Early Life.
Stanley Walter Welch was born on the 16th April 1917 in St. Albans.
His father was George Welch who was born on the 24th September 1886 at Sandridge.
His mother was Gertrude Brooks Atkins who was born on the on the 18th August 1883 in Harrow, Middlesex.
George and Gertrude married on the 9th September 1907 at St. Albans. They had seven children all born in St. Albans.
1. Doris Mildred born 26th March 1908. 2. Gladys born 16th March 1910. 3. Raymond George born 7th February 1912. 4. Ronald Ernest born 30th November 1914. 5. Stanley Walter. 6. Irene born 1920 died 1922. 7. Jeffrey Eric born 1st September 1926.
In the 1921 census the family were living at 37, Grange Street, St Albans and George is recorded as being a Ticket Examiner working for the Midland Railway Co. at St. Albans.
Stanley attended Catherine Street School and Hatfield Road School, St. Albans.
In the 1930 Electoral Roll George and Gertrude were registered as living at 22 Marshall Avenue, St Albans.
After leaving school he first worked as a Felt Hat Packer at Ebra Ltd. St Albans but left to better himself and started as a Milk Roundsman with Hertfordshire Farms Ltd., St. Albans in 1932.
In 1939 whilst still working as a Milk Roundsman Stanley had decided to apply to join the Hertford County Constabulary.
Police Service.
As a first step he completed a Hertford County Constabulary Form 1 Conditions of Entrance Form. He completed it in his own handwriting by giving his full name: Stanley Walter Welch, Address: 22 Marshalls Avenue, St. Albans, Herts., Age: 22 years 2 months, Occupation: Milk Roundsman, Married or Single: Single.
Then on the 1st July 1939 he attended the St. Albans County Police Station [as opposed to the St. Albans City Police Station which at this time was still a separate Police Force Ed.] where Sergeant Reuben Palmer filled in the following: Height (Bare-footed): 5 ft 11 inches, Weight 11 stones, Chest Deflated: 37 ins, Inflated 39 ins.
He then wrote a brief account of his employment, as previously described, since leaving school.
The Form was date stamped 3rd July 1939 as having been received in the Chief Constable’s Office.
He was then given a Hertford County Constabulary Form 2 Conditions of Service Form and asked to complete the Declaration of Candidate,
Age: 22 years 4 months, Place and Date of Birth: St. Albans April 16, 1917, Height: 5 ft 11 ins, Chest 36 ins, Complexion: Dark, Eyes: Grey, Hair: Dark, Marks: None, Married or Single: Single, Religion: Church of England, Nationality: British.
He stated that he had not completed any Public Service or been a Boy Scout and he was still employed as a Milk Roundsman as given above. He said he had never been rejected by any other Police Force.
On the 11th August 1939 he signed a declaration stating his replies had all been truthful and that he agreed to comply with all the conditions of service as shown on the form.
On the 31st August 1939 the Constabulary Surgeon [name illegible Ed.] certified that he had examined Stanley Walter Welch and considered him fit for the duties of the Constabulary.
Stanley also provided details of four persons who were happy to recommend him as a candidate for employment in the Hertford County Constabulary and for how long he had been known to them. The four were:
1. James Baum J.P. Cunningham Hall St. Albans. 1932 – 1939 2. Arthur Groom 27 Cannon Street. 1932 – 1939 3. J.P. [name and address illegible Ed.} ? – 1939 4. H.C. Pullin Heath Farm, St. Albans. 1932 – 1939
On the 16th October 1939 Sergeant Reuben Palmer certified that the signatures of the above persons were genuine and that their recommendations were worthy of confidence.
According to his Hertfordshire County Police Personal Record Stanley Walter Welch started his Probationer Training on the 4th September 1939 at Police Headquarters at Hatfield. He was Appointed as Constable 42 in the Hertford County Constabulary on the 19th October 1939 and Posted to C Division at Watford.
His Personal Record contains all of the same information of his Form 1 and Form 2 together with further information as follows below.
In the 1939 Register Stanley was recorded as being a Police Recruit and living at 27 Cecil Crescent, Hatfield lodging with a Mr. and Mrs. Clewlow, together with another Police Recruit a PC Maurice Waller.
Also, in the 1939 Register Stanley’s family were shown as living at 22 Marshall Avenue, St Albans. His father was working as a Railway Passenger Guard.
In July 1941 he passed his St. John Ambulance First Aid Certificate.
Marriage.
On the 25th October 1941 Stanley Walter Welch, age 24, a bachelor and a Police Constable of 3 Belgrave Avenue, Watford married Betty Olive Macedonias, age 21 (born 23rd January 1920 at 88 Herga Road, Wealdstone), a spinster of 22 Bernard Street, St. Albans at the Parish Church of St. Peter, St. Albans. They had a daughter and a son.
His Police Personal Record shows that on the 6th August 1942 Stanley joined H.M. Forces.
Military Service in WW2.
From his WW2 Royal Artillery Tracer Card, we know the following:
1. On 6th August 1942 Stanley Walter Welch enlisted as Gunner 14249937 in No. 4 Field Training Regiment Royal Artillery.
2. On the 28th November 1942 he joined the 177th Field Regiment Royal Artillery. [this was formed in 1942 and disbanded in 1944, it served in London defences Ed.]
3. On the 24th February 1943 he joined the 180th Field Reserve Regiment Royal Artillery. [This was a reserve artillery unit it was formed in 1942 and disbanded in 1944 Ed.]
4. On the 14th March 1944 he joined the 25th Field Regiment Royal Artillery. [in WW2 the 25th Field Regiment served with distinction, notably as part of the 6th Airborne Division during Operation Varsity (crossing the Rhine) and fighting through North-West Europe, using the iconic 25-pounder gun Ed.]
5. On the 24th November 1944 H. [this meant a soldier was away from their unit for medical reasons, like wounds or sickness, becoming “non-effective,” with the ‘h’ potentially meaning “Home” or “Hospital,” indicating they were evacuated for care and awaiting transfer or return, no longer on their unit’s active strength until fit for duty or discharged Ed.]
6. On the 14th December 1944 he joined 49 R.H.U. [Reinforcement Holding Unit (RHU): This was a temporary unit formed to manage troops being moved to the front or awaiting assignment during wartime Ed.]
7. On 24th December 1944 he was returned to the 25th Field Regiment Royal Artillery.
8. On 13th February 1945 X List (2) 21AG. [X List (2) Specifically denotes a soldier under medical care (wounds/sickness). 21AG Refers to the 21st Army Group, the main British formation in North-West Europe after D-Day Ed.]
9. On 20th March 1945 X List (4) 21AG. [X List (4) means a soldier was listed as “non-effective” (away from unit) on the X List, specifically Category 4 (Hospitalized/Wounded/Sick). 1AG Refers to the 21st Army Group, the main British formation in North-West Europe after D-Day Ed.]
10. On the 21st March 1945 he returned to the 25th Field Regiment Royal Artillery.
11. Either on the 1st or 2nd July 1945 X List (2) 21 AG [X List (2) Specifically denotes a soldier under medical care (wounds/sickness). 21AG Refers to the 21st Army Group, the main British formation in North-West Europe after D-Day Ed.]
12. 5th July 1945 Y List [A “Y List” primarily refers to a World War II British Army designation for soldiers deemed “non-effective” due to sickness, wounds, or being in holding units (RHUs), essentially a holding pool for men awaiting return to duty or transfer, distinct from regular service Ed.]
13. 11th November 1945 he was posted to Royal Artillery Depot.
He was awarded the 1939/45 Star, France Germany Star, Defence Medal and the War Service Medal.
He was later awarded his Police Long Service and Good Conduct medal.
His rank on discharge from the Army is shown on his Police Personal Record as Driver.
Re-joining The Police.
His Police Service Record shows that he returned to the Police Force on the 8th December 1945 and resumed at C Division at Watford. A new distinctive mark was recorded on his Personal Record of a scar on the back of his right hand, possibly caused during the War.
On the 6th September 1946 he transferred to B Division at Cole Green and occupied the Police House, Cole Green Nr. Hertford.
In January 1947 he passed the St. John Ambulance Voucher First Aid qualification.
On the 8th February 1947 he failed in his first attempt to pass the Promotion Exam to the rank of Sergeant.
In January 1948 he passed his Medallion St. John Ambulance First Aid qualification.
Between the 29th November and the 24th December 1948, he was on an Advanced Driving Course. On the 24h December 1948 he passed the Class 1 Police Driving Qualification. He had been driving cars since 1931.
In January 1949 he passed his 1st Label St. John Ambulance First Aid qualification.
On the 27th April 1949 he moved to 4, Police Cottages, Foxholes Avenue, Hertford whilst still stationed at Cole Green.
On the 26th July 1949 he was transferred to Hertford.
On the 19th January 1950 he was placed on Divisional Motor Drivers duties.
On the 4th February 1950 he passed the Part 1 of the Sergeants Promotion Exam and then on the 26th May 1951 he passed the Part 2 of the Sergeants Promotion qualifying him for promotion.
On the 2nd February 1952 he passed the Part 1 of the Inspectors Promotion Exam and then on the 31st May 1952 he passed the Part 2 of the Inspectors Promotion qualifying him for promotion. He was never promoted to Inspector.
Between the 21st March and the 28th May 1955, he was on a C.I.D. Course at Hendon [Metropolitan Police Training School Ed.]
On the 8th February 1955 he was transferred to B Division at Hatfield for C.I.D. duties.
Promotion to Sergeant.
On the 30th March 1957 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and transferred to C Division at Watford.
Between the 9th and the 13th March 1959, he was on a Sergeants Course, No.1 (Local).
On the 30th October 1960 he was transferred to D Division at Tring.
Retirement.
On the 31st March 1965 he retired on pension having completed 25 year’s service. He accepted a clerical post with Tring U.D.C. and was allocated a Council House.
He later moved to 94 Moore Avenue, Sprowston, Norwich, Norfolk.
Stanley Walter Welch died at the above address on the 8th June 1984 from 1a. Carcinoma of bronchus. b. Carcinoma of bladder.
The funeral was held at Garston crematorium at 12 noon on Thursday 14th June 1984.
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