Description
Military Medal, GV, 1914-15 Star, 1935 Jubilee, Corporal later Police Inspector Arthur Charles Henry Jupe, Military Mounted Police, Portsmouth City Police, Very Rare one of the 1st of 99 MMs to unit.
Military Medal officially impressed: “P-837 L. Cpl. A.C.H. Jupe. M.M.P.”
1915 Star Trio all officially impressed: “P.837 L-Cpl A.C.H. Jupe. M.M.P.”
1935 Jubilee unnamed as issued.
All 4 medals are confirmed on the medal rolls, including the 1935 Jubilee which was earned during his long career as Inspector to the Portsmouth City Police, being presented personally to him by the Lord Mayor Frank John Privett at a Jubilee Luncheon.
Military Medal, award announced in the London Gazette on 27th October 1916.
This gazette detailing awards for the First Battle of the Somme between 1st July and 24th August 1916.
His MM Card notes that he was serving on attachment to the 6th Division, who were decimated in the Battle of the Somme causing the division to be withdrawn, strongly suggesting it to be for bravery during the Battle of the Somme during that time period.
The award of the Military Medal to the Military Mounted Police is very rare, with only 99 being awarded throughout the whole of World War 1.
Out of these examples, only 13 were awarded during 1916, the first year of the newly instituted Medal, making his medal the joint 11th Military Medal awarded to the MMP.
He was joined in the same gazette by 650 Sergt Charles Isaac, a fellow 6th Division man at the Battle of the Somme.
Arthur Charles Henry Jupe, was born on 19th September 1890 in Gosport, Hampshire.
The son Gosport local Charles Henry Jupe and Harriet (Sims), his middle names seeming to stem from his father.
His father was a Builder, and at first Arthur joined him in that profession after schooling before turning 18.
However the Military at first caught his interest, whilst he was a teenager he served with the 6th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, part of the Territorial Force.
Once he turned 18 he would sign on for full-time service being accepted into the exclusive Household Cavalry joining the 2nd Life Guards.
The Life Guards have a special rule as members of the ceremonial Household Cavalry, in that recruits must reach the, at the time gigantic, height of 6 foot tall, which even at 18 years old he passed being exactly 6 Foot Tall and weighing in at 161 Lbs.
Having signed up at Gosport on 11th January 1909, he was sent off to Windsor on 13th January 1909.
Having been assessed at Windsor, his papers contain the following note:
“RECRUIT JUPE, A Smart lad should make an exceptionally fine Lifeguardsman”
After 4 years with the Life Guards Trooper Jupe appears to have had enough of his time with the Army, electing to go through an expensive discharged at his own request with a payment of £18 to end his contract.
He would however get a refund thanks to his service a few years later in WW1.
Leaving the Army behind, albeit temporarily, he returned back to his home of Hampshire, where he joined the Portsmouth City Police, initially having joined the Cosham Station.
Not long after this WW1 broke out, and he would once again join up, conveniently receiving a refund of his discharge money paid back in 1913.
He joined the Military Mounted Police and landed in France early into the war on 27th January 1915, and served there until 11th November 1918.
Only a year later he was being decorated with his Military Medal “For Bravery in the Field”, becoming one of the Corp’s first ever awards of the medal.
At the time he was on attachment to the 6th Division, “At the end of July 1916 the 6th Division was withdrawn, having suffered 11,000 casualties, and in September it was attached to XIV Corps where it joined in the Battle of the Somme by attacking the German Fortification known as the Quadrilateral.
It captured this area on 18th Sept 1916. They then participated in the attacks on Morval and Le Trasnloy before being withdraw on 20th October and moved into Corps Reserve.
Total casualties to the 6th Division on the Somme, amounted to 277 Officers and 6,640 other Ranks.”
Arthur finished out the war, being discharged to the reserve, “Class Z” on 2nd June 1919.
He returned back to Portsmouth to crack on with a long career in the Police Force of Portsmouth City.
His promotion from Police Sergeant to Inspector, Hampshire Telegraph, 27th April 1923:
“POLICE SERGEANT PROMOTED
Recently a qualifying examination for the promotion of a Sergeant to Inspector in the Portsmouth Borough Police Force was held, and Sergeants Fisher, Carter, Stanley, JUPE, and Hawten were successful.
At a meeting of the Watch Committee on Wednesday, it was decided to appoint Sergeant JUPE as Inspector.
Inspector Jupe, who is deservedly Popular, has been stationed at Cosham since that station came under the control of the Portsmouth Police, and has had 9 years service.
He will shortly be transferred to Southsea, where he will take over the duties vacated by Inspector Cooper, who is retiring on pension.”
Jupe was very popular in the city, being frequently mentioned in the newspapers over the coming years, including being the MC for various Police Dances and social events etc.
Also being frequently brought up in Courts in prosecution.
The 1939 Census lists him still as a serving Police Inspector in Portsmouth.
The Portmouth Evening News on 5th February 1941 would note his retirement:
“Station Sergeant E. Middleton, is promoted to Temporary Inspector, and goes to Southsea Division in place of Inspector A.C.H. Jupe, who has retired on pension.”
