A K.P.M. group of four awarded to Police Sergeant Thomas Ravening, Metropolitan Police, for gallantry in stopping a runaway horse

King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Thomas Ravening, Const. Met. Police); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police (P.C.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, good very fine (4) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of R.W. Gould, MBE.

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K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1913.

On 11th October 1911, a horse attached to a railway van suddenly took fright and bolted along City Road, London, at a very fast pace. After colliding with, and damaging a tramcar, and a van, the runaway continued unchecked until it reached Castle Street, where Constable Ravening was standing. He at once jumped at the horse’s head and seized the reins, but was knocked down and kicked in the chest. He managed to keep hold of the reins, and after being dragged along the road for a considerable distance, eventually brought the horse to a standstill.

Thomas Collett Ravening was born at Lewknor, Thame, Oxfordshire, on 26 October 1885. After six years’ employment with the Great Western Railway, he joined the Metropolitan Police in September 1909. He was promoted to Sergeant in October 1920, to Station Sergeant in September 1924, and retired in August 1938. He died on 9 March 1951. Sold with further research, including original cutting from the Daily Telegraph giving citation for K.P.M. and a copied article from the Police Review giving citation and portrait.