Inspector William Notley H Division

[Alan Baird]

Hello everyone,

I am new member to the forum and this is my first entry.

I have a Metropolitan Police Jubilee medal 1887 with the 97 bar, issued to PS W Notley, V Division and a 1902 Coronation medal issued to Inspector W Notley, J Division.

William Notley, warrant number 51558, joined 22/02/1869, pens. 4/03/1895.
Returned to duty for the 97 Jubilee and the 1902 Coronation.

Kemp's publication states that in 1887 he served with H Division as an Inspector so I believe he was promoted and transferred sometime between the end of June 1887 and the end of December 1887.

Old Bailey records on the 9/2/1891 and 26/6/1893 show him as an inspector with H Division, retired in 1895 as an Inspector with H Division.

My problem is I don't know how to open up and view the police orders, covering this period, at the National Archives website and obtain a reference number to copy such a document.

Can anybody help with any aspects of this officer's Metropolitan Police story.

Many thanks
Alan

[Howard Brown]

Welcome Alan !
While I can't help you with your request, I'm pretty sure someone else will be around to help you out.

[Robert Linford]

Calling Rob Clack and Monty. Alan, you could try PM-ing them if they don't see this thread.

[Alan Baird]

Inspector William Notley

Thanks for the welcome from Robert and Howard and this reply is also to check I am doing it properly [Don't know how to PM-ing.]

An interesting fact about Inspector William Notley, refers to the Old Bailey Records, relating to the wounding case against John Finklestein on the 9/2/1891 which states that Inspector Notley handed over to Inspector Walter Beck the revolver which was used to inflict the injuries in the case. This evidences the working relationship between the two men and I find it interesting because Walter Beck was obviously a famous police officer in the Ripper Murders.

regards,
Alan.

[Howard Brown]

Alan:
To send a private message :
Click on the person's name....their profile appears.
Then click on "send message" under their name ( look for 'send a private message' ).

[Robert Linford]

Hi Alan

To send someone a private message go to community/members list/click on the letter the name begins with, then on the name followed by 'contact info,' and you can send a PM to the person concerned.

William Ephraim Smith Notley was a constable in the 1871 census, living at Rochester Row police station. In 1881 he was a sergeant living in Kingston.

[Monty]

Welcome Alan,

How odd, I was at Kew yesterday looking through the order books.

They are quite volumous, around 3-5 inches thick, so having them copied may cost a bit.

They come under MEPO 7, and are as follows

MEPO 7/49 1887
MEPO 7/50 1888
MEPO 7/51 1889
MEPO 7/52 1890
MEPO 7/53 1891
MEPO 7/54 1892
MEPO 7/55 1893
MEPO 7/56 1894
MEPO 7/57 1895
MEPO 7/58 1896
MEPO 7/59 1897
MEPO 7/60 1898
MEPO 7/61 1899
MEPO 7/62 1900
MEPO 7/63 1901
MEPO 7/64 1902
MEPO 7/65 1903
MEPO 7/66 1904
MEPO 7/67 1905

These orders cover the span you mention, he will be in them if he received a reward, commendation, punishment, demotion and promotion, they are the main categories for individual mentions in the PO's.

I'm afraid its a case of going to Kew and trawling through these ledgers yourself, a laborious task, however......I've good news.

The Metropolitan Police Heritage Centre also hold copies of all Police Orders for period you mention, for many many many years in fact. Also, they do searches on individuals.

You need to mail them your mans details, everything you have, here is their email address [email protected]

It may take a few weeks, howeer hey will comeback with all they hold on him, and advice on where to go next.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes
Neil/Monty

PS I've seen your PM and replied.

[Monty]

PPS,

If he returned in 1897 for the Jubilee, he was a Police Pensioner. When a Policeman retires he is asked if he is willing to undertake some duties as and when required. If so, his name is placed on a list, and he would be called during times of short staffing, or when lots of men are needed, such as parades.

Only constables with excellent records are asked this.

I note he came back for the 1902 Coronation. Now this may, I stress may, make him a very special copper, as he could have been a member of the mysterious O Division.

O Division only existed during Coronation, and not any other time. They were created once a monarch passes away and are made up entirely of ex coppers. They organised the nuts and bolts of policing the Coronation, with the powers that be, and executed them.

Then, once the Coronation was over, they were disbanded. They had their own helmet badges with 'O' upon them, and these would be destroyed once the whole thing was done, making them most rare for collectors.

So Notley may well have been a unique member of this division.

Monty

[Alan Baird]

Inspector William Notely

That is great information and many thanks.

William Notley, warrant number 51558, as we know retired on the 4/3/1895 from 'H' division as an Inspector.

Returned to duty on the 18/6/1897 as an Inspector with 'CO' division and was given the warrant number of 82341.

William Notley then again returned to duty on the 16/6/1902 as an Inspector with 'J' division and was given the warrant number of 1055.

Information reference from Kemp's Men and their Medals.

[Robert Linford]

This might give an idea of the value (if it wasn't you who bought them, Alan )

Lot 522

http://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/prices-realised/results.php?auction_id=320&layout=detailed&offset=480&limit=80

[Monty]

Your man was a Dorset Man Alan.

Monty

[Monty]

Middle name Ephraim Smith, and he was posted to B division Chelsea.

Monty

[Alan Baird]

Inspector William Notley

That is all great information many thanks.

I have the collar number of ''Policeman 371B'' which was William Notley's because he caught a burglar on the 19th of July in 1875 but the burglar, it would appear, never had time to steal anything and so at his trail was found not guilty.

thanks you,
Alan .

[Alan Baird]

Inspector William Notley

Just one point, I had never heard of the name ''Ephraim'' before and I found it a strange Victorian name. Anyway, it seems it comes from the Old Testament because Ephraim was the son of Joseph and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Interesting how fashions change.

bye,
Alan.