Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce B.E.M. for Gallantry group of four awarded to Police Constable F. A. Wilson, Lincolnshire Constabulary, for apprehending an armed convict after a car chase along both roads and a railway line

British Empire Medal, (Civil) E.II.R., with gallantry emblem (Fred Atkinson Wilson); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Police Long Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Const. Fred A. Wilson) mounted court-style as worn, minor edge nicks, otherwise extremely fine (4) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Police Medals.

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B.E.M. for Gallantry London Gazette 25 April 1961:
‘A man who has convictions for robbery with violence and assault threatened to shoot a police officer. He then drove off at a fast speed in a stolen shooting brake. A patrol car driven by Constable Dawson, with Constable Wilson as observer, was overtaken by the shooting brake travelling at a fast speed. The two officers were aware that the man was armed and that he had threatened a police officer earlier but they overtook the brake and signalled the driver to stop. The brake was immediately pulled over to the offside of the road and accelerated fiercely away. The patrol car followed and the driver of the brake stopped, opened the offside door and partly got out. The police officers could plainly see him pointing a shot-gun towards the patrol car. Constable Dawson drove the car at the man in an attempt to trap him in the doorway of his vehicle and, at the same time, to knock the gun out of his hand, but the gunman withdrew into his vehicle and drove away just as the front nearside of the patrol car came into contact with the door of the shooting brake. The chase continued. Eventually the brake reached a level crossing and was driven forward through the gate, and along the railway lines until it was stopped at the end of the sleepers. Constables Dawson and Wilson rushed to the shooting brake. The doors were locked but Dawson seized the driver through the broken windscreen, unlocked the nearside door and pulled him out. A double- barrelled gun was found on the floor of the shooting brake. It was loaded with two cartridges. Twenty-three other cartridges were found in the vehicle.’

Fred Atkinson Wilson joined the Lincolnshire Constabulary in 1937, and served in the Spalding Division until 1940 when he moved to Scunthorpe. In September 1942 he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, before re-joining the Force in August 1945, serving at Wragby and Wilsford. In 1952 he transferred to the Sleaford Town Division. Prior to being awarded the British Empire Medal he was four times Commended for good police work.

For their gallantry both Wilson and Police Constable Leonard Stanley Dawson were awarded the British Empire Medal for Gallantry; three other Police Constables were awarded Queen’s Commendations for Brave Conduct for the incident. Whilst on the railway lines the shooting brake was narrowly missed by a passing train.

Sold together with various copied newspaper cuttings including a photographic image of the recipient.