Early Years.
George Anthony Halsey was born on the 7th April 1914 in Hitchin.
His father, George Herbert Halsey, was born on the 18th February 1879 in Leicester.
His mother, Eva Beatrice Freeman, was born on 26th August 1875 in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire. They married in 1905 in Woolwich, London. George Anthony was their only child.
In the 1911 census George Herbert, shown as a Carpenter, and Eva were living at 107 Walsworth Road, Hitchin with his uncle George Harrison.
In the 1921 census George Herbert Halsey is shown as the head of the household at 107 Walsworth Road, Hitchin and working as a carpenter and joiner for the Great Northern Railway. His wife Eva and son George Anthony, aged 7, were visiting relatives at Bull Lane, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire.
Merchant Navy Service.
In January 1930, aged 15 years 11 months, having left Hitchin Grammar School, George Anthony was apprenticed to the sea with Messrs. Pyman Bros. Ltd of London. [ Messrs. Pyman Bros. Ltd was a historical London-based shipping company and ship management firm, part of a larger family enterprise with roots in West Hartlepool. Ed.]
On 1st November 1934 he passed for his 2nd Mates Certificate aged 20 ½ years. His last ship where he was employed as 3rd Officer was owned by Messrs. Kaye and Sons. He left her on 17th August 1935. [Kaye, Son & Co.: Founded in London in 1893 by Frederick Kaye, this was a shipping agency that also offered steamer management, coaling, and insurance services. It became a limited company in 1905 and eventually established a shipping line known as the “K” Line. Ed.]
George Anthony Halsey had an entry in the Register of Seaman as shown by his CR 1 form. [The CR 1 form was the Central Index to the Register of Seamen used by the Merchant Marine from 1921 to 1941]. This form contained his name and date and place of birth, his Rating – 3rd Mate, and discharge number. There is also a brief description: Height: 6 Ft, Eyes: Brown, Hair: Dark, Complexion: Dark, Distinguishing marks: left blank. Details of his Health Insurance were also shown.
On the rear of the form it is stamped Mercantile Marine Office Cardiff 14th May 1935 and has the following: Declaration to be made if occasion arises. I hereby certify that I am not now in possession of an unfilled Continuous Certificate of Discharge (Board of Trade, Irish Free State, or Canadian) for the following reason: Ex. Apprentice [handwritten Ed.] Signed G.A. Halsey. It also has handwritten on it, S.S. Kambole [The S.S. Kambole was a cargo steamship built in 1915 that had a career spanning over two decades under several different names. In 1915 The ship was built and operated by Kaye, Son & Co., London until 1937 when it was sold. Ed.]
Police Service.
On leaving the Merchant Navy George decided to join the Hertford County Constabulary.
On the 14th October 1935 George attended Hatfield Police Station where he completed a Form 1 Hertfordshire County Constabulary Conditions of Entrance. He entered his full name and address as 26 Benslow Lane, Hitchin, his age: 21 years 6 months, his occupation: Ships Officer and his marital state: Single.
He was then measured by PS 206R Jack Bales and he signed a certificate which recorded: Height (Bare footed): 5 ft 10 3/8 Ins. Weight: 13 stone 10lbs. Chest: 36 ins Deflated 38 ½ Inflated.
On the rear of the form he wrote a brief account of his employment since leaving school which has been already outlined above.
The following day on the 15th October he completed a Form 2 Hertford County Constabulary Conditions of Service form. He completed a Declaration of Candidate in which he again stated his age, date and place of birth and his physical description. In addition he stated that his religion was Non-Conformist, he had no children and he was British. He further stated he had been in the Mercantile Marine for 5 ½ years and was discharged on the 17th August 1935. From 1925 until to date he had been a member of the Hitchin Grammar School & Deep Sea Cadets. His last occupation had been as a Ships Officer and his employer had been S.S. Kambole c/o Messrs. Kaye & Sons, 112 Trenchard Street EC3. He had been employed with them for 7 months until the 17th August 1935. He then signed a declaration that his answers were true and full replies and that he agreed to abide by the conditions of service.
George provided details of three people who would recommend him and who signed the Form 2 and stated how long they had known him. They were each spoken to by Sergeant 130 F. Futter of Hitchin Police Station who certified that their signatures were correct and that their recommendations were worthy of confidence. The three were: G.W. Russell, Highbury Lodge, Hitchin 1918 to date, A. Wallace 47 Bancroft, Hitchin birth to date, James H. Gilbertson, Walsworth Road, Hitchin all his life.
On an unknown date George was examined by the Constabulary Surgeon who found him to be fit for the duties of the Constabulary. The Surgeon [name illegible Ed.] completed a Medical Certificate to that effect.
On 11th August 1936 George Anthony Halsey was Appointed as Police Constable 16 at Police Headquarters Hatfield where he underwent his Probationer Training. The following information was recorded on his Hertfordshire County Police Personal Record: His date and place of birth and physical description were all shown. As well as his secondary education at Hitchin Grammar School, he also attended the Sir John Cass Nautical School [This was a historic maritime training department, established within the Sir John Cass Technical Institute/College (now part of London Met) in 1927, training officers and apprentices, which later merged into the City of London Polytechnic in 1970 alongside other institutions like the School of Navigation. Ed.] and the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
On completion of his training he was posted to B Division at Hertford.
On 1st November 1937 he was transferred to Hatfield.
On 17th October 1938 he was transferred to R Division to the General Office at Headquarters, Hatfield.
Marriage.
On 11th February 1939 George Anthony Halsey married Beatrice Milly Butterfield at St. Mary’s Church, Hertingfordbury. She was born on the 17th September 1910 and lived with her parents Alfred, a ploughman, and Rosina Butterfield at 31 Well Row, Bayford, Hertford. George and Beatrice had two daughters.
On 23rd March 1939 he was moved back to B Division at Hatfield.
On 27th April 1939 he was transferred to E Division at Letchworth.
At the time of the 1939 Register George and Beatrice were living at 26 Hillshott, Letchworth.
Commendation.
On 22nd November 1939 whilst at Letchworth he was Commended by the Chief Constable for his involvement in a case of Larceny.
On 9th March 1942 he transferred to A Division at Buntingford.
On 25th April 1942 he passed both Part 1 and Part 2 examinations to the rank of Sergeant.
Military Service in WW2.
His Police Service Record shows that on 23rd May 1943 he re-joined H.M. Forces. The Naval Lists record that on the 24th May 1943 he was a Temporary Acting Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve. Then on 7th April 1944 he was a Temporary Acting Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve.
Little else is known about his Naval Service other than a comment in a newspaper article when he retired from the Police that he had served in Minesweepers.
He was awarded the 1939/45 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Defence Medal and the War Service Medal.
Later he was also awarded the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
His Police Service Record shows that on the 13th December 1945 he returned to the Police Force at Buntingford.
On 1st January 1946 he was appointed Detective Constable and transferred to R Division to Headquarters (CID). From 3rd January 1946 to 24th March 1946 he was on a CID Course at Hendon [Metropolitan Training School, Ed.] which he passed.
Promoted Sergeant.
On 1st May 1946 he was promoted to Uniform Sergeant and transferred to C Division at Watford. In May 1946 he passed a Police Driving Qualification to Class 5.
From 24th to the 29th June 1946 he attended a Road Safety course which he passed.
On 22nd August 1946 he was transferred to B Division at Hatfield.
From the 9th to the 19th October 1946 he was on a Junior Sergeants Course at Chelmsford. [Essex Police Headquarters. Ed.]
On 8th February 1947 he passed both Part 1 examinations to the rank of Inspector and on the 31st May 1947 he passed his Part 2 examinations to the rank of Inspector.
From the 17th to the 29th January 1949 he was on a Sergeants Refresher Course at Pendley. [Pendley Manor is a Grade 2 listed building at Tring. It was often used to run Training Courses run by Hertfordshire Constabulary. Ed.]
On 2nd September 1949 he was transferred to A Division at Bishops Stortford.
From the 17th to the 29th October 1949 he was on a Sergeants Refresher Course at Pendley.
On 27th January 1950 he received a Civil Defence Instructors certificate.
From the 22nd April to the 27th May 1951 he was on a Civil Defence Rescue Instructors course which he passed.
From the 11th to the 15th May 1953 he attended Eynsham Hall [Eynsham Hall nr. Witney, Oxfordshire is a Grade 2 Listed building used for several years by Number 5 District Police Training Centre, training new recruits mainly from the east of England. Ed.] on a course for Inspectors and Sergeants.
On 25th September 1953 he was transferred to F Division at St. Albans on CID duties.
On 8th October 1953 he received a Civil Defence General Instructors certificate.
Commendation.
On 8th October 1953 he was Commended by the Chairman of Bishops Stortford Magistrates Court and H.M. Judge of Assizes in a case involving the arrest of three men for store breaking whilst in possession of a firearm.
On 4th September 1954 he was suspended from driving Police Vehicles for 1 month [Often as a result of being involved in an accident. Ed.]
Commendation.
On 14th October 1954 he was Commended by H.M. Judge of Herts. Assizes in a case of the arrest of a man for an offence of Grievous Bodily Harm.
On the 18th October 1854 his suspension from driving Police vehicles was removed but he was only allowed to drive Group 3 vehicles only.
Commendation.
On 15th September 1955 he was Commended by the Chairman of St. Albans Magistrates Court for his investigation in the case of damage to aircraft.
On 11th November 1960 he was transferred to E Division Stevenage.
Promotion to Inspector.
On 1st July 1961 he was promoted to the rank of Inspector and made Detective Inspector in charge of the North Herts CID.
Retirement.
On 30th September 1966 George Anthony Halsey retired after 30 years service in the Hertfordshire Constabulary.
Published in the Biggleswade Chronicle on Friday 30th September 1966 under the headline: Security officer.
Detective Inspector George Halsey, Benslow Drive, Hitchin has been appointed Security Officer at Fairfield Hospital. He retires from the police today and takes up his new appointment on Monday. Mr. Halsey is head of North Herts CID, stationed at Stevenage and has been in the Force for 30 years. He was educated at Hitchin Boys’ Grammar School, leaving at 15 ½ to join the Merchant Navy. As an apprentice he sailed round the world. During the last war he served in the Royal Navy on Minesweepers. He is married with two daughters.
Death.
Ex-Detective Inspector George Anthony Halsey died on the 25th January 1993 at ‘Robin’s Nest’ Benslow Lane, Hitchin aged 78 years.
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