Officers of our own Lancashire Constabulary, and in particular those in what are now Northern and Western Divisions, have paid the ultimate sacrifice in furtherance of their duties. We hold them and their families and colleagues in our prayers and give thanks that this opportunity has been provided to remember them and all who died in the service of others. The following are from the County’s roll of honour with an acknowledgement to Mr Anthony Rae’s research and access to The Gazette’s archive through Mr Tom Halstead.
January 1898: PC Alfred MARSH. The officer, drafted from Salford during the Fleetwood docks strike was thrown down a ship’s hold and died later in Fleetwood Cottage hospital.
December 1915: Alfred SMITH. Posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry while serving as a subaltern with the East Lancashire Regiment at Gallipoli.
August 1923: Sgt Hartley WILKINSON. He and another officer rescued a youth from the sea at North Shore. Tragically, Sgt
Wilkinson died later as a result of going into the sea and suffering severe exposure.
February 1932: Police Fireman William MATTHEWS.
December 1935: Sgt William COUGHLAN at St Anne’s.
September 1940: Special Constable Llewellyn WALFORD killed by enemy action at Thornton whilst assisting women and children into an air raid shelter.
July 1945: PC Arthur RICHARDSON. The 45 years old officer based at Kirkham rescued an unconscious woman who was in a bath. PC Richardson died later and the coroner said the rescue exertion had accelerated the death.
January 1951: Reserve PC John POUCHER. The officer, aged 59, patrolling on his bicycle was involved in an accident with a drunken car driver and died the following day.
August 23rd, 1971: Supt Gerald Irving RICHARDSON. A day of infamy when 38 years old Supt Richardson was gunned down in a North Shore back-alley. Supt Richardson was awarded posthumously the George Cross.
November 1972: PC Kenneth Richmond FLETCHER. The 26 years old constable was killed while undergoing training on an advanced motorcycle course.
January 1983: PCs Angela BRADLEY, Colin MORRISON & Gordon Alexander CONNOLLY. PCs Bradley, 23, Morrison, 38, and Connolly, 24, drowned attempting to rescue a drowning man and each other in rough seas at Gynn Square, North Shore.
The names of SC LLewllyn WALFORD, PC Arthur RICHARDSON, RPC John POUCHER, Supt Gerald Irving RICHARDSON, PC Kenneth Richmond FLETCHER, WPC Angela BRADLEY, PC Gordon Alexander CONNOLLY and PC Colin MORRISON are inscribed on The National Roll of Honour as meeting the strict and particular criteria for inclusion.
*****
We also remember the following of the Police Service who gave their lives in the exercise of their duty during the past year (2011-2012): Sergeant David JONES, West Mercia Police; Constable Stephen George CULLY, Lothian & Borders Police; Constable Ramin TOLOUIE, West Midland Police; Constable Mark GOODLAD, West Yorkshire Police; Constable Neil JEFFRYS, Strathclyde Police; Detective Constable Andrew James STOKES, Greater Manchester Police; Detective Constable Karen PATERSON, Cambridgeshire Constabulary; Inspector Preston GURR, Metropolitan Police; Constable Ian DIBELL, Essex Police.
We also remember Constable David John RATHBAND, Northumbria Police and Constables Fiona BONE and Nicola HUGHES, Greater Manchester Police.
We give thanks to God for their courage and their dedication.
We treasure their memory and in the silence of our hearts commend them to God’s sure keeping.