Written on the rear of this photograph are the words ” Taken in the back of Poole Gasworks after a Police Service at Skinner Street Congregational Church about 1930 or 1931. ” This is another photograph passed down to me from my grand father and I believe it’s his writing.
Below it, is his information which I will try and decipher!
So far after a quick look at the names I can tell the photograph was taken between August 1930 and August 1931. The faces are not that clear so I will endeavour to make them clearer.
On the rear is a photographers stamp, which is: Photograph by W. B. TUCKER. STERTE, ESPLANADE, POOLE.
It is not easy reading my grandfather’s hand writing for me, so for you it may be worse. Anyway here go for the below gentlemen.
1: PC 111 Arthur William GRAY,
One of the GRAY brothers, he served from 1926 to 1936 at Poole.
2: INSP GALPIN, later Supt.
3: PC ALBERT MARSH, later Sgt
4: PC 22 Thomas Joseph BROWN,
He served from 1920 till Feb 1932 when unfortunately he died from TB at Poole.
5: Ex Supt ARTHUR SWATRIDGE
6: Sgt “Lockery” WOODS
It must be Reg Atwood WOOD, who joined in 1914, was promoted to Sgt in 1925 and retired at Blandford in 1945 after WW2.
7: Major PEEL YATES, Chief Constable.
8: PC 215 Alfred Limbrough BOGGUST ( at rear standing) .
PC at Wimborne, Poole and Long Burton.
9: PC 35 Albert Richard HOLCOMBE (kneeling at the front) .
PC at Poole from about 1930-1945 and then Lulworth.
10: JACK HAYES MP. (Policeman’s spokesman in Houses Of Parliament with Butterfly collar)
Above gentlemen. Nine standing first !
1: PC MAURICE LEGG.
PC 173 Maurice Robert LEGG served from late 1930 till 1960 mainly in the north of the County.
2: WILLIAM GLASSEY ? MP for Poole ? I need to look at him more !!!
3: PC ALFIE CHASE, ( later Sgt).
PC 180 Alfred Walter CHASE joined in 1919 and promoted in 1938 and served at Cranborne and Blandford.
4: PC WILLIAM SIMMONDS ( Died at Broadmayne)
PC 54 William C SYMONS ( or similar) joined about 1930 and was at Swanage in WW1, but not easy to find much about him.
5: LT Col WHEATLEY, former MP for Poole.
6: Insp FRANKIE HOWE (later Supt at Dorchester)
Joined in 1912 and mainly served at Poole and Dorchester, till retirement in 1948.
7: SUPT JOE SWAIN, Poole
8: Ex SUPT ERNIE SPRACKLING ( formerly at Poole)
9: Ex PC PEARCE (Mace bearer, Poole)
A constable in the Poole Borough police and Dorset County police before retiring in WW1.
KNEELING
10: PC ” Peggy” NEAL (later Sgt).
PC 48 Harold Stephen NEAL, joined in 1920,served mostly at Poole on patrol duties and CID. CID Sgt and patrol Sgt at Beaminster and Blandford. Retired in 1950.
11: PC PIKE.
Must be PC 156 Albert Edwin PIKE who joined in 1912, serving at Poole and Lytchett Minster mainly.