Description
Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, General Medal, Bronze, Police Constable Albert Edward Barnett, for stopping a runaway horse attached to a float during a parade in 1905.
Officially engraved: “TO PC 230a ALBERT Ed BARNETT for stopping a runaway horse attached to a Float 18/11/05.”
Fitted with original ribbon and bronze pronged brooch pin for wear.
With copy extract:
“Extract from the 67th Annual Report, Page 37, Committee Meeting December 1905, under the heading ‘Record of the rescues for which medals and other honorary awards were voted during the year ending July 1st 1906’
A Bronze Medal and Vote of Thanks for Police Constable 230 A, Albert Edward Barnett, for stopping a runaway horse attached to a float in Prince’s Parade, on 18th November 1905.”
His skill with horses is not so surprising, having served 12 years in the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards, joining the Police after he went to the Army Reserves.
THE WATER STREET TRAGEDY.
The Liverpool Mercury, 12th December 1896, recalls a lengthy court case and article referred to as “The Water Street Tragedy” “The charge against Miss Catherine Kempshall for having on the 29th October last, wilfully murdered Mr Edgar Swinton Holland, aged 49, a Liverpool Merchant, by shooting him with a revolver in his office in Drury-Buildings, Liverpool…”
The Article recalls: “Police Constable Albert Barnett (230A) said he was called to Drury Buildings on the afternoon of the 29th October, and in Mr Holland’s Room he found the prisoner with the dagger produced in her hands. He arrested and subsequently charged Miss Kempshall with having attempted to murder Mr Holland and she replied ‘It may be used against me, I had better reserve what I have to say.”
Albert Edward Barnett was born in Acton, Staffordshire, on 12th February 1862.
Son of Farm Labourer John Burnett.
After his 20th Birthday, he signed up for the Army, doing 12 years with the 1st Royal Dragoons.
He enlisted on 29th August 1884.
Transferred to Army Reserve on 27th August 1891.
Around this time he signed up with the Liverpool Police and married.
He married aged 29, working as a Police Constable to Alison Borthwick Dick (Aged 20, Daughter of Constable James Dick) at Edge Hill, St Nathaniel, Liverpool.
Discharged from Army Reserve, 26th August 1896.
Lived in 18 Royston Street, West Derby with his wife and family during 1901 and 1901, listed as a Police Constable.
By 1939, he was still going now a Widowed “Retired Police Pensioner”, living with his son at Boswell Street in Liverpool.
He died in Liverpool during 1945.
The following notice was put in the Liverpool Echo, 13th March 1945:
“DEATHS – BARNETT – March 11th, aged 82 years, Albert Edward Barnett, beloved husband of the late Alison Barnett, Funeral at Smithdown Road Cemetery tomorrow at 2.30pm.”
