Headquarters Hatfield Probationers May 1923

In the photograph, which was taken in 1923 at Police Headquarters at Hatfield, is the 29th Probationer Class who had as their Instructor Sergeant 280 George Thomas Sharp.

General Order 140 of the 8th August 1923 (PC Palmer), General Order 160 of the 7th September 1923 and General Order 166 of the 20th September 1923 (PC’s Childs and Watson) announced that a total of ten Recruit Constables having been brought on to the Roster, would be transferred from Headquarters to Divisions for duty. Those pictured are:

Back Row left to right:

1.    PC 152 Edward Thomas Pennicott was born on the 4th November 1899 and served between the 22nd May 1923 and the 2nd February 1951. He was first posted to D Division at Harpenden. He died in 1968.

2.    PC 20 Reuben Palmer was born on the 8th July 1898 and served between the 31st March 1923 and the 30th September 1955. He was first posted to B Division at Hatfield. He died in 1979.

3.    PC 176 Thomas Robert Murphy was born on the 23rd October 1901 and served between 22nd May 1923 and the 22nd May 1948. He was first posted to B Division at Hertford. He died on the 14th January 1962.

4.    PC 77 Victor Cyril Archibald Watson served between the 22nd May 1923 and the 21st May 1953. First posted to D Division at Hemel Hempstead

5.    PC 198 Arthur George English served between 22nd May 1923 and 8th September 1943. First posted to D Division at Great Berkhamsted. He died on the 15th January 1997.

6.    PC 187 Reginald Charles Farrow was born on the 19th September 1902 and served between the 22nd May 1923 and the 7th September 1958. He was first posted to E Division at Hitchin. He died on the 3rd May 1968.

Front Row left to right:

1.    PC 224 Herbert William Akers was born on the 12th October 1900 and served between the 21st May 1923 and the 29th December  1937. He was first posted to A Division at Bishops Stortford. He died on the 31st March 1938.

2.    PC 82 Gerald John Saunders was born on the 10th November 1900 and served from 1923 until 1927. He was first posted to B Division at Hoddesdon. He died on the 31st May 1957.

3.    Instructor Sergeant 280 George Thomas Sharp.

4.    PC 200 Edward Robert Childs was born on the 27th January 1904 and served between the 22nd May 1923 and the 31st October 1953. He was first posted to E Division at Letchworth. He died in 1995.

5.    PC 186 Albert Lionel Lewis was born on the 8th November 1902 and served between 22nd May 1923 and the 10th March 1954. He was first posted to E Division at Stevenage. He died on the 22nd July 1968.