Early Life.
Eric George Tyler was born on the 3rd December 1917 at Hendon.
His father was Richard George Tyler born in 1884 at West Ham and his mother was Annie Louise Jones was born on the 22nd August 1884 in Holborn.
Richard and Annie were married in 1909 in Poplar, London. They had three children:
1. Gwendoline Ellen Tyler on the 15th August 1909 in Bow. 2. Mark Richard Tyler on the 27th November 1911 in Bow. 3. Eric George Tyler.
Lance Corporal 35609 Richard George Tyler of the 8th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry died on the 25th April 1917 he is Remembered with Honour at the Doiran Memorial, Regional unit of Kilkis, Central Macedonia, Greece.
In the 1921 census the family were living at the Countess of Huntingdon Chapel, White Webb Road, Enfield, Middlesex. Annie was recorded as an unemployed widow with three children.
Eric attended Cheshunt County Council School.
After leaving school between January 1932 and March 1934 Eric was employed as a Shop Assistant by J. Christians, Silver Street, Enfield leaving due to limited prospects.
Then between March 1934 and the 3rd October 1936 he was employed as an Invoice Clerk at the Edison Swan Electric Co. Ltd. but again left due to limited prospects.
Between 5th October 1936 the 30th January 1937 he worked as a Clerk at Wynchgate Property Investments Ltd, until the business closed.
Between the 2nd February 1937 he was employed as a Clerk at the Twickenham Sand and Ballast Co. He left on 8th March 1937 and took up employment with the Cheshunt Tyre Co. Ltd. which offered more opportunity.
He then 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: Eric George Tyler Address: 5, Blindmans Lane, Cheshunt, Herts., Age: 21 years, Occupation: Clerk, Married or Single: Single.
Then on the 3rd July 1939 he attended Hoddesdon Police Station where Inspector H.W. Carder filled in the following: Height (Bare-footed): 6 ft 1 inch, Weight 11 stones 12 lbs, Chest Deflated: 37 ½ ins, Inflated 39 ½ ins.
He then wrote a brief account of his employment, as previously described, since leaving school.
The Form was date stamped 10th 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: 21 years, Place and Date of Birth: Hendon, 3rd December 1917, Height: 6 ft 1 inch, Chest 37 ½ ins, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Grey, Hair: Fair, Marks: 1 inch scar on left thumb, Married or Single: Single, Nationality: British.
He stated that he had not completed any Public Service or been a Boy Scout and he had and was still employed as a salesman, motor mechanic as given above. He said he had been rejected by a Police Force owing to a dental irregularity which had since been corrected.
On the 15th 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 21st April 1939, the Constabulary Surgeon [name illegible Ed.] certified that he had examined Eric George Tyler and considered him fit for the duties of the Constabulary.
Alec also provided details of five 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 five were:
1. H.C. Farrell Coogee Forest Road, Cheshunt 1934 – 1939
2. E.G. Carpenter Tower Wood The Avenue Hertford 1936 – 1939
3. E. Sapsford 5 High Road Cheshunt 1934 – 1939
4. [signature illegible Ed.] Carlton House, Enfield 1930 – onwards
5. H.C. Cooper 8 Mount Pleasant Cheshunt 1935 – 1939
Eric’s Hertfordshire County Police Personal Record has survived. Besides his name and date and place of birth it records that his height was: 6 ft 1 ½ ins, Eyes: Hazel, hair: Fair, and Complexion: Fresh, Distinctive Marks: Scar on left thumb, as well as his education and employment as given above.
He started his Probationary Training on Thursday 24th August 1939 at Police Headquarters at Hatfield.
In the 1939 Register Eric was recorded as a Probationer Police Constable and lodging at 2a St. Albans Road, Hatfield with a family by the name of Fordham and another Probationer Police Constable Lionel L. Bunyan.
In the 1939 register Eric’s mother was recorded as living at 5 Blindman’s Lane, Cheshunt.
On Thursday 19th October 1939 Eric George Tyler was Appointed as Constable 73 and posted to C Division at Watford.
In July 1941 he passed the St. John Ambulance First Aid Certificate.
Marriage.
On the 27th June 1942 Eric George Tyler married Doris Gertrude Farrell at Watford. They had no children of their own but adopted two children.
On the 3rd December 1942 Eric enlisted in H.M. Forces.
Military Service in WW2.
From his Police Service Record, it shows that he enlisted in the Royal Armoured Corps between the 3rd December 1942 and the 31st October 1945 and was a Lance Corporal on his discharge.
From his WW2 British Army Medal Card, the following information is known:
Tyler E.G., Born: 3rd December 1917, Service Number: 14371303, Award Date: 27th March 1950, Address: 17 Crossway, Harpenden, Herts.
From his index record for the UK, WW2, Daily Reports: Missing, Dead, Wounded and POWs, 1939 – 1947:
Trooper 14371303 E.G. Tyler of the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Royal Armoured Corps was reported as being wounded on the 13th February 1945 in Western Europe and his details appeared on Casualty List no. 1696 on the 3rd March 1945.
He was awarded the 1939/45 Star, France/Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Service Medal.
He was later awarded his Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Re-Joining the Police.
On the 31st October 1945 he returned to the Police Force and resumed duty on Motor Patrol at Watford.
Between 11th February and the 11th March 1946, he was on an Advanced Driving Course. On the 11th March he qualified to drive Group 1. He had been driving cars since 1935. From May 1947 he was authorised to drive Group 4 Motorcycles up to 500 cc., he had experience of riding motorcycles since 1940.
On the 3rd September 1947 he was transferred to R Division at Headquarters at Hatfield on the Traffic Department.
In January 1948 he passed the St. John Ambulance Voucher First Aid qualification.
On the 8th November 1948 he was transferred to F Division on Patrol Duty at Harpenden.
On the 12th January 1949 he was transferred back to Traffic at R Division at Hatfield Headquarters.
In February 1949 he passed the St. John Ambulance Medallion First Aid qualification.
Having previously taken the Part 1 Sergeant Promotion Exam on three occasions and failed he was successful in passing it on the fourth attempt on the 2nd February 1952. Unfortunately, despite six attempts between 1948 and 1956 he failed to pass Part 2 of the Sergeants Promotion Exam.
Between the 14th and 25th September 1959, he was on the first Motorway Course.
Retirement.
On the 14th December 1964 Eric retired after 25 year’s service.
Eric George Tyler died on the 1st April 2015 in Norwich.
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