Mr. Thomas Wilkinson, Deputy Chief Constable of the County of Durham, was born at Haughton-le-Skerne, on the 28th of May, 1862, and commenced life as a gardener. He joined the Durham County Constabulary on the 1st of December, 1870, and was stationed at West Hartlepool till April, 1871, when he was first placed into the Chief Constable's office at Durham; but, preferring a more active life, was afterwards moved, at his request, to Sunderland Bridge in the following year.

In December, 1873, he was transferred to Framwellgate Moor, and Shincliffe in December, 1874; and on 1st May, 1876, was promoted to Sergeant, removed to New Durham, and placed in charge of that section. In January, 1878, he was again moved into the Chief Constable's Office, Durham, and placed in charge of the Clerks there. In June, 1879, he was awarded by Col. White, Chief Constable, with the "Merit" badge.

This office Mr. Wilkinson held till August, 1882, when he was made an Inspector, still retaining his position at Headquarters, which he continued to hold till May 1st, 1889. During the last three years of his Inspectorship, he undertook, during the continued illness and indisposition of the then Deputy Chief Constable, the responsibility of both offices, and performed his duties in such a satisfactory manner that on May 1st, 1889, he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent, and given charge of one of the most important mining centre's in the county, viz., Houghton-le-Spring Division.

Houghton Division is divided into three Petty Sessional Districts - that of Houghton, Seaham, and Sunderland (County) - and has seven Police Stations and 57 Officers, with an area of 34,000 acres, and a population of 80,000.

On July 1st, 1893, he had the honour conferred upon him by the present Chief Constable, Col. Eden, of Deputy Chief Constable of the County of Durham. (Police Review and Parade Gossip, 27 December 1895)

Mr. William George Morant joined the Edinburgh City Police in early 1882, under the able command of Captain Henderson. There he spent three and a half years acquiring a thorough knowledge of Police work.

Leaving Edinburgh he joined the Metropolitan Police Force, in which he served over four and a half years before joining the Reading Borough Police Force and later Reigate Borough police where he was appointed Chief Constable. Mr Morant was Chief Constable of Reigate from 1891 to 1894, South Shields (1894 to 1902) and Durham County (1902 to 1922). In addition to Police duties, Mr. Morant has had experience in Fire Brigade work, and has also passed the examination conducted by the Board of Trade under the Weights and Measures Act, 1889. (Police Review and Parade Gossip, 3 August 1894)

Above: CC William George Morant, Durham County Constabulary 1902-1922, wearing his medals in the photograph and his medal group at base. Medals are OBE (1.1.1920), Order of St John of Jerusalem (Officers breast badge), King’s Police Medal (29.12.1921), Queen Victoria 1887 Jubilee Medal (Metropolitan Police PC 'A' Division), George V 1911 Coronation Medal (County & Borough) CC Durham CC, Order of Leopold II (King of the Begians) Chevalier (awarded for work with the Belgians at Elizabethville near Birtley in WW1)

Felling Divisional Office in 1917 on the award of the Military Cross to Lt John Gibson Gargate

Seated: unknown, CC's wife, Chief Constable William Morant, Nanny Gargate (Wife of Albert and mother of John Gibson Gargate)

Standing: Insp ?, Insp ?, Gargate MC (PC1002, retired as a C/Supt), Insp ?, Supt Albert Gargate (JG Gargate's father)

Above: Two West Hartlepool Policemen standing in Swainson Street, c1870. The building to the right of them was demolished to make way for the Grand Hotel. (Submitted by Roger Codner/John Grainger)

Above: Bombardment of the Hartlepools, 1914. Hartlepool Borough Police PC 696, centre. Two of the twelve inch and two six inch German shells which fell near Seaton Carew. The twelve inch shells stand two feet eight inches high and form conclusive proof of the class of ship that bombarded the coast. (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)

Above: West Hartlepool Division, c1930's (Submitted by Roger Codner/John Grainger)

Below: West Hartlepool Division Special Constables, 1943 (Submitted by Roger Codner/John Grainger)