Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Q.P.M. group of four awarded to Head Constable Thomas D. Sproule, Royal Irish Constabulary
Queen’s Police Medal, E.II.R., 1st issue (Hd. Const. Royal Ulster Constab.); Defence Medal; Coronation 1953; Police Exemplary Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Head. Const.) very fine (4)

Q.P.M. London Gazette 1 January, 1956.
Thomas David Sproule was born in Mayo, 22 May, 1899, and served briefly in the Royal Air Force as a 2nd Private, September 1918 to February 1919. He joined the Royal Irish Constabulary as a Constable on 7 October, 1920, and on disbandment of the R.I.C. in 1922, he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Sproule was promoted Sergeant in 1935, Temporary Head Constable in 1945, and Head Constable on the Belfast Detective (Crime Special) Staff the following year. His service record notes that in January, 1941, ‘he obtained valuable information re. I.R.A. which led to important results.’ He retired in May, 1956, and died on 11 August, 1975.