FALLEN HEROES


FORGOTTEN OFFICERS


Finding ofcers lost in the mists of time: Retired inspector turned police history detective adds more than 300 forgotten ofcers to Police Roll of Honour.


As it currently stands there are more than 5,000 officers commemorated for their sacrifice in the public service on the Police Roll of Honour, which provides a focal point and visible means for family and friends to reflect on the loss of their loved ones and to know that their loss is not forgotten. The earliest entry is that of Watchman


Isaac Smith who died of injuries in 1680. Protecting the parish of St Paul’s in the


capital, Watchman Smith and a colleague stepped in to settle a disturbance. A fight broke out and he was struck on the head with his own staff - sadly he died from his injuries months later. There are still hundreds of officers


who have lost their lives over the centuries who have not yet made their way onto the Roll of Honour but, thanks to an ongoing research project by the Police Roll of Honour Trust, more and more records are being added each year. Retired Cumbria Inspector Ray


Greenhow is one of the researchers involved in unearthing the records of forgotten fallen officers. So far, Mr Greenhow and his wife have


astoundingly established more than 300 names nationally to be added to the Roll of Honour, with others still to be further researched or updated. One remarkable story is that of Police


Sergeant Henry Collins who served the Metropolitan Police in the 19th century. On 23 November 1866 an inquest


was held at The Coach and Horses, West Drayton, into the death of Sgt Collins of ‘T’ Division, which concluded he had died after falling from his horse. At 2.15pm on 27 November, the body


of Sgt Collins was brought from his house and buried at Harlington Church in the south west corner with a full police escort of his superintendent, six inspectors, 27 sergeants and 130 constables honouring him. More than 100 years later, this was


28 I POLICE I DECEMBER 2021


what was recorded in the Roll of Honour, however, some detective work from Mr Greenhow soon discovered there was a darker side to the story. An account stated a man, known


as Stevens, had emigrated to America shortly after the death of Sgt Collins and, on his deathbed 19 years later in 1885, he admitted striking the officer from behind, knocking him from his horse. The Roll of Honour has since been updated to paint a true picture of what happened. Avid hiker Mr Greenhow, who retired in 2012, first found himself filling the policing history books after researching the meaning behind a place called Fisher Wife's Rake on Clough Head mountain in the Lake District. Uncovering a newspaper reference to


'Policeman Crag', his research took a new turn.


“Nobody knew where the name


reference came from beyond a policeman died on it. Even here, in time, they forgot the reason why but the local name remained,” he told POLICE magazine. “After looking


through the National Newspaper Archives, I discovered a police officer had taken a wrong turn, walking up the grassy eastern slope of Cough Head and, in bad weather, tried to get down the craggy northern face, falling to his death in September 1847.” That officer was PC James Armstrong who made an extended journey on duty, walking 25 miles to obtain and execute an arrest warrant. But, when


The National Police Memorial at Pall Mall.


returning to Keswick the following day, he became lost in the mountains in the darkness. PC Armstrong, who is recorded as


joining Carlisle City Police in February 1832, was added to the Roll of Honour in 2016 thanks to Mr Greenhow who was even able to track down his living descendants who were unaware of the crag reference. “All officers put themselves in harm’s


way in order to protect the public they serve. Most return to their families at the end of each tour of duty but some tragically give their lives by that service, and they should never be forgotten,” Mr Greenhow said. “The Police Roll of Honour Trust is working towards recording all historic deaths so the sacrifice of these brave men and women are duly recorded. “This Roll of Honour I believe is the


most detailed, accurate, and authentic one anywhere in the world, and I am proud to assist.”


Inspector Ray Greenhow and a canine companion.


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