How do i find out when and where etc....

[yorkshirecath]

Hello

I believe from my dad that my Grandad used to be a policeman.
Problem is, that's as much as i know!

I know that in 1916 he was a driver(although dad says he couldnt drive!).
In 1919 he was a gas Maker.
1934 he worked in a brewery.
When he died in 1958 he had been working in the steel industry.
My guess is it's between 1919 and 1934 but is there anyway to find out when and where etc....

Thanks

[Geoffers]

I know that in 1916 he was a driver(although dad says he couldnt drive!).

Driving horses?

I believe from my dad that my Grandad used to be a policeman.
Problem is, that's as much as i know! My guess is it's between 1919 and 1934 but is there anyway to find out when and where etc.

As we don't have a national police force, you'd need to know where he lived so that you could either know in which force he served, or at least narrow the options to either a local Constabulary, British Transport Police, or one of the other smaller forces (e.g. Docks Police).

Do you know where he was living between those years? Did he have any children whose certificates you could obtain to confirm his occupation?

The surviving records are usually either with the local record office, or still with the relevant Police Force - the main exception is the Met where many records are now deposited with TNA.

[yorkshirecath]

He lived in Sheffield all his life.
he had 16 children in total so i could get them all but it might work out a bit pricey lol!

[Geoffers]

He lived in Sheffield all his life.
he had 16 children in total so i could get them all but it might work out a bit pricey lol!

No, don't bother - it was just in case you didn't know where he was living then. In your shoes I would assume that he was in the West Yorkshire force; whether their records will still be with the force or at West Yorkshire Archives will need a phone call.

[arthurk]

It's not often I can put Geoffers right :D [please don't |jedi| me!], but I think Sheffield Archives would be the best place to look first.

If it was anything like Bradford and Leeds (other cities in the West Riding), Sheffield would have had its own police force until local government was reorganised in 1974, and I would think that at that point, if any records were being deposited, they would have gone to Sheffield Archives.

If, on the other hand, Sheffield was covered by the West Riding force, then the records probably would be at the West Yorkshire Archives Service, which has its HQ in Wakefiled.

Arthur

[yorkshirecath]

Thanks Geoffers and Arthur. I will get in touch with Sheffield tomorrow :)

[hughar]

There is of course the possibility that he was a Special Constable as well as following his normal occupation.

[scotcross]

Did you visit the archives, I ask as I am plqnning on going tomorrow in search of my gt grandad who was a police officer in 1880 and am hoping they hold the records.

[yorkshirecath]

Did you visit the archives, I ask as I am plqnning on going tomorrow in search of my gt grandad who was a police officer in 1880 and am hoping they hold the records.

I didn't, i just haven't had the time!
Hope your trip is successful!
xxx

[Neil Wilson]

Was he a 'policeman' or sorts during the war?

[yorkshirecath]

No one seems to know Neil. My Dad seems to think that during the war he had something to do with Barrage Balloons so it may well have been before that.

[scotcross]

Went to archives knowing may need to have permission to view these files and my own fault it wasn't maybe it was definitely, so will need to write off. If you do get chance to go visit please write before doing so to the Information Compliance Unit, South Yorkshire Police, Professional Standards Dept.Unit 20, Sheffield Business Park, Churchill Way, S35 2PX.
My visit was not wasted as I turned up more stuff on relative I was very interested in.