLIN.
Back to the Sgts, to try and identify the last 2.
I would not put my life on it, but I think the one above next to the Insp will be, Henry MATTHEWS and the one below could possibly be Cornelius BROWN.
So from top row to bottom here is the list of everyone.
FIRST ROW:
1: PC 48 Harold NEAL
2: PC 138 Joseph GALPIN
3: PC 209 Walter WHITE
4: PC 81 Herbert PAULLEY
5: PC 63 Harry DIXON
6: PC 172 George TREVISS
7: PC 185 Joseph JACKSON
8: PC 23 Arthur STICKLEY
SECOND ROW:
1: PC 20 William BEALING (Parkstone)
2: PC 35 Henry FORSEY
3: PC 150 Harry LILL
4: PC 103 Herbert SARTIN
5: PC 165 Ernest SARTIN, brothers
6: PC 73 Frederick MALKIN
7: PC 84 Maurice BUGLER
8: PC 178 John GEE
9: PC 108 Thomas FORSEY, brother of Henry.
THIRD ROW:
1: PC 19 Francis STAINER
2: PC 14 Samuel EASTMAN
3: PC 171 Harry MONTAGUE
4: PC 163 Arthur TRENT (?)
5: PC 131 Cecil POPE
6: PC 17 William BARRETT
7: PC 68 Wilfred COLE
8: PC 153 Tom TITE
9: PC 168 William TOOP
10: PC 34 Samuel LAKE
11: PC 12 Wilfred SMITH
12: PC 115 Frederick FRANKLIN
FOURTH ROW , SEATED:
1: PC 145 Sidney PRIDE
2: SGT John DARK
3: SGT Thomas HARVEY
4: SGT Henry MATTHEWS (Parkstone)
5: INSP Ernest CLARKE
6: SUPT Ernest SPRACKLING
7: SGT Reg KENT
8: SGT George CHURCHILL (Bourne valley)
9: SGT Cornelius BROWN ?
10: PC 99 Enos FUDGE
11: PC 80 Henry WESTCOTT
FIFTH ROW, CROSS LEGGED.
1: PC 65 Charles TAYLOR
2: PC 218 Albert REEVES
3: PC 217 Percy GINTER
4: PC 36 Reg GENTLE
5: PC 74 George GRAY (Bourne valley)
6: PC 72 Willian ALFORD
7: PC 100 Cyril JOLLIFFE
8: PC 183 Reg WHITTY
9: PC 10 James FOOT
In conclusion I believe the photograph was taken for the retirement of Supt Ernest SPRACKLING and was taken in April 1924, before 22nd as Sgt Reg KENT retired on that day. Photograph taken at Poole in the Market Street police station yard in front of the “police buildings”.