Description
Object description
British civilian served as constable with Metropolitan Police in Hammersmith and Staines, London, GB, 1898-1923; guardsman served with 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards in Boer War, South Africa, 1899-1902
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period as constable with Metropolitan Police in Hammersmith, London and Staines, Surrey, GB, 1898-1923: family background and employment prior to joining Metropolitan Police; story of joining Somerset Light Infantry and subsequent transfer to Guards; called up as reservist for Boer War after joining Metropolitan Police; police pay; reason for requesting transfer to Staines; length of beat; number of staff at police station; relations with colleagues; opinion of people in Staines; problem of transporting prisoners; role of Station Sergeant; night duty; story of making arrest for burglary while eating breakfast in shop doorway; weekly Court sessions; story about man found with half-sovereigns in pub; story of interviewing suspect in cow shed; method of passing despatches between stations prior to use of bicycles; story about being struck in face by burglary suspect; use of horse transport by Chief Superintendent and Sub-Divisional Inspector; duties at wedding of Princess Mary and at various race courses; leave and working hours; problem of dust caused by traffic at Ascot; description of steam engines crossing Staines Bridge preceded by man with red flag; story of meeting last train at night; memories of Empire Cinema; description of duty during three week dock strike and problem of violence while escorting convoys; story of being knocked unconscious while on bicycle patrol; later employment as caretaker for magistrate John Ashby; question of police officers being allowed to marry.
REEL 2 Continues: various memories of social life with Metropolitan Police including sports events and Police Balls; method of dealing with traffic offences; various memories of Staines; story of finding drunken man sleeping in church yard; opinion of Superintendent Hunt at Hammersmith; story of party and concert prior to leaving for Boer War; received card from Queen Victoria at Christmas; story of seeing Queen Victoria while on duty at Windsor Castle; story of rescuing two men from river under Hammersmith Bridge and commendation for action by Coroner; story of failing to recognise Superintendent in plain clothes. Aspects of operations as guardsman with 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards in GB and South Africa, 1899-1902: attitude to discipline in Guards; drill; pay; accommodation at Chelsea Barracks; duties during Trooping the Colour; punishments for fainting or making mistake during drill; opinion of living conditions and rations in South Africa; description of khaki uniform; use of ant heaps for cover; story of soldier nearby being shot; opinion of Boers; comparison of Boer War with current warfare; opinion of supplies; story of being wounded in lung and medical treatment. Reflections on period of service with Metropolitan Police