Posthumous Gallantry Awards

All three officers were shot and fatally wounded while attempting to arrest a gang of armed burglars whom they disturbed late at night at Exchange Buildings, Cutler Street, Houndsditch.

Northumberland County Constabulary

Died 15 April 1913, aged 30

Police Sergeant

Northumberland County Constabulary

Died 15 April 1913, aged 40

Constable Mussell was killed when he was shot in the shoulder and neck, whilst trying to calm the manager of the Sun Inn, Bedlington who was being evicted and had armed himself with a repeater shotgun, the man then shot dead a woman on the premises. Sergeant Barton was on duty nearby and on hearing the shots went into the premises and, despite seeing PC Mussell had been shot dead, he confronted the armed man and was attempting to disarm him when he too was shot and killed.

Metropolitan Police

Died 28 January 1917, aged 30

Died from head injuries received on 19 January from an explosion at a fire in a munitions factory at Silvertown where, despite the imminent danger, he remained at the scene to warn others and evacuate the area.

James Hardacre

Lancashire Constabulary

Died 27 April 1917, aged 34

Killed by an explosion at a fire in a munitions factory at Church when,

aware of the grave danger, he courageously remained at the scene, closing a magazine door and attaching a hose to fight the fire.

Posthumously awarded the King's Police Medal for Gallantry

Surrey Constabulary

Died 22 October 1928, aged 33

Fatally injured while endeavouring to stop a runaway horse and dustcart at Bagshot when he grabbed the reins but was knocked down and dragged some distance under the cart.

Posthumously awarded the King's Police Medal for Gallantry

Durham County Constabulary

Died 14 December 1930, aged 46

Killed by smoke inhalation while attempting to rescue an 83 year old lady trapped in a burning house in the early hours at Seaham Harbour; having reached her he was dragging her to safety when both perished.

Posthumously awarded the King's Police Medal for Gallantry

Metropolitan Police

Died 7 September 1935, aged 32

While regulating traffic late at night at the end of the Barnet Fair, he saw a heavy lorry run out of control towards a crowd and, in endeavouring to clear them from its path, he was struck by the lorry and fatally injured.

Posthumously awarded the King's Police Medal for Gallantry

Port of London Authority Police

Died 18 September 1940, aged 45

Killed together with Sgt Showell by the detonation of an unexploded bomb whilst checking bomb damage following an overnight enemy air raid at the Royal Albert Dock, West Ham.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Port of London Authority Police

Died 19 September 1940, aged 40

Fatally injured on 18 September together with PC Winney by the detonation of an unexploded bomb whilst checking damage following an overnight enemy air raid at the Royal Albert Dock, West Ham.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Albert Ernest Bawden

Special Constable

Coventry City Police

Died 14 November 1940, aged 38

Fatally injured along with other officers, at Red Lane, as a result of enemy action during the devastating air raid which destroyed Coventry City centre on the night of 14th to 15th November.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Police Constable

Lancashire Constabulary

Died 26 December 1940, aged 23

Died from injuries received in the early hours of 23 December when Manchester Division HQ in Old Trafford was demolished by a high explosive bomb which struck in the early hours during an enemy air raid on Manchester.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Police Fireman

Portsmouth Police Fire Brigade

Died 10 January 1941, aged 28

Killed by the blast of a high explosive bomb when operating a turntable ladder while fighting fires during an enemy air raid at Southsea.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Police Constable

Metropolitan Police

Died 17 March 1941, aged 47

Died from injuries received on 15th March from a bomb explosion while on duty with WRC Craydon during an enemy air raid at Rotherhithe.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Police Sergeant

Metropolitan Police

Died 19 March 1941, aged 36

Fatally injured by the explosion of a bomb whilst on duty during an enemy air raid at West Ham.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Police Constable

Liverpool City Police

Died 29 March 1941, aged 25

Having entered a burning house with a colleague and rescued two members of a family trapped inside, he reached a woman and two children but perished in the flames with the two children in his arms.

Gerald Edward Holman Rice

Special Reserve Constable

Royal Marine Police Special Reserve

Died 23 April 1941, aged 51

Killed during an enemy air raid at H.M. Dockyard, Plymouth.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Constable

Royal Marine Police

Died 24 April 1941, aged 41

Killed during an enemy air raid at H.M. Dockyard, Plymouth.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Sub-Divisional Inspector

Metropolitan Police

Died 31 May 1941, aged 41

Died from the effects of wounds received on 11 May when extinguishing an explosive incendiary bomb while on duty during an enemy air raid at Ilford.

Posthumously Commended by HM the King for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence

Police Constable

Anglesey Constabulary

Died 28 August 1941, aged 29

Drowned, along with ten other would-be rescuers, while making several attempts to rescue the three crew of an RAF bomber aircraft, which had crashed during a gale into the sea off Rhosneigr; he was in the second of four boats to put out, all of which capsized in the stormy seas.

Posthumously awarded the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Constable

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Died 5 April 1942, aged 49

After his mobile patrol was fired on by IRA gunmen in the Falls Road area of Belfast, he pursued the offenders into a house in an attempt to arrest them but he was shot and fatally wounded.

Posthumous awarded the King's Police and Fire Services Medal for Gallantry

Police Sergeant

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary

Died 22 May 1951, aged 44

Following reports of an armed man roaming the Dumfries streets in the early hours, the sergeant, in a car with two colleagues, made a search of the area; as he drew up alongside a man loitering on a corner, the suspect produced a shotgun and, without warning, shot him in the head and killed him.

Posthumously awarded the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Police Constable

City of Glasgow Police

Died 4 September 1952, aged 31

Shot in the chest and fatally wounded when, with a colleague who was also shot, he approached a man wanted for questioning about a bank theft, who was armed and suddenly opened fire.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Police Constable

Metropolitan Police

Died 2 November 1952, aged 42

Shot in the head and killed, as he stepped onto the roof of a building in Croydon, to assist colleagues who had already been fired upon and one wounded, by an armed suspect they had cornered on the rooftop.

Posthumously awarded the King's Police and Fire Services Medal for Gallantry

Temporary Police Sergeant

Metropolitan Police

Died 31 August 1956, aged 24

While serving with the British Police Unit in Cyprus, he was guarding a prisoner in Nicosia Hospital when terrorist gunmen opened fire, although mortally wounded he returned fire, saving a colleague's life, before he died.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Detective Inspector

Blackburn Borough Police

Died 13 December 1958, aged 47

Knowing a woman had already been shot dead and a police officer wounded by a man armed with a shotgun he attempted to persuade him to surrender and was himself shot and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Police Sergeant

Metropolitan Police

Died 3 June 1961, aged 48

A suspect, being detained at West Ham Police Station, suddenly produced a pistol, threatened officers and escaped into the street; while pursuing and attempting to arrest him the officer was shot and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Inspector

Metropolitan Police

Died 3 June 1961, aged 40

A suspect being detained at West Ham Police Station suddenly produced a pistol and escaped into the street; he had already shot two officers when the Inspector stopped his car to intercept him and was shot dead.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Police Constable

Cumberland, Westmorland & Carlisle Constabulary

Died 10 February 1965, aged 35

Shot and fatally wounded when, unarmed and knowing police officers had already been fired on, he confronted an armed suspect and called upon him to surrender at Oxenholme Railway Station, Kendal.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Detective Sergeant

Wolverhampton Borough Police

Died 20 August 1965, aged 40

Recognised a man as a Borstal absconder and, knowing he had previously stabbed a police officer, he attempted to detain him but was stabbed three times in the chest and heart and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Acting Detective Constable

City of Glasgow Police

Died 30 December 1969, aged 31

Shot in the head and killed and two other officers shot, one fatally, as they tried to disarm a man who pulled a gun and started shooting while they searched a house in which proceeds of a robbery had been found.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Police Constable

City of Glasgow Police

Died 4 January 1970, aged 24

Shot in the head and fatally wounded on 30 December 1969 and two other officers shot, one fatally, as they tried to disarm a man who started shooting as they searched a house in which proceeds of a robbery were found.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Inspector

West Yorkshire Constabulary

Died 15 February 1970, aged 30

Shot and fatally wounded when he chased and confronted a suspect armed with a sawn-off shotgun during a night-time robbery, where the night watchman had already been killed, at a factory in Pudsey.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Detective Constable

Thames Valley Constabulary

Died 23 July 1971, aged 28

Shot nine times when attempting to arrest two armed suspects he had stopped on 27 June at Reading and subsequently died from his injuries.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Superintendent

Lancashire Constabulary

Died 23 August 1971, aged 38

Shot and fatally wounded at Blackpool when, unarmed and knowing two officers had already been shot, he pursued a gang of armed robbers and, despite being threatened with a pistol, attempted to arrest one of them.

Posthumously awarded the George Cross for Gallantry

Constable

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Died 26 June 1972, aged 22

While on duty at a security barrier in Newry town centre, County Down, the officer was informed of suspected terrorist bombers nearby, when attempting to arrest one of the three suspects he was shot and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Police Constable

Warwickshire and Coventry Constabulary

Died 22 July 1972, aged 21

Responded to an alarm at a gun shop at Coventry in the early hours and entered through a smashed window where he confronted a man with a shotgun who shot and killed him, a sergeant was also shot.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Constable

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Died 21 October 1972, aged 32

Died from gunshot wounds received late on the night of 17 October when he was shot while detaining four suspects stopped in a stolen car in Belfast.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Constable

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Died 27 February 1973, aged 25

Shot dead and his colleague fatally wounded during a gun battle with several terrorists who ambushed them as they checked a suspicious car in County Antrim.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Auxiliary Constable

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Died 25 March 1973, aged 44

Died from gunshot wounds received on 27 February when his colleague was shot dead during a gun battle with several terrorists who ambushed them as they checked a suspicious car in County Antrim.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Michael Anthony Whiting

Police Constable

Metropolitan Police

Died 5 May 1973, aged 21

After following a suspect car in the early hours, he approached the driver as it stopped at traffic lights; the car then drove away with him clinging to the side until it crashed in Oxford Street and he received fatal head injuries.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Police Constable

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary

Died 21 December 1973, aged 44

The officer had stopped a suspect vehicle he had pursued at Torquay and was attempting to arrest the driver who was armed with a pistol when he was shot three times at point blank range and left to die.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Inspector

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Died 6 September 1974, aged 48

Shot dead during an exchange of fire while attempting to arrest four armed terrorists who were robbing a bank in Rathcoole, Co. Antrim.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Police Constable

Metropolitan Police

Died 26 February 1975, aged 21

Whilst off duty he saw colleagues chasing a man in Hammersmith and went to assist; he overtook them on his motorcycle and confronted the suspect, an armed terrorist, who shot him twice in the chest and fatally wounded him.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry

Constable

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Died 26 July 1975, aged 25

While investigating a report of men acting suspiciously near the post office in Dungiven, County Londonderry, he and a colleague were ambushed by terrorist gunmen and he was shot and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct

Explosives Officer

Metropolitan Police

Died 29 August 1975, aged 40

On the third night of a terrorist bombing campaign he was called to a suspected bomb planted in Kensington; he was investigating the device, in an attempt to defuse it, when it exploded and he was killed instantly.

Posthumously awarded the George Cross for Gallantry

William David Brown

Constable

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Died 13 March 1977, aged 18

Fatally shot when his mobile patrol was ambushed by terrorist gunmen near Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal

Police Constable

Metropolitan Police

Died 25 October 1980, aged 31

While on plain-clothes duty he was stabbed in the heart by a suspect he was questioning in a chemist's shop at Waterloo and, despite being fatally wounded, attempted to arrest him before he collapsed and died.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal

Police Sergeant

West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police

Died 12 March 1981, aged 31

Killed when he was repeatedly stabbed by a suspected car thief he had stopped to question in the early hours at Odsal, Bradford and whom he had chased and was attempting to arrest.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Police Constable

Merseyside Police

Died 4 July 1981, aged 35

Having stopped a stolen car carrying two men in the early hours in Whitechapel, Liverpool he was attempting to arrest the driver when the car drove off dragging him along and he was fatally injured when it crashed.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Explosives Officer

Metropolitan Police

Died 26 October 1981, aged 49

During a terrorist bombing campaign, he was engaged in attempting to defuse a suspected explosive device in the basement toilet of a restaurant in Oxford Street, when it exploded and he was killed instantly.

Posthumously awarded the George Medal for Gallantry

Detective Constable

Durham Constabulary

Died 4 March 1982, aged 31

Shot and fatally wounded while chasing two armed men after shots had already been fired during a robbery at a factory pay office near Bishop Auckland.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

John Egerton

Police Constable

Greater Manchester Police

Died 11 March 1982, aged 20

Killed while attempting to arrest a thief whom he had caught in a factory yard at Farnworth in the middle of the night, in the ensuing struggle he was repeatedly stabbed including a fatal heart wound.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Constable

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Died 15 June 1984, aged 22

While forcing entry into a dwelling in Belfast during a planned search and arrest operation in the early hours, officers where fired on from inside the premises by terrorists with an automatic rifle and he was hit three times and killed.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal

Police Sergeant

West Yorkshire Police

Died 31 October 1984, aged 39

Shot through the neck and killed when he confronted a gunman as he went to assist a colleague who had just been shot and wounded while investigating two men acting suspiciously at Leeds.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Police Constable

Metropolitan Police

Died 6 October 1985, aged 40

While with colleagues protecting a fire crew, during large scale rioting on the Broadwater Farm Estate at Tottenham, he was surrounded by a large armed mob and was brutally beaten, hacked and stabbed to death.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal

Police Constable

Thames Valley Police

Died 19 August 1987, aged 41

Shot dead when approaching a beserk gunman who was shooting people at random at Hungerford; he was shot in the arm in his vehicle and as he made a radio call to warn colleagues he was shot three more times.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Police Constable

Hertfordshire Constabulary

Died 14 April 1988, aged 27

While off duty he intervened in an armed robbery on a security van at a bank in Hemel Hempstead, he identified himself and was arresting one robber when he was shot in the chest by a second and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal

Police Constable

West Midlands Police

Died 19 December 1988, aged 29

Responded to a bank robbery in progress at Coventry and although unarmed pursued two gunmen armed with sawn-off shotguns from the scene but as he caught up to them he was shot dead at close range.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Police Sergeant

Metropolitan Police

Died 29 November 1991, aged 41

While on patrol in the early hours at Walthamstow, he stopped to question a suspect, who had already killed twice; a violent struggle ensued during which he was repeatedly stabbed in the head and body and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery

Detective Constable

Metropolitan Police

Died 13 December 1991, aged 26

Although off duty late at night on 13 December, despite being threatened with a knife, he chased a handbag thief at Covent Garden and, when attempting to arrest him, was stabbed in the heart and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal

Special Constable

North Yorkshire Police

Died 7 June 1992, aged 37

While on mobile patrol with a regular officer, they were questioning two men in a car in the early hours near Tadcaster when, without warning, both officers were shot and he was fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Police Sergeant

Northumbria Police

Died 21 March 1993, aged 34

While investigating a broken window on a housing estate at Gateshead late at night he was attacked by a man and a youth beaten with staves and repeatedly stabbed in the chest and died soon after.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery

Police Sergeant

Metropolitan Police

Died 9 February 1994, aged 39

Attended a call to an armed robbery at a sub-post office in New Addington where he confronted a suspect armed with a knife and, despite threats, he attempted to arrest him, when he was repeatedly and fatally stabbed.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal

Police Constable

Strathclyde Police

Died 17 June 1994, aged 28

Fatally wounded when he was stabbed in the chest after he had gone to the assistance of other officers attempting to arrest a mentally deranged man armed with a knife in the Gorbals area of Glasgow.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery

Detective Constable

Greater Manchester Police

Died 14 January 2003, aged 40

While engaged with other officers in an anti-terrorist operation at premises in North Manchester, one of three suspects who had been detained at the premises suddenly broke free and attacked the officers with a large knife, injuring several of them; although unarmed and without protection, Constable Oake went to assist his colleagues and during a violent struggle to prevent the offender's escape he was repeatedly stabbed in the chest and fatally wounded and died soon afterwards.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal

Detective Constable

West Midlands Police

Died 21 May 2004, aged 44

The unarmed detective responded to assist other officers trying to detain a deranged man making threats with a knife in the Nechells area of Birmingham, he chased the man along a narrow canal path and as he attempted to arrest the suspect, he was stabbed in the heart and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal

Police Constable

West Mercia Constabulary

Died 6 May 2007, aged 43

After unarmed officers, attending an early morning disturbance at a house in Shrewsbury, were held at gunpoint, PC Gray arrived at the scene with an armed response unit; the officers found their colleagues being held in an alleyway at the side of the house, PC Gray placed himself between the gunman and the two unarmed officers and confronted the gunman and was ordering him to put the gun down when he was shot in the head with a rifle and fatally wounded.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery

Details of all the Sovereign's Honours and Awards are published by Authority in The London Gazette, the official newspaper of record in the United Kingdom (There are also Belfast and Edinburgh editions). Many, but not all, of the records contain citations outlining the circumstances leading to the award. If other officers received different awards, these may appear in a different location, or edition, and the higher awards only may attract a full citation.

All editions of the Gazette may be search online via their own website; the dates shown on the Roll are the actual award date, as awards are often published in Supplements to the Gazette, you may need to search dates up to a week prior to this.