All the many corners of the excellent British Transport Police History Group website are worth exploring. None more so than the carefully complied list of those who lost their lives in service and the lists of those who have been honoured by the sovereign for their commendable conduct.
Of course the latter list includes those who could expect a ‘gong’ because of their rank or the nature of the job they did, but there can also be found many whose achievements in policing are of the first order. Among them are officers recognised for their bravery, sometimes in the most dreadful of circumstances. One thing that is clear is that in every generation (including the current one) there has never been a shortage of officers who are willing to risk their lives in the execution of their duty.
While reading the lists one name struck me: William Charles BRERETON. He was a PC (acting detective) stationed in one of the less glamourous locations on the railway network, namely the Bricklayers Arms Depot in South London. The area was the subject of intense bombing during the last war. During an air raid in 1940/1941 (the date is not clear) he placed his life at risk to rescue a colleague, Pc William ROWING. The entry on the BTPHG site reads:
“Whilst on duty during an air raid and despite risk to his life he saved PC Rowing who was trapped in a burning building”. (2)
The official entry in the London Gazette gives a little more detail:
“Awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division):— William Brereton, D.C.M., Acting Detective, Southern Railway. During an air raid a building was hit by high explosive and incendiary bombs. The only occupant was thrown by the blast through a wooden partition and pinned down by debris. Acting Detective Brereton entered the building, the outer wall of which had been partly demolished, climbed over the debris and released the trapped man. By the time the rescue was effected the office was blazing and Brereton’s initiative and resource in a difficult and dangerous situation undoubtedly saved the life of the man.” (3)
The description of him as William Brereton DCM suggested that this was not the first time he had acted with valour. Sure enough the citation records the award during the Great War:
“ “L/12582 Sjt W. BRERETON – For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He fought his machine guns with great gallantry under heavy hostile fire. He set a splendid example to his men (26.7.17)” (4)
The Distinguished Conduct medal (DCM) is the oldest military gallantry medal in the UK. It was awarded between 1854 and 1993 and ranks below the Victoria Cross (and latterly the George Cross) and above the Military Medal. The medal bears the inscription “For Distinguished Conduct in the Field”.
William Charles BRERETON (who didn’t use his middle name on many documents) was born on 1st November 1889. He joined the militia in 1907 and later served in Mauritius, South Africa and India as well as in Salonika and France during the Great War. During that conflict he was also mentioned in dispatches in 1916 for ‘Gallant and Distinguished Conduct in the field” and presented with the Russian Cross of the Order of St George (4th Class) in 1915. The circumstances of the latter award are unknown but would make for interesting reading. (5) His war service saw him take part in some of the worst battles in that dreadful conflict. He was wounded twice – once by a gunshot to the thigh that caused him to spend several weeks in hospital. (6)
The police forces employed by the railway companies of Great Britain all recruited heavily in the aftermath of the Great War. William BRERETON joined the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSC) Police in March 1919. He spent most of his service at Bricklayers Arms. The LBSC became part of the Southern Railway. During his police service BRERETON never went too far away from his first posting although he spent some time at Waterloo and at Nine Elms. Shortly before he joined he married Florence COLEMAN and at the time of the 1921 census he was actually living with his family at Willow Walk, which was the address of the LBSC depot that later formed an enlarged Bricklayers Arms. It is not known whether he lived in accommodation provided by the company.
He spent frequent periods working in CID and was commended several times for detecting railway thieves. By the time he retired in 1954 the force had become the British Transport Commission Police and was generally known as the British Transport Police. He served for 35 years as a railway policeman and was awarded the Police Long Service and Good Conduct medal to add to his impressive collection.
William BRERETON enjoyed 10 years of retirement and died in 1964.
He was a very brave man.
Phil Trendall
July 2023
Originally published on the blog: Policing Public Transport: A Neglected History
References:
(1) www.btphg.org.uk
(2) BTPHG Honours, Decorations & Medals
(3) London Gaz dated 12 August 1941 Page 4704
(4) www.ancestry.co.uk William Brereton (20 Jun 2023) *
(5) BTPHG PRC: BRERETON, William
(6) www.ancestry.co.uk World War 1 Service Records (08 Jul 2023) *
*Ancestry links require subscriptions