Description
1911 Coronation Medal, County and Borough Police Reverse, impressed “Sergt. W. H. Seymour”, Inspector William Howard Seymour was a long serving Policeman and former Army Veteran in Middlesbrough.
These medals were mostly issued unnamed but are rarely found named, this one has been impressed neatly on the edge reading “SERGt W. H. SEYMOUR”.
The medal it self has seen very little wear, issued about 1911, by 1914 he had risen to the rank of Inspector and was well loved by the people of Middlesbrough, he however died at the young age of 51 during 1918.
His early death in the Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 30th December 1918:
“DEATH OF INSPECTOR SEYMOUR
After a long and painful illness, borne with great fortitude, Inspector William Howard Seymour, of the Middlesborough Constabulary, died on Saturday last.
The deceased was a highly respected member of his police force. He was of a very cheery disposition, and will be greatly missed by his comrades as well as by many citizens of the town to whom he was well known and by whom he was much esteemed.”
William Henry Seymour was born circa 1867 in St Hilda’s, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.
As a young man he attested for service with the Royal Artillery on 2nd June 1885 at the age of 19, having previously served with the 1st Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers.
He saw the following service:
Home, 30th May 1885- 21st Oct 1886
Malta, 22nd Oct 1886 – 26th Oct 1889
India, 27th Oct 1889 – 25th January 1893
Home, 26th January – 29th May 1897.
Transferred to the Army Reserve holding the rank of Corporal on 29th May 1897.
1901 Census shows him as a Police Constable, so seems to have been allowed to not be recalled for service in the Boer War.
1911 Census, shows Police Sergeant Seymour living at 21 Park Street, Middlesborough, Yorkshire.
Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough 8th June 1914 records his promotion to Inspector:
“Inspector Hird, of the Middlesbrough Police Forces has retired on his pension of £97 8s, and Police Sergeant W. H. Seymour has been promoted to fill the vacancy as Inspector.”
As a former NCO in the Army, he naturally took on the role of local Drill Instructor with the Middlesbrough Civil Guard, along side his full time job as an Inspector, in 1915 he was honoured with a cheque by the Mayor for his instruction services of the Special Constables during WW1.
“A gathering of probably 500 members of the Middlesbrough Civil Guard assembled at the Town Hall last night, when in the form of a presentation of cheques of varying amounts, expression was given to the high appreciation of the members of the Civil Guard and Watch Committee for the services rendered by those gentlemen who in the earlier days of the war instructed the Special Constables in the mysteries of squad and company drill.
Various Police Officers who had worked ungrudgingly of the ivil Guard also had their services recognised, and the enthusiasm with which each of the recipients was greeted as he appeared on the platform would doubtless, in their eyes, considerable enhance the value of the gifts, which had been subscribed by the special constables supplemented by a grant from the Watch Committee……
…Cheques of varying amounts were awarded to the three drill instructors, Inspector Wm H. Seymour….”
