Early Life.
Frederick Ingram was born on the 6th February 1886 at High Wych.
His father, William Ingram married his mother, Louisa Franklin, on the 11th November 1871 at High Wych. They had 12 children, nine boys and three girls, five of whom, including all three girls, died prior to the 1911 census.
Their children were:
1. William James born 1872 and died 1876 at High Wych
2. Alfred born 1874 at High Wych
3. Martha Eliza born 1876 and died 1891 at High Wych
4. Albert born and died 1878 at High Wych
5. Louisa born 1879 and died 1880 at High Wych
6. Elizabeth born 1882 and died 1884 at High Wych
7. George born 1884 at High Wych
8. Frederick
9. Ernest Frank born 1888 High Wych was Private 5545 in 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards who died of wounds on the 17th September 1914 in France
10. Henry Charles and twin brother
11. William born 1890 at High Wych
12. John born 1892 at High Wych served as Private 24560 in 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment suffered a shrapnel wound to the scalp and was later a later POW.
In the 1891 census the family are recorded as living near Hoskins Farm, Friars Lane, High Wych and William senior is a general labourer. The 1901 census finds the family probably living at the same address of Hoskins Farm Cottages, High Wych and William senior is an agricultural labourer.
By the time of the 1911 census the family have moved to Great Beazley’s, High Wych, Sawbridgeworth and William is a farmer. Frederick had left home and joined the Army.
Early Army Service.
His Army Service Record has not survived but from other sources we know that he probably enlisted for short service of 3 years with the Colours and nine in the Reserve on the 4th November 1903 as Gunner 17213 in Royal Garrison Artillery. He was transferred to the Reserve on the 4th November 1906.
There is no information about his movements for the next 18 months other than he was working as a labourer. Then he joined the Police.
Police Service.
His Police Service Record has not survived but from other sources we know that he started his Probationary Training at C Division at Watford on the 1st May 1908. All training was carried out on Divisions at this time and, as a single man, he probably would have been living at Kings Street Police Station.
Unusually on the 7th September 1908 he was transferred to D Division at Hemel Hempstead before being Appointed. Presumably he completed his training there and, on the 5th November 1908, he was Appointed as Police Constable 73.
This can be seen in General Order 33 of 12th November 1908 which announced that PC Ingram 73 D is appointed on 23/11 per week from 5th November 1908.
In General Order 2 of 13th January 1910 instructions are given to dozens of Police officers in connection with the General Election of January 1910. Voting was carried out over several days and schedules were drawn up detailing where and when officers would perform duty. The following excerpt refers to Frederick:
Schedule B
Return of Officers and Men detailed for duty in the Northern or Hitchin Division on Friday 21st January 1910.
Div. Rank No. Name Station Place for Duty
D PC 73 Ingram F Hemel Hempstead Hitchin
Schedule C
Return of Officers and Men detailed for duty in the Mid or St Albans Division Tuesday 25th January 1910.
Div. Rank No. Name Station Place for Duty
D PC 73 Ingram F Hemel Hempstead Markyate
Schedule D
Return of Officers and Men detailed for duty in the Western or Watford Division 27th January 1910.
Div. Rank No. Name Station Place for Duty
D PC 73 Ingram F Hemel Hempstead Tring
General Order 45 of 7th December 1910 informed Frederick that he would receive an increased rate of pay from 25/8 to 26/10 per week from 17th November 1910.
In the 1911 census Frederick is listed as living at 1 Hillside, Cotterells Hill, Hemel Hempstead lodging with the Rogers family.
General Order 9 of 1st June 1912 instructed Frederick that on Monday 3rd June 1912 he would be transferred from D to F Division as Clerk to Superintendent. At this time there were no civilians employed by the Constabulary, all roles were carried out by Police Officers and for Frederick to be selected as Clerk to the Superintendent indicates that he has above average ability.
In 1913 Frederick married Lois Ethel Gray at Hemel Hempstead. They had two children, Lois Joyce born 1920 at Hertford and Douglas Frederick born 1922 at Hertford.
Published on the 13th December 1913 in the Hertford Mercury:
“Presentation to PC Ingram on Thursday afternoon. PC Ingram who has for over twelve months acted as clerk in the Superintendent’s office at the Police Station Hertford, was the recipient of a handsome marble clock on the occasion of his marriage, which took place recently. The presentation was made by Supt. Pear on behalf of the officers and men of ‘F’ Division among whom PC Ingram is very popular and much respected. PC Ingram suitably acknowledged the gift”.
Army Service During The War.
General Order 118 of 21st July 1915 is a list of 96 officers which included the Chief Constable, 43 Constables who were Army reservists who were recalled and 50 Constables and 2 Sergeants who volunteered for military service. Frederick is shown as PC 73 Ingram F. F Division recalled to the Royal Garrison Artillery on 4th August 1914.
Very little is known about his War service but from his Medal Roll Index Card and Medal Rolls we know he served in the 35th Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery arriving in France on 16th August 1914 as Gunner 17213. He was later promoted to Corporal and was awarded the 1914 Star and the British War and Victory medals.
Back home the families had not been forgotten as can be seen by General Order 20 of 19th January 1919 entitled, “Allowances to wives of Police Soldiers”.
It announced that the Chief Constable had considered the position of each individual Police Soldier under the new scale of pay and found after taking into consideration the total income of the family from allowances, including the value of the soldier’s food and clothing, that in 16 cases the families were in a worse financial position then they would have been had the man remained in the force. These cases were put before the Standing Joint Committee and they authorised extra payments, with effect from 1st July 1918. PC 101 Ingram F Division was awarded £0/2/5 extra per week with £3/8/8 to be paid retrospectively with the allowances for the week ending 22nd January 1919.
Something of note in this Order is the change in his Warrant or Collar Number from 73 to 101. Prior to the outbreak of war, it was fairly common to issue the same Warrant Number to more than one individual providing they were posted to different Divisions so that the Divisional letter would differentiate between them. No record of an Order instructing that this should end and that Warrant Numbers should become unique has been found, but it was obviously issued simply by the fact of the number of returning Constables who were not given their old number, as someone else was already using it, and were issued with a new one.
Re-joining The Police.
General Order 23 of 25th January 1919 listed 25 Police Officers who having been released from H.M. Army had been re-appointed to the Force. Frederick was shown as:
PC 101 Ingram F. F Division at Hertford from 23rd January 1919 on £2/11/0 per week.
Each officer had to be formerly re-attested. The Superintendents concerned had to report to Headquarters the date and place of Attestation and before whom taken.
General Order 76 of 2nd March 1919 announced that Frederick was to be promoted to be an Acting Sergeant from the 27th March 1919. A year later General Order 60 of 8th April 1920 announced that Frederick’s promotion was to be confirmed to be the substantive rank of Sergeant from 27th March 1920. Unusually Frederick appears to have remained at Hertford, normally a promotion would mean a transfer to another station.
General Order 64 of 12th April 1920 and General Order 53 of 7th April 1921 informed Frederick that he would receive an increased rate of pay from £5/0/0 to £5/2/6 per week from 27th March 1920 and from £5/2/6 to £5/5/0 per week from 27th March 1921 respectively.
The Electoral Rolls of 1921 to 1923 list Frederick and Lois as living at 25, Molewood Road, Hertford.
Frederick attended a week long course of instruction for Police Sergeants at Headquarters at Hatfield starting on 30th May 1921.
Senior Sergeant.
General Order 146 of 25th August 1921 announced that Frederick would be temporarily in charge of F Division:
“During the absence of Superintendent Ebling F Division on sick leave the Acting Superintendent of the G or St Albans Division will take charge and act as Superintendent of both F and G Divisions. Police Sergeant 101 Ingram F Division will act as Senior Sergeant of the Division and will take charge during the absence of and subject to directions given by Acting Superintendent Stacey. Police Sergeant 101 Ingram is authorised to use the horse and trap held in charge at Hertford Police Station for the purpose of attending conference points and the performance of other duties within the Division”.
General Order 50 of 14th April 1922 and General Order 65 of 8th March 1923 informed Frederick that he would receive an increased rate of pay from £5/5/0 to £5/7/6 per week from 27/03/1922 and from £5/7/6 to £5/10/0 per week from 27th March 1923 respectively.
A Move To Hitchin.
General Order 1 of 2nd January 1924 advised Frederick that from the 14th January 1924 he was being transferred from B Division at Hertford to E Division at Hitchin, to occupy quarters at Hitchin Police Station to be vacated by Sergeant 267 Milton. However, it was obviously a very bad winter as General Order 6 of 13th January 1924 stated that in reference to Orders 1/1924 and 3/1924 “Owing to the inclement weather the operation of the Orders above quoted is suspended until 28th January 1924”.
Then the weather must have improved as General Order 21 of 3rd February 1924 stated, “Reference Orders 1/1924 and 3/1924 The removals set forth in the Orders above quoted will be carried out on 11th February 1924. Contractors should be asked if their quotations still stand, if not fresh estimates must be obtained”.
The Electoral Rolls of 1924 to 1926 list Frederick and Lois as living at the Police Station, Bancroft, Hitchin.
General Order 86 of 20th May 1924 informed Frederick that he would receive an increased rate of pay from £5/10/0 to £5/12/6 per week from 27th March 1924.
General Order 27 of 25th February 1925 announced the results of the examination for promotion for Police Sergeants to Inspector sat on the 7th February 1925, PS 101 Ingram F. of E Division was successful.
A Minor Blemish.
The Chief Constable cautioned Frederick on the 31st December 1925 for failing to carry out his duty diligently in taking the chest measurement of a candidate for employment in the Norfolk Constabulary since he entered and signed incorrect measurements on the Candidates Application Form.
Frederick attended a week long course of instruction for Police Sergeants at Headquarters at Hatfield starting on Monday 8th February 1926.
General Order 56 of 19th April 1926 notified Frederick that from the 26th April 1926
He would be transferred from E Division at Hitchin to D Division at Great Berkhamsted, to occupy quarters vacated by Police Sergeant 51 Sermons. The Electoral Rolls of 1926 to 1929 list Frederick and Lois as living at 33, Shrublands Avenue, Great Berkhamsted.
The Last Move, Promotion And Retirement.
The Electoral Roll of 1930 lists Frederick and Lois as living at the Police Station, Stanmore Road, Stevenage. As we know he retired as an Inspector this was probably when he was promoted and why he was moved to Stevenage. On the 31st December 1933 Frederick retired as an Inspector
In the 1939 Register Frederick and Lois are listed as living at 153, Kingswood, Southend-on-Sea and he is working as a Tobacconist Shop Keeper.
Frederick Ingram died on the 31st October 1973 at Watford.
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