Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War O.B.E., Edward VII K.P.M. group of three awarded to Captain E. M. Showers, Chief Constable of Essex, formerly an officer in the 95th Foot and Chief Constable of Exeter City Police, who was decorated for a long and distinguished career which was marked by success in several difficult murder cases - recalled in the Great War, he served as Acting Chief Constable of Colchester Borough Police and was awarded the O.B.E.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; King’s Police Medal, E.VII.R. (Capt. E. M. Showers, Ch. Const., Essex); Coronation 1911, County & Borough Police (Captain E. M. Showers, Chief Constable of Essex), together with a set of related miniature dress medals, good very fine (6) £1800-2200

Approximately 100 Edward VII K.P.Ms were issued.

O.B.E. London Gazette 30 March 1920.

K.P.M. London Gazette 9 November 1909. Official records state:

‘For a long and distinguished record of administrative service, marked by success in dealing with serious crime and in particular with several murder cases.’

In a related letter in Home Office files, written by Showers in August 1909, and sent to the Earl of Desart, he states that he had been involved in 26 murders cases and 32 manslaughter cases during the course of his career.

Edward MacLean Showers was born in Moulmein, India in 1846, and was appointed an Ensign in the 12th Foot in December 1866. A few months later he transferred to the 95th Foot, gaining advancement to Lieutenant in December 1871 but seeing no active service prior to resigning his commission to pursue a new career in the Police.

His first such appointment appears to have been as a Superintendent in the Devon Police in 1884, from which post he rose to be Chief Constable of Exeter City Police. Although in office for only two years, his tenure witnessed the worst civil tragedy in Exeter's history, when the Theatre Royal burnt down in September 1887, killing 188 people; the role of the police during the fire was praised and the Chief Constable was given additional powers for checking public premises for fire risk.

In July 1888, Showers was appointed Chief Constable of Essex, in which capacity he served with distinction until taking his retirement in April 1915. One of the first ever recipients of the King’s Police Medal (K.P.M.), he received his award from the King in July 1910. For several references to Showers during his term of office - including an amusing anecdote in respect of the recruitment of lady Special Constables - see Sworn to Serve: Police in Essex 1840-1999, by Maureen Scollan.

As stated above, Showers was responsible for several notable investigations, among them the brutal murder of Sergeant Adam Eves, who was severely beaten by thieves before having his throat cut. His body was found in a ditch near Hazeleigh Hall Farm, Purleigh. The culprits were quickly tracked down and one of them, John Davis, was hanged at Chelmsford Gaol in August 1893. Showers led the police delegation at Eves’s funeral.

Another famous murder case that was widely reported in the press concerned Camille Cecile Holland. A wealthy lady in her own right, she unknowingly fell for a serial womaniser, and ex-Royal Engineer, one Samuel Herbert Dougal, in the autumn of 1898. They moved-in together at Moat Farm, Saffron Walden in April 1898. Less than a month later, Camille disappeared, Dougal telling her maid that she had gone on holiday. The maid, the subject of Dougal’s unwelcome advances, was pleased to find alternative employment and there the matter rested. In March 1903, however, it came to light that Dougal had been emptying out Camille’s bank account and selling her shares, in addition to transferring the ownership of Moat Farm to his name. The Farm was duly searched and Camille’s remains were found buried in the grounds; she had been shot in the head. Dougal was duly convicted of her murder and was executed at Chelmsford Gaol in July 1903.

Another celebrated case which occurred on Showers’ watch was “The Chelmsford Mystery”, a case in which the Chief Constable was nearly subjected to a private prosecution launched by one Frederick Taylor. The latter was unsatisfied that Showers had refused to discipline one of his police officers, who it was said had assaulted an elderly tramp, Jane Carpenter. In the event, the policeman in question, Sergeant Walter Peters, was cleared of all charges at a hearing in September 1905.

On retiring in April 1915 - and as a consequence of the War - Showers was quickly reinstated as an Acting Chief Constable of Colchester Borough Police, in which capacity he was awarded the O.B.E. in 1920. He died in December 1925; sold with copied research, including relevant information held by the Essex Police Museum, including a photograph of Showers and fellow staff on the occasion that they received their County & Borough Police Coronation Medals in 1911.