Memories of Douglas Number 5

METROPOLITAN POLICE

My late husband Douglas was in The Palestine Police and returned to the UK in early 1948 when the British pulled out.

In October 1948 aged 20 he joined The Metropolitan Police in London and was based at West End Central Police Station. He worked in the Soho area.

He lived in Trenchard House which was accommodation for single policemen - called a Section House. The rooms were basic - bed, small wardrobe and chest of drawers. Food was provided, there was a well stocked library and excellent sports facilities. The actor David Tomlinson was a regular visitor - he enjoyed a game of squash with any off duty policeman who was interested.

Douglas often recounted the following incident. Early one Sunday morning he was on patrol - alone of course as they didn't go around in pairs then, He strolled into Burlington Arcade - all quiet as no shops were open on Sundays. He noticed a couple of men in a tailors shop - carrying suits etc. He assumed they were stocktaking. He popped his head round the door and said " Nice to see someone else has to work on a Sunday ". The surprising response he got was basically " It's a fair cop"....... they were in fact robbing the place and were now giving themselves up. After he got over the shock he wondered what to do next - he was alone, no radio - just a truncheon and a whistle. Surprisingly they willingly went quietly along with him to the nearest police phone box and waited till back up arrived.

I have a feeling that if this had happened today Douglas would have been shot, stabbed or beaten to a pulp.

Douglas was in The Metropolitan police for some years before transferring to Orpington in Kent. A quieter pace of life and more mundane policing - stray dogs, stray swans and dealing with travellers were regular tasks.

He left the police in 1960. The following appears on the certificate he got when he left :-

Age - 31
Height - 5'10"
Build - Heavy
Complexion - Ruddy
Hair - Dark
Shape of Nose - Straight
Peculiarities - Nil

Ever so pleased he had no " peculiarities".

My blip today shows his truncheon and a photograph taken at The Metropolitan Police Training School in Hendon on 22/1/1949. Douglas is in the middle row on the far left.