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54 entries.

Paul Armstrong wrote on January 7, 2017 at 6:07 PM

Hi, I'm looking to trace any officers that served with my late father PC Terry Armstrong, after training at Sandgate (1974) he served at Folkestone Harbour, London Bridge, Dover Harbour and finally Ashford (Elwick Rd and International House).

REPLY:
If anyone can help Paul, please make contact with us, as outlined above.
Webmaster

Brian Eccles wrote on January 2, 2017 at 8:09 AM

I am the grandson of Mitchell Eccles was wondering if anyone in the archives section of British Transport Police History Group could help me track down information on my grandfather Mitchell Eccles who I believe may have served with the NBR police around 1920. I have found an old brass service medal with a enamelled Union Jack Flag on a white banner on the left hand side and a Red Rampant Lion on a yellow enamelled banner on the right side front face of the medal . On the back is a personalized inscription as follows:

Presentaion to
Mitchell Eccles
by NBR Police
22 of July, 1920
Western Division
SECURITY
Any help on tracking down this historical reference and any information regarding my grandfather's history with the NBR Police would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Grandson of Mitchell Eccles

REPLY:
This message has been replied to by email.
Webmaster.

alan wrote on November 20, 2016 at 3:27 PM

Hi I am researching the Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway and see that they had their own police force. Does any one have any information on it ?
REPLY:
This message has been replied to by email.
Webmaster

Laurence Swain wrote on June 28, 2016 at 8:52 AM

What an excellent source of information. Thank you for all this research and provision!
I was able to date a Bristol & Exeter Railway Police truncheon that belongs in my late fathers collection, I hope it is okay to link to your site from a photograph of the truncheon in question, my visitors need to see and enjoy your site. I have other railway truncheons that I'd like to date and will come back here later. The B&ER truncheon is under Ref:4 on page http://alan.swain.me.uk/truncheons.htm (Not for sale though).

REPLY:
Hi Laurence,
Yes, of course you can link to our site.
Thank you for your kind comments.
Regards.
Webmaster

John Leslie WORLEY wrote on May 1, 2016 at 5:50 PM

Police Constable 1580 WORLEY joined September 5th 1971. stationed at Swansea Docks for the first five years of service, then spent the rest of my service at Swansea rail. I was medically retired on the 15th April 2000, due to being assaulted during an arrest at Swansea in 1998, since retirement I have had four knee replacement operations because of this assault. I remember Tadworth well, spent many a happy week there it was truly a place that stood the test of time, I was there when Micky BRYANT was an Instructor together with Colin THOMAS who was my class Instructor, it will be missed that I know, such a shame, but time moves on and the force must move with these times.
REPLY:
Yes, it was a shame that Tadworth closed, but the new training facility in north London is well thought of.
Thank you for your contribution.
Webmaster.

Carly Emery wrote on April 6, 2016 at 4:44 PM

I wondered if you had any information on my Grandfather - Charles Emery. He served within BTP at Southampton Docks. I believe he served between the 60/70's to early 80's. Sorry I don't have any further information.
Many Thanks
Carly

REPLY:
This message has been replied to by email.
Webmaster

JACQUELINE SUTHERLAND wrote on February 17, 2016 at 1:03 AM

To whom it may concern,
Dear Sir/Madam

I would like to find out any service information that you may have please, on my grandfather DAVID ARNOLD. He was born on 29 May 1892 and died on 4 October 1956.

He was with the British Transport Police (possibly with the Greater Western Railway - number 294) and based primarily at Swansea docks. I believe that he would have joined the British Transport Police after 1913 and worked with them to 1940's.

I can provide a newspaper photograph of him and others if that will assist.

Many thanks for your assistance.

Regards

Jacqueline Sutherland (Granddaughter)

REPLY:
This message has been replied to by email.
Webmaster.

Jacqueline Connor wrote on January 28, 2016 at 5:57 AM

My great grand father William Jennings from Ireland is listed in the 1901 census as a Dock Constable (Harbour) and possibly( L. & D co.) Is this a private police force? He died within 3 years of the census as did his wife Lily. My grandmother was placed in the Bethnal Green Poor House orphanage. They were living in West Ham. I would like to find out more about him and wondered if you can help me trace his records or point me in the right direction, please. Thank you.

REPLY:
Yes, being shown as a Dock Constable indicates he was employed at one of the docks, and as they lived in West Ham it was probably one of the London docks. He would have the powers of a police constable whilst on the dock and been employed by the dock company.
Although the BTP History Group includes dock and canal police amongst its constituent forces, the London docks are not part of it, as they had no connection with the railways. I did check his name against our records, just in case, but with a negative result – although our records are far from complete.
Webmaster
(A fuller reply and correspondence was entered into by email)

Jacqui Woodham wrote on January 22, 2016 at 11:32 AM

I have a photograph of my great great grandfather who I believe, according to stories and the census information was a railway detective. His name was Henry Johnson born around 1851 aka Bluff Johnson. I wondered if you had any record of him and likewise would you like the photo to accompany this information?

Ronnie Coulter wrote on January 14, 2016 at 6:04 PM

Trying to find out some information out on my grandfather Joseph Coulter born July 31, 1884, in Ballymena, Antrim, Northern Ireland. We know he served in the BTP after serving with Glasgow Police.

Rhys Davies wrote on June 22, 2015 at 12:07 PM

Trying to find out some information out on my father Geriant Davies would have been mid to late 1960's done his training in Hendon later transferred to Gwent police don't know if anyone has any info / pictures passing out etc

Thanks

REPLY:
This entry has been replied to by email.
Webmaster

Richard Law wrote on March 6, 2015 at 8:23 PM

Have you any information on my father Richard William Law whom served around 1938 - 1953ish in Peterborough. I believe he may have been a Sergent. We have no family history.

REPLY:
Hi Richard, we do not have any employment records relating to your father, but I was able to find a mention of him in the LNER magazine from 1938. I have sent you more details by email.
WebMaster

David Paul Armstrong wrote on January 7, 2015 at 12:22 PM

Hi John Powell, Memory not as good whether some photos refer either to BT Police Cadet Course and/or initial PC Tadworth Course. 196Os Course venues Tadworth, Newby Wiske, North Yorkshire (Outward Bound Cadet Course Ilkley, Yorkshire). Please see impending Tadworth group Football Photo 1964, you name definety rings a bell even after all these years. Cheers Dave Armstrong (Newcastle upon Tyne Central).

John Powell wrote on December 11, 2014 at 8:16 PM

Hello David, read your article with interest concerning your being a cadet and attending Tadworth ,I do not know whether that was as a cadet or maybe on a recruit course, of course it was a all long time ago and although I do not recollect if we ever met I have a photo of our recruit course with the information on the back marked \"Southern Region Publicity May 1966\" I can remember all the faces and most of the names. Although we were only together three months, at the end we were very much a family. I had always planned to take my wife back to the village to revisit that part my youth ( I was 19yrs when I started at Tadworth) but sadly it would not seem the same with the old place gone. My only claim to fame was putting our instructor in a hammer lock and bar during our beat incidents in the hall - all done at lightening pace, I had to arrest him and march him up onto the stage and present him to be charged after he knocked my helmet off on an imaginary station platform - it drew a gasp from the assembled students. Happy memories and best wishes to all.

David Armstrong wrote on December 10, 2014 at 9:35 PM

Hi John Powell,
Our paths may well have passed, I was a Newcastle upon Tyne (Central) B.T. Police Cadet in the early sixties, trained at Tadworth and (Newby Wiske) North Yorkshire. I first attended an outward Bound Course on Ilkley Moor ( A pleasant but fresh air, exercise shock to the system to a City lad). Took part in a three day fairly tough expedition (Groups of 3 Cadets) with dehydrated food. The rain, rained upwards, map reading, the lot supervised by a no-nonesense B.T. Police Sgt METCALFE hard as nails, (I am not sure possibly Ex Army but caring towards us. A never to be forgotten positive learning adventure experience for a Police Cadet. I will never forget Sgt Metcalfe, bless him, he taught us a lot and looked over us.

Update:
Sorry forgot to add my NAME (Re outward Bound Course, Ilkley Moor) David Paul Armstrong (Cadet) Newcastle upon Tyne (Later PC 30 British Transport Police, Newcastle upon Tyne (Central).

Bob Steed wrote on November 23, 2014 at 10:27 PM

Could anyone tell me the minimum height to join the force in 1905 , my grandfather joined at Bristol and served to 1932. Many thanks.

REPLY:
Good question, Bob. I think 5' 8" was the de facto minimum height for many police forces and had been certainly prior to this period, but I do not have anything specific about the GWR police. I'll make some enquiries, but would also welcome comments from others.
WebMaster.

Adrian Barker wrote on November 8, 2014 at 9:18 PM

Looking to find information about my grandfather Theophilus Barker who was a Sargent with the LNER Police pre & post WW1, based certainly after the war in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

REPLY:
We did find a record for Theophilus and a reply has been sent privately.
WebMaster.

Barbara Thomas wrote on November 6, 2014 at 4:42 PM

Your page on Southampton Docks Police - Birth of the Division refers to William Tubbs, Harbour Master, and mentions that the writer has been unable to establish whether or not he continued as Harbour Master after being recruited for Police duties.
William Tubbs was the 3 x g grandfather of my former husband. He died in May 1852. The death certificate gives his occupation as Harbour Master. On the 1861 census his widow's occupation is shown as: Harbour Master's widow, so she obviously felt that this was a status worth mentioning. Both the 1841 and 1851 censuses give William's occupation as Harbour Master. Your website is the only mention I have found of William's recruitment for Police duties.

REPLY:
Many thanks for filling in this missing aspect to William Tubbs’ story.
I have advised the writer of the article and replied to you directly.
WebMaster

David Paul Armstrong wrote on September 19, 2014 at 3:10 PM

Hello all, I have written and have had successfully published two **Constable on the Track articles**, the first being published in the BACKTRACK Railway Magazine (March 2010,) outlining my experiences as a British Transport Police Officer at Newcastle Central Railway Station during the 196Os. (backdated copies available). My second (and final article) has a similar title, namely*.........*Constable on the Freight Track**, outlining my experiences as a B.T. Officer at the 'Tyneside Railway Central Freight Depot', Felling *(Gateshead) again during the 196Os. This article second will appear in the HERITAGE Railway Magazine, dated 25th September, 2014 (Magazine Number 194). Both articles with some photographs, 'hairy and humorous. Of particular interest to British Transport Police retired officers particulars those associated with Tyneside and the North East of England.

REPLY:
Thanks for the information David, we look forward to reading the article.
WebMaster

karen bailey wrote on July 8, 2014 at 9:23 AM

hi
i just found your fantastic picture of the dock constables 1890s
you have a particular one in middle row henry batten born 1846 in whit parish you also say he died
1902 but he's on my family tree and very much alive on 1911 census he actually died 1913.
thank you for a fascinating picture
Karen

REPLY:
Hi Karen,
Thanks for your comments. I'll pass your information on to the writer, David Caplehorn, to add to his research.
I'm sure he'd appreciate anymore information you have on Henry.
WebMaster