Early Life.
Walter John Thurley was born on the 18th August 1892 in Bartholomew Road, Bishops Stortford and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, South Street, Bishops Stortford on the 30th October 1892.
His father, also called Walter John Thurley, was a groom and married his mother, Alice Thurley on the 4th July 1892 at Holy Trinity Church, South Street, Bishops Stortford. They had nine children all born in Bishops Stortford:
1. Walter John. 2. Florence May born in 1894. 3. Thomas Edward born in 1895. 4. Lewis born in 1897. Served as Sgt 90004 RAMC in WW1. 5. William George born in 1899. Served as Private 44212 in Herts Regiment and 44672 Kings Royal Rifle Corps in WW1. 6. Alice Dorothy born in 1901. 7. Rose Lilian born in 1903. 8. Ellen Maud born in 1905. 9. Arthur born in 1908.
During the 1901 census Walter was recorded as living at London Road, Bishop Stortford with his paternal grandparents John and Anne Thurley. His parents and the rest of the family were living at 9, Nursery Road, Bishop Stortford. By the time of the 1911 census the family were all living at London Road, Bishop’s Stortford. Walter is recorded as being employed as a Fishmonger Journeyman.
As part of his application Walter supplied further details of his employment from when he left school up to when he applied to join the Hertford County Constabulary.
Police Service.
Walter’s Hertford County Constabulary Form 1 Conditions of Entrance, his Form 2 Conditions of Service and his Form 3 Record of Service have all survived.
Form 1.
This is a one page document entitled Hertford County Constabulary Condition of Entrance. It states:
1. Application for appointment may be made by letter, but a personal attendance at the Chief Constable’s Office is required before an appointment is made, which attendance must be at the cost of the applicant, and at the risk of rejection by the Chief Constable or Police Surgeon.
2. Age not to exceed 27 years (ex-Soldiers 30 years).
3. Height not less than 5 feet 9 inches.
4. Chest measurement not less than 36 inches.
5. Free from all bodily complaints, of a strong constitution, able, active and intelligent.
6. Satisfactory testimonials as to character and respectable connections.
7. Able to read, write and have some knowledge of arithmetic. (Preference given to well-educated men.)
The following particulars are to be entered in the Candidates handwriting:
Name (in full): Walter John Thurley. Address: 5 London Rd., Bps’ Stortford Herts. Age: 22. Occupation: Butcher. Married or Single: Single.
(The Candidate should take this form to a Police Station and request the Officer in charge to be good enough to fill in the measurements).
Police Station: Hatfield. 7th August 1914.
I have this day measured Walter John Thurley a Candidate for employment in the Hertford County Constabulary and certify that his measurements are:
Height (Bare footed): 5 ft 8 ¾ inches. Chest Deflated: 34 ½ inches. Inflated: 36 ½ inches. Signed: Henry Onyon. Rank: Inspector. Force: Herts.
A handwritten addendum at the foot of the page states: Birth Certificate produced born 18 Aug 1892. H. Onyon.
On the reverse of the page is the following: The Candidate will write a brief account of his employment since leaving school: I left school at 14 started work at Mr W. Smith the Wine Merchants [William Smith, Wine Merchant, 11 Windhill Bishops Stortford. Ed.] worked there for 3 years and left there to better myself went to Mr. Frenches the Butchers [Frederic French, Butcher, 4 South Street Bishops Stortford. Ed.] kept there for 2 years and went from there to Luton Mr. Panter, Butcher [William Panter, Butcher and Farmer, 34 and 36 Park Street Luton. Ed.] and have left there 4 months ago and I am working at the Rochford Nursery Cheshunt.
Signature: Walter John Thurley.
Form 2.
This is a two page document entitled Hertford County Constabulary Conditions of Service. It states:
The front page is entirely taken up with the Conditions of Service and details of his pay and clothing. At the top of the front page is handwritten 20 above 1914 which is believed to mean that he was the twentieth candidate of 1914. The second page begins with details of Privileges i.e. leave pension and sick benefits and House Rent payable. It then continues with a Declaration of Candidate which states:
Age: 22, Place and date of birth: 18 August 1892 Bartholomew Rd., Height: 5 ft 8 ¾ inches, Chest: 34 ½ normal, Complexion: Dark, Eyes: Grey, Hair: Dark, Marks: No entry, Married or Single: Single, Religion: Church of England, Children: No entry, Nationality: British, Benefit Society: Prudential, Particulars of Public Service: Nil, Where and with whom last employed: Cheshunt Herts, Mr. Rochford Nursery Mill Lane, Occupation: Butcher, Duration of Service: 5 months, Date of Discharge: 8 August.
The following certificate is then signed: I hereby declare that the above answers are in my handwriting and were inserted by me on the 8th day of August 1914 and that they are true and full replies to the several questions above specified and that I have read the Conditions of Service, and, if appointed, I hereby agree to serve the Standing Joint Committee of the Quarter Sessions and the County Council as a member of the Constabulary for the County of Hertford, under the conditions before mentioned and subject to all Statutory conditions now made, or hereafter to be made, in that behalf.
Signature: Walter John Thurley. Residence: 5 London Road Bps’ Stortford Herts.
The third page is headed: Directions as to Testimonials, and states:
This form of recommendation is to be signed by three or more respectable persons who have had Personal [In bold type Ed.] knowledge of the Candidate during the last five years at least, also, when possible, a Magistrate or Chief Police Officer of the District should be one of those who recommend. When properly filled up it is to be forwarded by post to the Chief Constable of Hertfordshire County Constabulary Office, Hatfield, Herts.
Date 7th Aug 1914.
We the undersigned testify that Walter John Thurley a Candidate for employment in the Hertford County Constabulary, has been known to us during the periods stated opposite our respective names and we consider him sober, honest, good tempered and a person we can conscientiously recommend as likely to make an efficient Police Officer and we recommend him accordingly.
Three persons recommended him:
1. W.G. Young, Postmaster Bishops Stortford. 1911 – 1914 2. F. French, Butcher Bishops Stortford. 1911 – 1914, 3. Henry Kent, J.P. Bishops Stortford. Known to be respectable young man but not personally.
The following certificate was then completed: Police Station Bishops Stortford 12th August 1914. I certify that the signatures of the above persons No’s 1, 2, 3 are genuine and that their recommendations are worthy of confidence. Signed: Arthur James Elderton, Rank: Police Sergeant, Force: Herts Constabulary. It was countersigned R.T. Foster Superintendent.
At the bottom of the third page is a Medical Certificate which was to be filled in by the Constabulary Surgeon only. It states: Hatfield. I hereby certify that I have examined Walter John Thurley as to his health and physical strength and that I consider him fit for the duties of the Constabulary. Signed L. Drage Surgeon. Dated at Hatfield the 7th day of August 1914.
The fourth page is unused.
Form 3.
This is a four page document. The front page shows his date of Appointment as Constable 315 as being 10th August 1914. It then has his physical description which is identical to what was recorded on his Form 2 together with the details of his previous occupation and employer. Additionally, his next of kin was firstly given as his father Walter Thurley, 5 London Rd. Bishops Stortford, but this was crossed through and replaced by his son Maurice Walter Thurley. He also stated that he could both ride a cycle and swim. Details of his marriage and his children are also shown but that will be covered later on.
The Police Surgeon’s certificate is duplicated here. Details were also recorded of his Attestation and his later Military Service but as before that is covered later on.
It was also recorded that he was a member of the 10th Training Class of recruits, and his instructors were Sergeant 57 Cousins and Constable 20 Wright.
Page two records his various rates of pay and all the places he was stationed which will be detailed later on. Page three lists Commendations and Misconduct reports. Under the Commendations is a record of his WW1 Army service which will be covered later on. There are no misconduct reports. Page four contains his Medical History and there are some twenty entries all for minor illnesses. Also on Page four is the reason and date of his removal from the Force. It is incomplete but other pension records have the details.
Training And His First Posting.
On the 10th August 1914, the date of his Appointment as Constable 315, Walter John Thurley started his Probationer Training at Police Headquarters Hatfield under Sergeant 57 Cousins and Constable 20 Wright earning £1/4/6 per week. On the 24th August 1914 he was Attested at Hatfield before Arthur L. Linde J.P. and J. Lloyd J.P. and on the completion of his training he was taken onto the roster and on the 9th September 1914, he was posted to F Division at Hertford.
Being a single man, he would have boarded with a local family in Hertford, but no record survives to show where.
Enlistment.
General Order 98 of the 9th June 1915 was entitled The Police Constable (Naval and Military Service) Act 1914 Police (Emergency Provisions) Act 1915.
The undermentioned Police Constable’s being desirous in enlisting in H.M. Army for the period of the War, the Deputy Chief Constable hereby gives the necessary consent, as required by the above Acts:
1. PC 10 Elkins E. A Division 2. PC 120 Day A.T. B Division 3. PC 285 Sirett B Division 4. PC 319 Potter C. C Division 5. PC 133 Mansfield A. C Division 6. PC 145 Abbiss F.W. C Division 7. PC 84 Manton W.E. C Division 8. PC 313 Quarrie H.H. C Division 9. PC 301 Allen G.A. C Division 10. PC 217 Lake O. C Division 11. PC 308 Clarke F. C Division 12. PC 101 Appleby S.R. E Division 13. PC 310 Tatham G. F Division 14. PC 315 Thurley W.J. F Division 15. PC 305 Archer G. F Division 16. PC 93 Potton F. G Division 17. PC 274 Rowlingson H. G Division 18. PC 321 Reid N. G Division
The Constables will be permitted to join the Army at once and will be paid up to and including the date prior to that on which they commence to draw Army pay.
The Superintendents concerned will report to Headquarters the date on which the Constables are enlisted in the Army, and the Constables will be struck off the strength of the establishment of the Force as from that date.
General Order 118 of the 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. Walter is shown as PC 315 Thurley W.J. F Division who enlisted in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry on the 17th June 1915.
Army Service During The War.
Walter’s Army Service Record has not survived but his Medal Roll Index Card and Medal Rolls reveal he joined the Hertfordshire Yeomanry as Private 2547 (later 105806 under re-organisation).
Marriage.
Walter married May Lewzey [At birth her name was registered as Susan May. Ed.] on the 22nd September 1915 at the Church of St. Saviour, Luton. She was born on the 11th May 1894 in Cambridge. They had three sons:
1. Maurice Walter in 1920 at Hertford. 2. Ralph Desmond born in 1925 at Watford. 3. Victor John born in 1931 at Watford.
Walter was one of 23 Hertfordshire Police Officers who joined the Hertfordshire Yeomanry who posed for a photograph in 1915 believed at Colchester. The officers were:
1. PC 308 F. Clarke. 2. PC 93. F. Potton. 3. PC 189 J.W. Clark. 4. PC 312 D.E. Cattermole. 5. PC 285 G.H. Sirett. 6. PC 105 H.M. Armitage. 7. PC 313 H.H. Quarrie. 8. PC 120 A.T. Day. 9. PC 315 W.J. Thurley. 10. PC 10 E.A.V. Elkins. 11. PC 35 A.W. Reid. 12. PS 20 H. Wright. 13. PC 233 W.J. Bethell. 14. PC 121 F.W.E. Perry. 15. PC 274 H. Rowlingson. 16. PC 19 H.W. Carder. 17. PC 217 O.V. Lake. 18. PC 316 A.S. Brown. 19. PC 305 G. Archer. 20. PC 301 G.A. Allen. 21. PC 7 A.G. Capon. 22. PC 321 N.J. Reid. 23. PC 314 A.W. Corne.
The photo included a regular Army Sergeant Jeffrey Arthur Riches who was an instructor.
His Medal Index Card and Medal Rolls show that Walter landed with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry on the 16th November 1915 in Theatre 2b, which is the Balkan Theatre of Gallipoli and the Aegean Islands. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory medals.
Mudros.
From the details of his record of Army Service contained in his Police Service Record and information from the book entitled, “The Hertfordshire Yeomanry, An Illustrated History 1794 – 1920” by J.D. Sainsbury we know the following:
Walter stated that he enlisted as a Private in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry on the 16th June 1915, and he served at Mudros from the 6th November 1915 until the 23rd November 1915.
Mudros was a small Greek port on the Mediterranean island of Lemnos. It gained wartime significance in the early part of 1915 when the British attempted to seize control of the Dardanelles Straits, some 30 miles away.
The 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry, acting as infantry soldiers, had been sent to Gallipoli in support of the planned attack on the peninsular. On the 31st October 1915 they were withdrawn to Mudros for a rest having lost one Officer and 23 other ranks either killed in action, wounded or through sickness. On the 3rd November 1915 came news that a draft of 52 men was expected, once they arrived, the total Herts Yeomanry strength on the Island would be 11 Officers and 158 men, which amounts to a slightly over strength squadron. It would seem that Walter was part of the draft of 52 men.
Egypt.
Walter then stated that between 29th November 1915 to the 26th March 1916 he served in Egypt.
Again, taken from “The Hertfordshire Yeomanry, An Illustrated History 1794 – 1920” the following is known: During 1914 and the first few months of 1915 the presence of a substantial Garrison in Egypt prevented any outbreak of dissident violence either in Egypt itself or on its borders. However, as the troops were moved to Gallipoli and Salonika and the defence of Egypt’s eastern frontier with Turkish occupied Palestine, and the minds of the Staff were taken up with the conduct of these campaigns, an opportunity arose in the western desert, the area stretching south from Sollum on the Mediterranean coast some 300 miles from Alexandria. Backed by Turkish and German advisers Sayeed Ahmed leader of the Senussi Sect grew in military power and influence over the desert Arabs to such an extent that in November 1915 he was able with the co-operation of the German Navy to mount raids on the isolated Egyptian government posts of Sollum and Sidi Barani. At the same time unrest was forming at Alexandria. There was thus an evident threat to the stability and security of Egypt and on the 20th November 1915, orders were issued for the formation of the Western Frontier Force under Major General A. Wallace.
The force was to assemble at Mersa Matruh, preparatory to the mounting of operations against the Senussi’s Muhafizia (regular troops) and such local Arabs as they were able to persuade to side with them. At the time the Western Frontier Force was raised, resources in Egypt were both scarce and scattered and it was necessary to form two composite or scratch brigades one of Yeomanry (3 composite Yeomanry Regiments and a composite Regiment of Australian Light Horse) under the command of Brigadier General J.D.T. Tyndale-Biscoe and another consisting of three British Territorial Infantry Battalions and a Battalion of Indian Infantry. In the absence of any available units of the Royal Engineers the detachment of the Egyptian Army Military Works Department was included, and the Australians provided supply and transport services. The Force was seriously short of artillery. It is described in the official history as the best that could be found in Egypt but by no means well adapted to its task. The Staff had hastily collected two second line Territorial Battalions, which had not completed their training, while the Composite Brigade of Yeomanry was made up from some 20 Regiments. Further troops were required to secure the lines of communication which stretched some 150 miles from that Matruh back to Alexandria meanwhile the Senussi’s forces, possibly 2500 strong, were going South and West of Matruh. They were encouraged by their initial success in forcing the British out of Sollum and by the fact that the local Bedouin as far east as Dabaa were in sympathy with them.
After disembarking at Alexandria on the 28th November 1915 the Hertfordshire Yeomanry component of the former 2nd Yeomanry Regiment moved at once to Mena Camp near Cairo there to shed the last of their infantry clothing and equipment and return to their proper role as a mounted regiment. The Gallipoli veterans hardly had time to exchange greetings with their horses (and their colleagues of the rear party who had looked after them) before on the 2nd December the Regiment received a warning order to be ready to move to join the Western Frontier Force on the 5th December. There was a delay of two days and on the 7th December, they moved by train to Mex camp outside Alexandria. Here on the 8th December, they spent the day putting such finishing touches as they could to the re-organisation of the Regiment and taking over more horses – the pick of those belonging to the Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry’s, according to Colonel Sheppard. By the morning of the following day the re-formed B Squadron, under the command of Major de Falbe and only slightly below establishment at 138 all ranks were ready to move and entrained for the Force railhead, the extremity of the Egyptian state railways coastal line at the Dabaa. The penalty for moving separately into the composite command structure was the Hertfordshire Yeomanry’s two Squadrons did not function as a Regiment for some two months.
Unfortunately, it is not known whether Walter was attached to A or B Squadron and as they operated independently of each other there is no way of knowing his involvement.
Mesopotamia.
Walter then stated that from the 11th April 1916 until the 29th January 1919 he served in Mesopotamia [Today, Mesopotamia is known as present day Iraq. In the broader sense, the historical region of Mesopotamia included parts of Iran, Kuwait, Syria and Turkey. Ed.]
Again, as it is not known which Squadron Walter served with it is impossible to say what he was involved with.
Like every other soldier Walter was granted 28 days leave when he was demobilised. He would have used this time to arrange his re-joining of the Police. Part of the process would have been that he would have had to have undergone a medical examination to ensure he was still fit enough for Police duties. He was examined on the 1st April 1919 and De-Mobilised and Discharged from the Army on 2nd April 1919 after 3 years 9 months Military Service.
Re-joining The Police.
General Order 90 of the 9th April 1919 announced that Walter, having been released from H.M. Army, was re-appointed to the Force at F Division at Hertford with effect from the 3rd April 1919 on £2/7/0 per week. His Police Service Record that he was immediately given a pay rise to £3/18/0 per week as part of a national pay rise.
His Police Service Record was also endorsed: Period of Army Service from 17th June to 2nd April 1919 to count as Police Service for pension purposes, Vide S.J.C. [Standing Joint Committee Ed.] Resolution 35 Dated 9th October 1914.
His Superintendent would have been instructed to arrange for Walter to be re-Attested and his Police Service Record shows that happened the day he was re-appointed on the 3rd April 1919.
General Order 182 of the 20th August 1919 informed Walter that he would receive an increased rate of pay from £3/18/0 to £4/0/0 per week from the 10th August 1919.
In the 1921 census Police Constable Walter John Thurley, his wife May and their first born son Maurice Walter were all living at 132, Bengeo Street, Hertford. Additionally, the Electoral Rolls of 1920 to 1924 list Walter John Thurley as living at the same address.
Pay Rises.
Walter’s Police Service Record shows he received pay rises from £4/0/0 to £4/2/0 per week on the 10th August 1920 and from £4/2/0 to £4/4/0 per week on the 10th August 1921. Then General Order 109 of the 18th August 1922 informed him that he would receive an increased rate of pay from £4/4/0 to £4/6/0 per week from the 10th August 1922.
Parliamentary Elections 1922,
General Order 156 of 14th November 1922 gave Orders for Mounted Officers to perform duty at various locations in relation to the Declaration of the Poll in the Parliamentary Elections of 1922. Walter was to be on duty at St. Albans.
The Mounted Establishment Is Formed.
General Order 17 of 31st January 1923 announced the formation of a dedicated Mounted Establishment:
“From the 1st February 1923 the Mounted Establishment of the Hertford County Constabulary will consist of the undermentioned Sergeant and Constables:
Rank & No. Name Division Station
1. PS 35 Reid A. C Watford 2. PC 199 Briden J. A Braughing 3. PC 111 Sweetland G. A Bishops Stortford 4. PC 93 Potton F. B Hertford 5. PC 315 Thurley W.J. B Hertford 6. PC 331 Kimpton G. C Watford 7. PC 282 Eames A. E Kimpton 8. PC 200 Bangs A. E Hitchin 9. PC 212 Lambert S.J. R Headquarters 10. PC 78 Phypers E.W. R Headquarters 11. PC 233 Howe A. R Headquarters
Officers who have Mounted Equipment but are not included in the Mounted Establishment shown above will hand such equipment into stores forthwith.”
Mounted Duties.
General Order 57 of the 30th March 1923 detailed Walter to be one of three Mounted Officers to Police the Hertfordshire Hunt Point-to-Point Steeplechases which were being held at Highfield Hall Stud Farm near St. Albans on Thursday 5th April 1923.
General Order 64 of the 3rd April 1923 detailed Walter to be one of three Mounted Officers to Police the Puckeridge Hunt Races which were being held near Cole Green Farm, Brent Pelham on Wednesday 11th April 1923.
General Order 72 of the 19th April 1923 detailed Walter to be one of six Mounted Officers to Police the Essex Staghounds bona fide Race Meetings which were being held at Tharbies Farm near Sawbridgeworth on Wednesday 25th April 1923.
More Pay Rises.
Walter’s Police Service Record shows he received a pay rise from £4/4/0 to £4/6/0 per week from the 10th August 1922 and General Order 148 of the 16th August 1923 informed him that he would receive an increased rate of pay from £4/6/0 to £4/8/0 per week from the 10th August 1923.
Transferred.
General Order 1 of the 2nd January 1924 instructed Walter that from the 14th January 1924 he was being transferred from B Division at Hertford to C Division at Watford and to occupy the cottage being vacated by Constable 261 Ward. General Order 6 postponed the move due to inclement weather. Finally, General Order 21 of the 3rd February 1924 instructed that the move would take place on the 11th February 1924. The Electoral Rolls of 1924 to 1927 list Walter John and May Thurley as living at 73, Estcourt Road, Watford.
More Mounted Duties.
General Order 50 of the 24th March 1924 detailed Walter to be one of four Mounted Officers to Police the Hertfordshire Hunt Point to Point Steeplechases which were being held at Highfield Hall Stud Farm near St Albans on Thursday 27th March 1924.
General Order 58 of the 5th April 1924 detailed Walter to be one of four Mounted Officers to Police the Puckeridge Hunt Races which were being held near Cole Green Farm, Brent Pelham on Wednesday 9th April 1924.
General Order 68 of the 14th April 1924 detailed Walter to be one of four Mounted Officers to Police Colonel Part’s Harriers Private Point to Point Steeplechases which were being held at Annables Farm near Redbourn on Wednesday 16th April 1924.
General Order 114 of the 15th July 1924 informed Walter that the scale of Rent Allowances set forth in Order 54 of 1922 has been confirmed and would be increased as from 29th June 1924 from 11/8 per week to 12/- per week.
General Order 117 of the 1st August 1924 detailed Walter to be one of two Mounted Officers to Police The Tring Agricultural Show which was being held at Tring Park on Thursday 7th August 1924.
Pay Rise.
General Order 149 of the 1st September 1924 informed Walter that he would receive an increased rate of pay from £4/8/0 to £4/10/0 per week from the 10th August 1924.
Parliamentary Elections 1924.
General Order 169 of 26th October 1924 gave Orders for Mounted Officers to perform duty at various locations in relation to the Declaration of the Poll in the Parliamentary Elections of 1924. Walter was to be on duty at Hertford.
General Order 43 of the 1st March 1925 detailed Walter to be one of four Mounted Officers to Police the Hertfordshire Hunt Point to Point Steeplechases which were being held at Highfield Hall Stud Farm near St Albans on Wednesday 25th March 1925.
General Order 46 of the 23rd March 1925 detailed Walter to be one of four Mounted Officers to Police the Puckeridge Hunt Races which were being held near Cole Green Farm, Brent Pelham on Wednesday 1st April 1925.
General Order 88 of 8th June 1925 gave instructions to Walter to perform Mounted duties at the Assizes being held at the Shire Hall Hertford at 11 a.m. on Wednesday 17th June 1925.
A Royal Visit.
General Order 93 of 21st June 1925 with many other Officers Walter was ordered to perform Mounted duties at the opening of Watford Peace Memorial Hospital by H.R.H Princess Mary Viscountess Lascelles.
“This ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. on Wednesday 24th June 1926 and will be preceded by the Presentation of an Address of Welcome by the Mayor and Corporation of the Borough of Watford at the Market Place at 2.45 p.m.
Command: The detachment of the Hertford County Constabulary on duty will be under the command of: Superintendent E. Maskell.
Movements Mounted: Constables 212 Lambert and 339 Oliver will ride Headquarters Horses and will report at King Street Police Station at 12 noon. Police Sergeant 35 Reid and Constables 93 Potton and 315 Thurley will ride horses to be hired by Superintendent A Division. The hired horses will be taken over by the Police Sergeant and Constables at Stanstead Abbotts at 2 p.m. on Tuesday 23rd instant and will be stabled at Watford on that night. The horses will be returned to Stanstead Abbotts immediately after the Ceremony on the 24th instant.
Escort: The Mounted Detachment under the command of Police Sergeant 35 Reid will meet the motor car conveying Her Royal Highness at Bushey Arches and escort the car during the period it is in Watford until it passes Bushey Arches on the return journey”.
General Order 106 of the 25th July 1925 detailed Walter to be one of two Mounted Officers to Police The Tring Agricultural Show which was being held at Tring Park on Thursday 6th August 1925.
Temporary Transfer.
General Order 115 of the 17th August 1925 informed Walter that he would be temporarily transferred from Wednesday 19th August 1925 from C Division at Watford to E Division at Hitchin, to perform mounted patrol duty. No records survive to explain why this was necessary or how long the transfer lasted, and it is not shown on his Police Service Record.
General Order 148 of 28th October 1925 and General Order 27 of 8th February 1926 and General Order 81 of 13th June 1926 all instructed Walter to perform Mounted Duties at the opening of the Hertfordshire Assizes being held at the Shire Hall Hertford commencing at 11 a.m. on Monday 23rd November 1925 and at 11 a.m. on Monday 15th February 1926 respectively.
General Order 46 of the 29th March 1926 detailed Walter to be one of four Mounted Officers to Police the Puckeridge Hunt Races which were being held near Cole Green Farm, Brent Pelham on Wednesday 7th April 1926.
General Order 51 of the 7th April 1926 detailed Walter to be one of four Mounted Officers to Police the Hertfordshire Hunt Point to Point Steeplechases which were being held at Annables Farm near Redbourn on Saturday 10th April 1926.
General Order 81 of 13th June 1926 instructed Walter to perform Mounted Duties at the opening of the Hertfordshire Assizes being held at the Shire Hall Hertford commencing at 11 a.m. on Monday 21st June 1926 respectively.
General Order 100 of the 28th July 1926 detailed Walter to be one of two Mounted Officers to Police the Tring Agricultural Show which was being held at Tring Park on Thursday 5th August 1926.
The Electoral Rolls of 1928 to 1930 list John and May Thurley as living at the Police Station, St. Albans Road, Watford.
Pay Rise.
Walter’s Police Service Record shows he received his final pay rise from £4/10/0 to £4/12/6 per week from the 10th August 1931.
Transferred.
Walter’s Police Service Record shows that on 31st December 1934 he was transferred from C Division Watford to B Division Welwyn Garden City. It is not known where he was living at this time.
Retirement And Life After The Police.
On the 9th August 1939 Walter retired as a Constable on a pension of £241/3/3 per annum having completed 25years service.
Published on the 18th August 1939 in the Hertford Mercury under the headline: Police Retirements. Two members of the Hertfordshire Constabulary who have been stationed in the Welwyn district, are retiring after 25 years’ service. They are PC H. Human, who, before going to Welwyn nine years ago, was at Ware, Croxley Heath Green and Hertford, and PC W.J. Thurley who had been stationed in Welwyn Garden City for four years following service at Watford and Hertford.
In the 1939 Register Walter is recorded as being employed as a Storekeeper for a Manufacturers of Surgical Dressings and listed as living at 12, Gainswood, Welwyn Garden City with his family.
Tragedy.
Walter lost his wife, Susan May Thurley, in 1967, she passed away at the QE11 Hospital Welwyn Garden City.
Marriage.
On the 12th September 1970 Walter John Thurley married Edith Mary Rose a widow.
Walter John Thurley died aged 81 on the 15th March 1974 at the QE11 Hospital, Welwyn Garden City. His funeral took place at 12 midday on the 22nd March 1974 at West Herts Crematorium.
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