A K.P.M. awarded to Police Constable Frank Bryant, Metropolitan Police, who gallantly rescued an armed lunatic from drowning and subsequently died from his injuries

King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Frank Bryant, Const. Met. Police) in its original presentation case, extremely fine £350-400

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 1919.

On 18 May 1918, a man who was suffering from neurasthenia ran out of doors without his jacket in the direction of the river Roding. He was shortly afterwards seen in Parson’s Wharf, and P.C. Bryant went to the spot. The lunatic, as soon as he saw him approaching, flourished a razor, and, after running along the river bank, jumped into the water. The Constable, without divesting himself of any of his clothing, promptly followed and seized the lunatic, whereupon the latter drew the razor across his throat, severely injuring himself, and then attacked the Constable. A struggle ensued, and the razor was knocked out of the man’s hand, but he managed to push the Constable under the water, which was about four feet deep at the spot. The lunatic’s brother, who had now arrived upon the scene, went to the assistance of P.C. Bryant, and between them they managed to drag the lunatic to the bank. They were assisted out of the river, the Constable by this time being in a state of collapse. The lunatic was conveyed to Romford Infirmary, and subsequently removed to Essex County Asylum.

Frank Bryant was born at Wylye, Wiltshire, on 15 November 1877. He was a shunter on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway before he joined the Metropolitan Police on 13 February 1899. He never fully recovered from the effects of swallowing chemical impregnated water from the river Roding and died on 19 August 1919. He was also awarded an honorary certificate and £10 by the Trustees of the Carnegie Hero Trust Fund. Sold with further research.