Hertfordshire Constabulary

Lieutenant Colonel H. Smith Daniell, Chief Constable of the county of Hertford, was born in 1839 and educated at Elstree and Rugby. He received his first commission in the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry in 1856, before he was 18 years of age.

Having previously passed his drill in the Riding School of the 1st Life Guards, he was, on arrival in India, at once despatched in charge of a draft to join his regiment, then forming part of the Persian Expeditionary Field Force. He took part in the action at Baroda (where he was wounded), relief of Sagar, siege and capture of Jhansi, battles of Koonch and Goolowli, capture of Calpee and Gwalior, and battle of Jowra Alipoor. On the return of the regiment to the Bombay Presidency in 1860 Lieutenant Daniell was appointed Adjutant and Acting Second in Command of Gujarat Irregular Horse which included the position of Assistant-Superintendent of the Khandeish Police, and from this date he served continuously in the District Police of Bombay.

Early in 1880 Major Daniell returned to England on leave, and in October of the same year was elected Chief Constable of Hertford, and retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1887 Colonel Daniell was selected by her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department to organise and command the Special Constables of the Metropolitan, sworn in for the purpose of assisting the Police in the suppression of what were known as the Trafalgar square disturbances in November of that year. Lieutenant Colonel H. Smith Daniell was the Chief Constable of Hertfordshire from 1880 to 1911.

Opening of Rickmansworth Police Station