The first Southampton Dock Company Constable, Mr William Cooper, a long time Town Sergeant, was sworn in 1840 and the second, Mr Thomas Johnson, followed on his heels in 1841. Both Constables were supplied by the Watch Committee in response to requests from the Southampton Dock Company who paid for the wages and uniforms of the two Policemen to perform duties at the Dock for the Company.
These first Constables of the Southampton Dock Company Police were sworn as Constables of the Borough but those joining the Force in later years were sworn as Special Constables under Section 79 of the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847. Under the 1847 Act, in addition to their responsibilities at the Dock, if called upon, they were to assist the Southampton Police anywhere within one mile of the Dock. In 1846, shortly before the Act was assented to, Mr Cooper, by then the Senior Town Sergeant, passed away. It was about this time that Mr Richard Major took up his duties with the Dock Police as a Constable, possibly filling the void left behind by Constable Cooper's death.
Although the Borough Police and the Dock Police were separated by very little distance, an effective working relationship was yet to be developed between the two Forces by 1847. This was especially apparent when PC Johnson apprehended two individuals for the theft of scrap iron, the property of the Royal West India Mail Steam Packet Company, and lodged them at the Borough Police Station. When the day of their court appearance arrived, the prisoners failed to appear as PC Johnson conceived it was the duty of the Borough Police to deliver the prisoners from the Station to the Court but the latter thought otherwise. The prisoners remained in the cell at the Station until a decision could be made on the matter.
The reliance on the Borough Police Station by the Dock Police for such matters continued throughout the existence of the Dock Police. PC Johnson had only a watch box at the Dock which was suitable for performing searches of those in custody but not for housing them. There were Dock Police Offices eventually but, even in 1890, when half a dozen protestors were taken into custody they were lodged at the Dock Police Offices only until they could be removed to the Bargate Police Station of the Borough Police.
Throughout their history the Southampton Dock Company Police Officers dealt with a multitude of offences and tragic circumstances including trespass, theft, suicide, assault, drowning and stowaways. With a spate of robberies having been committed in the Dock, Inspector Joseph Shackell, an experienced Detective Inspector of the Metropolitan Police was appointed to head the Southampton Dock Company Police in July of 1851, ushering in a new era for the Force. Superintendent Shackell had served with the Metropolitan Police for twenty years before retiring with a good service pension in November of 1848 as an Inspector of the 'A' Division. After retiring from the Metropolitan Police he became one of the turnkeys of Giltspur Street Compter, a small prison mainly used to hold debtors. He was also one of nine candidates for Superintendent of the Slough Lockup House just prior to taking up his appointment as Superintendent of the Southampton Dock Police.
Helmet Plate (Courtesy Dave Wilkinson)
The position of Superintendent of the Dock Police at Southampton became a career stepping stone for Superintendent Shackell as, in May of 1854, he was one of thirty applicants, and subsequently, one of three selected to attend personally before the Watch Committee, for the position of Chief Constable of the Shrewsbury Borough Police. The Shrewsbury Watch Committee had determined to put that Force under the management of a thoroughly practical and experienced Officer at a higher salary than had hitherto been paid. Superintendent Shackell was successful and was appointed Chief Constable taking office on 24 March 1854 at a salary of £100 per annum plus £5 for clothing. Mr Shackell was not long in the post of Chief Constable either, resigning his situation at Shrewsbury on 22 February 1856.
In consequence of Superintendent Shackell's departure from the Southampton Dock Company Police for greener pastures, Mr Thomas Bicknell was appointed as Superintendent. Mr Bicknell, also a former Officer of the Metropolitan Police, had retired as Superintendent of the 'V' Division. Inspector Bicknell was the Superintendent of the Dock Police until his death in 1857.
By 1854, Mr Henry Fellows was one of two Sergeants in the Southampton Dock Company Police under Inspector Bicknell, the other being Sergeant Jukes, who joined the Dock Police as a Constable shortly before Superintendent Shackell and was promoted Sergeant in 1853 or 1854. Of the pair, it was Mr Fellows who was made Superintendent of the Southampton Dock Company Police, with the rank of Inspector, in January of 1872 at a salary of £100 per year. The lack of public mention of an Inspector or Superintendent for the Dock Police in the intervening years after the death of Inspector Bicknell suggests a new Superintendent had not been appointed previously. In addition to Sergeant Fellows being made Inspector, Constable Coffin was promoted Sergeant in room of Sergeant Fellows' promotion and the other Constables received an increase in pay. Superintendent Fellows' time with the Southampton Dock Company Police was prematurely ended, not due to personal ambition, but to an accidental fall from the railway platform at Basingstoke on 13 October 1877 on his way home with his family from Waterloo to Southampton. The injuries he sustained caused his death two days later, aged 54. The attendance and extent of his funeral bore witness to how well he had performed his duties and his positive effect on those around him in Southampton. Two Sergeants and eight Constables of the Dock Police were pall bearers and carried the remains of their late Chief to their final resting place.
In the wake of the tragic loss of Inspector Fellows the position of Superintendent was again vacant, this time until an Officer of the Southampton Borough Police, Sergeant Henry Rowthorn, was selected for the appointment by the Company Directors. Mr Rowthorn joined the Southampton Borough Police in 1867 and gradually made his way to promotion, being a highly respected Officer and one who, whilst scrupulously doing his duty, was ever desirous of showing the most kindly consideration to others. Sergeant Rowthorn, now having been with the Southampton Borough Police for nearly twelve years held the position of day Station-Sergeant with the Borough Police when he became the successful candidate for the appointment as Superintendent of the Southampton Dock Company Police.
During the tenure of Superintendent Rowthorn, June of 1878 marked a change in the outward appearance of the Southampton Dock Company Police, with the Force making their first appearance in a new uniform. Instead of the old-fashioned helmet they wore the new style as well as shorter coats than the old ones, with white metal buttons. It was remarked they presented quite a smart appearance. Uniform change also came about in the summer of 1891, this time following the lead of the Borough Police who discarded the helmet for the summer and took to wearing caps. The Dock Police also had new head gear for summer but of a curious shape that was apparently of slightly more utility than the caps of the Borough Policemen — but it could not be described as a cap — yet it was not as heavy and hot as were the helmets.
The London and South Western Railway Years
Southampton Dock Company Police, 1894
Southampton Dock Company Police, 1894
Southampton Dock Company Police, 1894
There was a long standing relationship between the Southampton Dock Company Police and the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) Company's Police. The members of both inaugurated an annual dinner in March of 1876 and several of the LSWR Company's Police attended the funeral of Inspector Fellows in 1877, walking in procession in front of the hearse. By 1891, and for some time past, negotiations had been proceeding between the Directors of the Southampton Dock Company and the London and South Western Railway for the Railway to purchase the Dock. The purchase was completed and the London and South Western Railway Company took on the Docks in 1892, bringing an end to the Southampton Dock Company Police but not an end to their history.
At the start of the day on 2nd November 1892, Inspector Rowthorn and a number of the members of the Southampton Dock Police Force were sworn in as servants of the London and South Western Railway Company, with the remaining members sworn in later in the day. Although now part of the London and South Western Railway, the Southampton Dock Company Police continued to operate as a Force separate from that of the Police of the Railway. Mr Rowthorn was retained as Superintendent of the Southampton Dock Company Police under the LSWR Railway, serving a total of twenty-two years with the Dock Police before his untimely death in 1899, at the age of 54 — coincidentally, the same age as Superintendent Fellows at the time of his tragic accident. Mr Rowthorn had fallen ill after his exertions in the recovery of bodies from the shipwreck of the SS Stella on 30 March 1899. The best known Police Officer in the Southern District, his funeral was attended by hundreds of mourners.
Mr James William Holmes was appointed Superintendent of the Southampton Dock Company Police on 9th November 1899, a few months after the untimely passing of Superintendent Rowthorn. Mr Holmes entered the service of the London and South Western Railway Company on 4th May 1876 and rose to the rank of Detective Sergeant. He was an energetic Officer and soon became well known in his capacity as Superintendent. Superintendent Holmes retired on pension in 1919 and was succeeded by Inspector W B Brown, who was promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector and head of the Southampton Dock Company Police. Other changes at that time within the Southampton Dock Company Police were the appointment of Sergeant West as Detective Sergeant and the transfers to Portsmouth of Chief Sergeant Jurd as Inspector and Detective Collins as Detective Sergeant. The strength of the Force was then thirty-nine — comprised of one Inspector, one clerk, one Detective Sergeant, three Detectives, four uniform Sergeants and twenty-nine Constables.
Mr W B Brown began his service with the London and South Western Railway Police Force in 1903. Stationed first at Waterloo, he was later moved to Southampton. For the four and one-half years prior to becoming Superintendent he was in charge of the LSWR Police at the Bournemouth Central Station.
PC 'Jack' (@HistoricalSoton)
An unexpected member of the Force, Constable 'Jack', entered the service of the Southampton Dock Company Police not long after the appointment of Inspector Holmes as Superintendent. The faithful dog had been left behind when his owner left for South Africa on a troopship in 1900. The Dock Police adopted 'Jack' and he accompanied them on their rounds, thereby becoming a well-known member of the Force. In December of 1900, he was injured whilst in the execution of his duty, which was to hunt down and kill rats. It was while on this special duty that he sustained injuries to his legs. Two other members of the Dock Police, who were also members of the St Johns Ambulance, rendered first aid and 'Jack' then progressed favourably. When not on duty he spent his time barking at the returning troopships, awaiting the return of his owner.
In 1920, the whole of the London and South Western Railway Company's Police Force was thoroughly reorganised. The Southampton Dock Company Police were fully absorbed into the Police of the Railway, being made part of the Southampton Division. The Division, whose headquarters were at the Southampton Dock Company, included the whole of the Railway line down to Portsmouth and up to Winchester, all on that side of Salisbury and through Bournemouth down to Weymouth. Chief Inspector W B Brown was appointed head of the Division. The strength of the Southampton Division was augmented to eighty-three men, consisting of one Chief Inspector, four Inspectors (two uniform and two Detective), seven Sergeants and seventy-one Constables — quite a progression from the Force's humble beginnings.
Sources
- Southampton Docks Police, Birth of a Division by David Caplehorn
- Morning Chronicle, 08 March 1849 *
- Bucks Herald, 03 May 1851 *
- Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 19 July 1851 *
- Shrewsbury Chronicle, 12 May 1854, 16 May 1856 *
- Hampshire Advertiser, 02 May 1846 , 05 December 1846, 16 October 1847, 04 October 1851, 04 November 1854, 24 November 1855, 26 April 1856, 28 February 1857, 12 January 1870, 03 February 1872, 28 December 1872, 11 March 1876, 20 October 1877, 06 February 1878, 12 June 1878, 05 November 1892, 04 November 1899, 09 June 1900, 22 December 1900, 22 May 1915, 04 January 1919, 24 May 1919 *
- Hampshire Independent, 12 July 1851, 17 October 1877, 24 May 1919, 14 June 1919, 16 September 1921 *
- London Evening Standard, 24 April 1856 *
- Huddersfield Daily Chronicle, 20 October 1877 *
- Southampton Observer and Hampshire News, 13 September 1890 *
- Morning Post, 01 May 1891 *
- Southern Echo, 19 August 1891 *
- Lakes Chronicle and Reporter, 20 September 1899 *
- * The British Newspaper Archive
