PC Walter James Nicholls
This photograph is from 1939 and shows the Traffic Patrol fleet of the East Sussex Constabulary, with MG 1 1⁄2 litre cars and two BSA 750cc motorcycles. The MG Car Company issued a notice to prospective customers in 1939 offering the MG 1 1⁄2 litre "Police Model" at £347 10s 0d.
The officers shown are, left to right: PCs W Marshall, J Philpott, M Rouse, J Francis, R Walker, J Osborne, Sgt E Bristow, PCs J Harman, W Nicholls and H Howe.
The picture was taken at the south end of The Broyle, Ringmer, with Broyleside Cottages in the background. The speedometers of traffic vehicles had to be checked regularly for accuracy and this was done for many years over a measured mile on The Broyle, the Sergeant using a stopwatch to check the speed.
The officer second from right in the photograph is the late Constable Walter James Nicholls who, Derek Oakensen informs us, was fatally injured while on motorcycle patrol when he was in collision with an oncoming car.PC Nicholls was tragically killed as a result of injuries received when his motorcycle was involved in a road traffic accident in Lewes Road, Ringmer, on January 12 1939. He was 24 years old.
PC Nicholls was tragically killed as a result of injuries received when his motorcycle was involved in a road traffic accident in Lewes Road, Ringmer, on January 12 1939. He was 24 years old.
Funeral of the late Constable Walter James Nicholls, 1939
Funeral of the late Constable Walter James Nicholls, 1939
Funeral of the late Constable Walter James Nicholls, 1939
These officers in mourning for Walter are likely to be his colleagues from the motor patrol section, featured in the first photograph
These officers in mourning for Walter are likely to be his colleagues from the motor patrol section, featured in the first photograph
These officers in mourning for Walter are likely to be his colleagues from the motor patrol section, featured in the first photograph
PC Walter Malcolm Edward Von Der Hyde
Malcolm Edward Von der Hyde (though local newspapers sometimes refer to him as Vonder-Hyde and Vonderhyde). For reasons that no-one seems to understand, the East Sussex Constabulary only recorded one forename in its personnel records, from its inception in 1840 and at least till the late 1930s. Malcom Von der Hyde joined East Sussex on 5 November 1929. The fact that he's wearing the KC round style cap badge shows that the picture below is, at the earliest, 1936. He was a noted footballer, cricketer, runner and tennis player. He was posted to Rye in the early part of his police service but was transferred to Hailsham in the late 1930s and stayed there until at least 1948. (Submitted by Derek Oakensen)
East Sussex Constabulary PC Malcolm Edward Von der Hyde
East Sussex Constabulary PC Malcolm Edward Von der Hyde
East Sussex Constabulary PC Malcolm Edward Von der Hyde
