Margaret and Annie Johnson
Early Life.
Margaret Johnson was born on the 12th January 1900 at Wigan and was baptised at St. Thomas Church, Wigan on the 4th May 1900. Annie Johnson was born on the 31st August 1902 and was baptised at St. Thomas on the 19th October 1902.
Their father was Robert Johnson who was born on the 16th December 1858 at Aspull, Wigan. Their mother, Elizabeth Maria Corbett who was born on the 20th August 1865 at Wigan, married their father at St. Thomas Wigan on the 14th February 1891. Robert, a bachelor, was employed as a Railway Engine Driver and Elizabeth, a spinster, was employed as a Weaver. They both gave their address as 9 York Street, Wigan. They had seven children all born in Wigan:
1. Lydia Johnson was born on the 8th July 1891. 2. George Corbett Johnson was born on the 12th April 1893. During WW1 he served in the Kings (Liverpool) Regiment as Sergeant 30228. He was awarded the Military Medal. 3. Ellen Johnson was born on the 21st August 1895. 4. William Shaw Johnson was born in 1898 and died on the 21st April 1920. 5. Margaret Johnson. 6. Annie Johnson. 7. Robert Johnson was born on the 12th October 1907.
In the 1901 census the family are recorded as having moved to 7 York Street, Wigan. Robert is still working as a Railway Engine Driver. The 1911 census has them at the same address. Robert is again shown as a Railway Engine Driver, whilst Margaret and Annie are shown as attending school. Their Police Service Records show they both attended St. Thomas Church of England School, Wigan.
The Electoral Rolls of 1920 to 1923 list them as having moved to 67, Beech Hill Avenue, Wigan. The 1921 census shows the same address and records Robert as being employed as a Railway Engine Driver for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway working at their Loco Shed in Wigan. His wife Elizabeth is shown as running a Greengrocers from their home. Margaret was employed by her mother as a Greengrocers Assistant whilst Annie was described as being employed in carrying out Home Duties.
Little else is known about Margaret and Annie for the next few years until they both applied to join the Hertford County Constabulary in 1928. It is not known how they learned that Hertfordshire was looking to recruit the first women Police Constables for Hertfordshire, or where they were living at the time.
Police Service.
The Police Service Records for both Margaret and Annie have survived but they are not the original Form 3 Record Sheets, which were in use at the time of their Appointments, but a later version. This unfortunately means that a lot of information contained on the Form 3’s has been lost as it was not transcribed onto the newer form.
Margaret and Annie would have made written applications to join the Constabulary. Enquiries would then have been made to verify the information they had supplied. They would then both have had to attend Police Headquarters at Hatfield for a formal interview and a medical with the Police Surgeon.
Margaret’s physical description was recorded as follows: She was 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a pale complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair.
Annie Johnson
Annie was recorded as being 5 feet 11 inches tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair.
They were both Appointed on the 30th July 1928 and started their Probationary Training at Police Headquarters, Hatfield. The Electoral Roll of 1929 lists Margaret and Annie as living c/o Mrs. G.A. Barnes, North Road, Hatfield.
Both gave Shop Assistant as their previous occupation.
There is a photograph of recruit Class 41 which has ten male Constables, two Sergeant Instructors and Margaret and Annie in plain clothes. They were not supplied with uniforms until the 26th June 1929.
Class 41
First Postings.
On the completion of their training, they were both posted to C Division at King Street Police Station, Watford. The Chief Constable, Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Letchworth Law, warned that although they had been stationed at Watford, they could be deployed anywhere in the county, depending on where a female Police Officer was needed, with much of their work focusing on safeguarding women and children.
The Electoral Roll of 1930 shows that Robert and Elizabeth Johnson and their daughters Lydia, Margaret and Annie were now living at 13, Granville Road, Watford. It is not known when they moved to Watford, but Robert aged 72 would surely have retired from Driving Railway Engines, so they possibly moved south to be closer to their daughters.
In December 1929 they both passed their St. John Ambulance First Aid certificates. They both went on to obtain their Voucher [a second First Aid certificate Ed.] Annie in February 1946 and Margaret in April 1947.
Initially they were not given a Warrant Number. They had to wait until 1948 when Margaret was given 5 and Annie 3. At that time there were still only 14 women working as Police Officers in the county.
A Long Trip To Collect A Prisoner.
Published in the Hertfordshire Express on Saturday 21st December 1935 under the headline: Servant Girl Who Left Employment To Nurse Sister. Charge of Stealing Employer’s Suitcase Dismissed. The story of a servant girl’s early morning departure from Hitchin, with her clothes packed in her employer’s suitcase, in order to go and look after her sister, who was ill at Stockport, was told at Hitchin Police Court on Tuesday.
Sally Banborough (18), 12, Rostherne Road, Stockport, was charged with stealing a fibre suit case, the property of her employer, Cmdr. George Colvin White, Highbury House, Hitchin. She pleaded not guilty. Cmdr. White said that defendant came into his employment as a between maid on September 16th last, and remained with them until November 3rd, going off early in the morning without giving notice. The suitcase (produced) was his property. He added that the girl had been treated with all kindness. She had come to them from a Society in Durham and was bound by agreement to remain for one year.
Defendant: I gave notice to Mrs. White on October 5th.
Arrested at Stockport.
Inspector Williams (Stockport Borough Police Station) said that on November 29th he went to 12, Rostherne Road, Stockport, where defendant was residing with her married sister. Asked if she knew anything about a suitcase which was missing from her employer’s house she replied: “Yes. I took it, but I intended to return it.” She produced the suitcase from her bedroom.
Miss Margaret Johnson, Police woman, of Watford, gave evidence of conveying defendant from Stockport to Hitchin on December 12th. At Hitchin defendant explained that the reason why she had not returned the case was that on arrival at her sister’s house she found her ill, and she had been looking after her.
Miss Smith, lady probation officer for the Hitchin Court, said that defendant had been staying with her since the Occasional Court on the previous Thursday. She had behaved very well indeed during that time, and witness had every reason to believe that she was telling the truth when she said she intended to return the suitcase.
Girl’s Statement.
In a statement made to Miss Smith, defendant said that she had kept house for her father until four months ago, when he turned her out. Lady Headlam obtained the post in Hertfordshire for her. She learnt that her sister was ill, and wanted to go to her, so she gave notice, but was persuaded to say on for a time, On Sunday, November 3rd, she got up early in the morning so that no one should stop her, and when she was packing her things she found she had not enough paper in which to wrap the things, so she took the suitcase. On her arrival at Stockport she sent back to Mrs. White her maid’s uniform and intended later to return the suitcase. “I have always been honest and did not mean to steal the case. I now know it was not right to take it,” she concluded.
After a retirement, Sir Joseph Priestley, K.C. (Chairman) said that the magistrates had decided to dismiss the case. “It is a very near thing,” he said, “but we are not completely satisfied that you intended to keep the suitcase permanently. We think you have already been punished severely for your folly, and we hope it will be a lesson to you.”
Transfer.
On the 25th July 1935 Annie was transferred from C Division at Watford to B Division at Hertford.
Promotion To Sergeant.
On 9th April 1938 Margaret and Annie sat the Promotion Exam and qualified to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Then on the 7th September 1939 they were both promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
In the 1939 Register Margaret is still living at 13, Granville Road, Watford with her parents and sister Lydia who is shown as doing unpaid domestic duties and also as a lady Ambulance Officer possibly with the Women’s Voluntary Service. Annie is shown as lodging with a Mr. and Mrs. Smy at 61, Queens Road, Hertford.
Two Transfers.
On the 29th September 1941 Annie was transferred from B Division at Hertford to E Division at Hitchin. Then on the 24th November 1942 she was moved to A Division at Bishop’s Stortford.
An Opportunistic Coat Theft.
Published in the Herts and Essex Observer on Saturday 7th August 1943 under the headline: Charged With Stealing Coat. Girl Placed On Probation at Bishop’s Stortford. A seventeen-years-old girl who appeared before the Bishop’s Stortford Magistrates on Thursday on a charge of stealing a coat, said she had left home in Scotland because she was unhappy there and did not wish to return. It was stated that she had met a soldier from this district stationed in Scotland and had been spending a holiday at his home at Ugley. The girl was Margaret Broadfoot, of Queen’s Crescent, Sanquhar, Dummes. The Magistrates present were Mr. G. Coutts Deacon (chairman), Mrs. C.C. Blondel, Capt. J. Pawle, Dr. J.B. Dockray and Mr. E.F. Cooper.
Shirley Domb, aged 16, of Westfield Lodge, Hadham Road, said she left her coat in the cloakroom when attending a dance at Long’s Hall on Saturday, July 17th. She paid 2d. and, was given a ticket. When She went for her coat on leaving the dance, the cloakroom attendant could not find it. On July 21st the coat, which she valued at six guineas, was shown to her at the Police Station.
Mrs. Kathleen Curtis, of Barrells Down, cloakroom attendant at Long’s Hall, said she remembered the previous witness handing in her coat. She returned for it at about 11 o’clock, but it could not be found. “I wondered if I had given out a wrong coat, and if another one, would turn up in its place,” she added, “but after the dance all we had left was a handbag, which I gave to the manager.”
Mrs. Bertha Saggs, of Darrell, Down, said, that while she was temporarily in charge at the cloakroom to relieve Mrs. Curtis, a girl, came for a coat, pointing out a brown one as the one she wanted. The number of the ticket which the girl gave up corresponded with the number of the ticket on the coat. The girl who witness did not recognise said she was returning, and witness put her ticket on a coat-hanger. War Reserve Constable Davis, of the Essex Police, stationed at Stansted, said He saw the defendant at Ugley on July 19th, and she told him she was there on holiday. He explained that a handbag left at Long’s Hall was thought to be her property. She admitted’ having lost her bag, but said she had left it at a cinema, and that she had not been to a dance on July 17th. Further enquiries, the constable said, revealed that the defendant had been to a cinema and to Long’s Hall in the evening. Later the same evening he went to see defendant again but was told she had left about half an hour previously. With the consent of the occupant of the house a search was made and a brown coat was found in the bottom of a case belonging to the defendant.
Woman Police Sergeant Johnson said that on July 31st she saw the defendant at a Police Station at Lee Green and told her she held a warrant for her arrest. After being cautioned she said she had handed in a ticket and was given a coat, she did not know what to do with it, so folded it up, took it home and put it in her case.
Defendant was brought to Bishop’s Stortford, and when charged with stealing the coat, replied, “When I gave the woman a ticket she gave me the coat. My own thin one was underneath. I did not know what to do, so I took it away with me.”
When formally charged in court the defendant pleaded guilty.
Sister Turner, Probation Officer, said the girl came to Ugley to stay with the mother of a soldier whom she met in Scotland. “She said that her father, who is a miner, had sent her,” Sister Turner added, “but inquiries show that she has run away from her parents.”
Detective Sergeant Hall [an Essex Officer. Ed.] said the girl’s father had stated to the police that she asked to visit Ugley and was given money to do so. The father had since had a letter from her stating that she was not going back home.
On a question concerning the cloakroom tickets, Mrs. Curtis, recalled, she felt sure that the girl did not go to the cloakroom with the intention of taking the coat, but that it must have been handed to her by mistake.
The Chairman told Mrs. Curtis that she had given her evidence very clearly and helpfully.
After the magistrates had considered their decision, the Chairman told the defendant that she would be placed on probation under the care of Sister Turner, for 12 months. “We have reason to know that you are far from truthful,” he added, “and you will have to give up telling lies and speak the truth.”
When the question of the defendant returning to her home was raised, she said she did not wish to go. Sister Turner was asked to communicate with the parents and make a further report to the Bench.
Award Of Defence Medal.
Following the end of the Second World War Margaret and Annie were both awarded the Defence Medal.
The Defence Medal was a campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945, to be awarded to citizens of the British Commonwealth for both non-operational military and certain types of civilian war service during the Second World War. Civilian war service included Police Officers.
Transfer.
On the 15th May 1946 Annie was transferred from A Division at Bishop’s Stortford to C Division at Watford.
Commendation.
On the 18th May 1946 Margaret was Commended by the Chief Constable for her part in a case of Larceny at Watford.
CID Courses.
Between the 7th July 1946 and the 31st August 1948 Annie attended and passed a Detective Training Course at Wakefield. Margaret attended a similar course between 30th September 1946 and the 23rd November 1946.
Transfer.
On the 10th March 1947 Annie was transferred for the final time from C Division at Watford back to E Division at Hitchin.
Courses And Exams.
Margaret sat the promotion Exam for the rank of Inspector on the 31st May 1947 and again on the 29th May 1948 both unsuccessfully.
Between the 4th October 1948 and the 16th October 1948 they both attended a Sergeant Refreshers Course at Police Headquarters, Hatfield.
A photograph taken during the Herts Constabulary Sergeants Course held at Hatfield from the 4th to the 16th October.
Left to right back row: Sergts. Roddis, Armitage, Jackson, Porter, Sayers, Rogers, King, Watson, Neville, Jeeves, Hale,, Pennicott and Barrett.
Middle row: Sergts. Sales, Carter, Challis, Radford and Kiteley, Woman Sergts. Johnson M., Gott, Johnson A., Sergts. Smith, Wagstaff, Tucker, Payne, Longcroft, Thompson P., and Thompson H.
Front row: Sergts. Couper, Hickford and Jones, Inspr. Newcomb, Miss Denis de Vitré (Assistant H.M. Inspector of Constabulary), Mr. A.F. Wilcox (Chief Constable), Sir Theobald Mathew, K.B.E. M.C. Director of Public Prosecutions, Chief Supt. A. Camp M.B.E. (Deputy Chief Constable), Sergts. Martin, Berry, Snoxell and Gregory.
Between the 17th October 1949 and the 29th October Annie attended another Sergeants Refresher Course held at Pendley Manor.
Between the 13th November 1950 and the 18th November 1950 Annie attended a Road Safety Course.
Excessive Alcohol Consumed.
Published in the Hertfordshire Express on Saturday 20th January 1951 under the headline: An Unfortunate Purchase. A Baldock housewife, of previously unblemished character, who visited Hitchin, bought a bottle of gin and drank some of it, was summoned for being drunk and incapable. The case was dismissed, the Chairman remarking “We hope we will not see you here again.”
Defendant, Mrs. Hilda Bishop (56) of 6 Church Street, Baldock, was represented by Mr. J. Aldis Tompkins, solicitor.
Woman Police Sergeant A. Johnson said that on Thursday afternoon last week, about 4.50, she saw Mrs. Bishop leaning against the gateway of No. 11, Bancroft. She commenced to walk towards Hermitage Road but was unsteady in her gait and staggered. Witness went to her, and noticed her breath smelt of alcohol. She was unable to stand without assistance and, with the help of PC Runchman witness took her to the Police Station. On searching Mrs. Bishop, witness found a ½ bottle of gin which was two thirds empty.
Mr. Tompkins said this was not the case of a woman who was addicted to drink. Mrs. Bishop was of a good family and had hitherto borne an unblemished character. He asked the magistrates to say it was a case deserving pity rather than punishment. Mrs. Bishop (went on Mr. Tompkins) said she bought the ½ bottle of gin in Hitchin with the intention of taking it home. She did not know why she drank some of it. Mr. Tompkins said defendant had been receiving medical attention for some considerable time, and he asked the magistrates to read a report from her doctor. The case was dismissed but defendant was ordered to pay 12s. 6d., the fee of the doctor who saw her at the Police Station.
Community Relations.
Published In The Hertfordshire Express on Saturday 24th February 1951 under the headline: Holwell. The monthly meeting was held in the Village Hall on Wednesday last week. Mrs. A. Baines presiding.
Woman Police Sergeant Johnson gave an interesting talk on the duties of Women Police. A vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs. Baines. Refreshments were served by Mrs. Pryor and Mrs. Day.
Police Long Service And Good Conduct Medals Presented on the 22nd May 1953.
Published in the Hertford Mercury and Reformer on Friday 29th May 1953 under the headline: Police Presentations at Hertford. Medals For Long Serving Offices The Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Lieut. Col. A.E. Wilcox receiving his Long service award, for 23 years from the Lord Lieutenant the County the Hon. David Bowes-Lyon, at County Hall Hertford last Friday.
Long service and good conduct medals were presented to 85 regular and pensioner members of the Hertfordshire Constabulary by the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire the Hon. David Bowes-Lyon, at the County Hall Hertford on Friday.
The ceremony was attended by the chairman of the Standing Joint Committee Lord Farrer the chairman the County Council Brigadier E.H.L. Beddington the Chief Constable Lt. Col. A.F. Wilcox and members of the Standing Joint Committee.
Lord Farrer said the medals were awarded under Royal Warrant to those members of the Force who had rendered long and meritorious service.
He only wished he said that possible to add another name to the list of those receiving awards. That was his predecessor, the former chairman of the Standing Joint Committee Lord Hampden, who served the committee for something like 30 years and was chairman at a time when many of those receiving awards joined the force.
He said that although the medals for long service were for 22 years’ exemplary service, many officers had served even longer, and no less than 15 had been with the police more than 30 years.
Pace Increased.
“Looking back over the past years everyone will agree that the pace of work in the Police Service has increased to a great degree,” he said, “Never has there been such a spate of legislation as in the last 10 to 15 years and the burden of enforcement has fallen on the Police.” “It is gratifying to note that in the figures presented to the Standing Joint Committee for the third quarter in succession crime shows a decrease.”
Lord Farrer said recruits were given more thorough and interesting training than 20 years ago, but it was experience that enabled the Police to turn a blind eye to an infringement where a friendly warning served better than a summons.
Since the war he said a lot of men had joined the Hertfordshire Constabulary but the force was still below strength and the force had to rely on the older men to carry on the work.
Of the medals, he said they were ones of which the recipients might well be proud, and the Standing Joint Committee were glad of the opportunity of adding their thanks for loyal and faithful service the county to those who would be receiving them.
Among the recipients were two women Police Sergeants, both sisters who joined the Force together in Watford and Hitchin respectively.
After presenting the awards the Lord Lieutenant attended a meeting Of the Standing Joint Committee.
The Awards.
Local Police Officers receiving awards (with years of service parenthesis) were: Superintendents E.B. Spicer, Hertford (33); W. Nicholas, Hatfield (24); Chief Inspectors L. Whittenham, Hatfield (33); R. Farrow, Hitchin (30); Inspectors R. Palmer, Ware (30); E. Childs, Bishop’s Stortford (30); N. Saunders, Hatfield (28).
Sergeants G. Jones, Hatfield (29); W. Clark, Hatfield (28); R. Ray, Stevenage (28); E. Cook, Buntingford (27); J. Pearman, Hatfield (26); S. Carter, Welwyn Garden City (26); F. Smith, Hatfield (26); D. Watson, Hatfield (25).
Constables R. Burgess, Hatfield (33); G. Brain, Much Hadham (32); A. Gibb, Bishop’s Stortford (31); R. Turner, Standon (29); C. Dennis, Welwyn (27); F. Harmsworth, Broxbourne (26); T. West, Buntingford (26).
Det.-Insp. A. Lewis, Hertford (30) Det.-Sergt. P. Perry, Hertford (29); Det.-Constable J. Pegram, Hatfield (33).
Retired Officers, ex-Sergeants J. Parsons, Hatfield; G. Voller, Sawbridgeworth; W. Sales, Bishop’s Stortford; and ex-Constables J. Farr, Watton; G. Hilton, Aldbury; F. Turner, Stevenage; F. Wassell, Little Berkhampstead; V. Watson, Wadesmill.
More Community Relations.
Published in the Hertfordshire Express on Friday 23rd July 1954: Woman Police Sergeant Johnson, of Hitchin, who with her sister, was Hertfordshire’s first woman Police Officer, gave a talk on the work of the Women Police to Stevenage Evening Townswomen’s Guild on Monday. Mrs. K. Weaver was chairman. From its September meeting onwards the Guild is returning to the Parish Room in Basils Road for its meetings, instead of the Sish Lane School.
Retirement.
Sergeant Annie Johnson retired on pension on the 30th August 1954 after 26 year’s service. She received an annual pension of £285/0/5 which was considerably less that what a male Officer would receive. It would be 1974 before women Police Officers would reach parity on pay with their male colleagues.
Marriage.
On her retirement Annie lived at 3, Pepper Court, High Street, Baldock. On the 4th November 1973 she married Walter Henry Baker and they lived at 77, The Tene, Baldock. Walter died in 1980.
50 Years Of Women Police Officers.
Published in the Herts and Essex Observer on Thursday 10th August 1978 under the headline: The Golden Guest. Sunday, July 30th ,1978, marked the 50th anniversary of Policewomen in the Hertfordshire Constabulary. The occasion was celebrated with a buffet meal at Police Headquarters at Welwyn Garden City. Guest of honour was former Woman Sergeant Annie Johnson, now Mrs. Baker, who was one of the first two Policewomen appointed. She and her sister Margaret joined the Force on July 30th, 1928. From 1928 to 1941 they performed specialist duties for the entire county of Hertfordshire. Mrs. Baker was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1939 and retired from the Force in 1954.
Annie died at home on the 20th September 1989. Her funeral was held at 2.30 p.m. on the 22nd September at St. Marys Church, Baldock.
Sergeant Margaret Johnson retired on pension on the 10th September 1958 after 30 year’s service. Little else is known about Margaret except from the Electoral Rolls which show her and her sister Lydia from 1960 until her death as living at 5, Clarence Close, Bushey Heath. Margaret died on the 10th June 1973.
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