Gallantry awards are not readily given and represent conscious deeds and actions, involving risk of death or injury, which go above and beyond those expected.
Forgotten Heroes brings together, for the first time, a detailed record of all gallantry awards granted by the nation’s sovereign in recognition of the bravery of almost 400 police officers throughout the ancient Lancashire County Palatine.
The Palatine jurisdiction remains that of the reigning sovereign, the Duke of Lancaster, and extends from Lake Windermere and Furness in the north to the River Mersey in the south, and from the west coast to the Pennines and Yorkshire Dales in the east. It includes the present-day Lancashire and those parts now within the administrative counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, and most of Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
The book chronicles all awards since the institution of the King’s Police Medal in 1909, when the nation began recognising bravery where police officers have risked their lives carrying out their duties. It covers more than a century of gallantry, commencing with the first award given in 1911 to a Preston officer, through to the present day.
Gallantry awards are not readily given and represent conscious deeds and actions, involving risk of death or injury, which go above and beyond those expected. As well as courage displayed during the arrest of armed and dangerous criminals, incidents include the rescue of persons from fires, water, trapped underground, from high buildings and during wartime from bombed and burning buildings.
Among the most poignant are the posthumous awards, which include Detective Inspector James O’Donnell, who died after being shot during the Brewery Street Siege in Blackburn in 1958. He was attempting to negotiate with the hostage taker who had earlier shot another officer, and after shooting Inspector O’Donnell the man killed his wife.
Also featured is the incident involving Superintendent Gerald Irving Richardson, who was shot attempting to arrest one of a gang of armed robbers in Blackpool in 1971. Two officers had earlier been shot and wounded. Recognition of the bravery displayed that day saw the unprecedented number of two George Crosses and four George Medals, plus two British Empire Medals for Gallantry and a Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct awarded to the officers involved. Superintendent Richardson is the highest ranking police officer to have been murdered on duty in modern times.
In addition to retelling the circumstances of why the awards were made, Stephen Wilson provides information about their historical context, and has had privileged access to draw upon police records not normally available to the public to detail the incidents. He includes details of awards as published in the official London Gazette and, where available, biographical details and pictures of the officers, their medals and memorials; and in doing so ensures these brave officers are no longer ‘Forgotten Heroes’.
A born and bred Lancastrian, Stephen Wilson is a 27-year veteran of the Lancashire Constabulary. For the majority of his police service Steve was involved in road policing, specialising in the investigation and reconstruction of road accidents. Since police retirement, he has worked as an independent consultant, providing expert evidence to the courts and legal system in such cases.
He comes from a family of police officers, with his parents and brother having all served with Preston Borough Police and later Lancashire Constabulary; he has also traced police ancestors who served in Victorian times.
His keen interest in family history extends to both military and police history, being a collector of medals and militaria. He is currently involved in researching the history of Preston Borough Police and in the formation of the Lancashire Police Museum, a joint project of the Constabulary and the Duchy of Lancaster, due to open at Lancaster Castle and for which he is responsible for the Police Gallantry exhibition.
This book is published by Stephen Wilson in conjunction with WRITERSWORLD, and is produced entirely in the UK. It is available to order from most bookshops in the United Kingdom. It is also globally available via Internet book retailers.