Police Awards From the Collection of John Tamplin

A Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry group of six awarded to British Constable Kenneth Sindall, Palestine Police, later Captain, Lincolnshire Regiment

Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Const. Kenneth Sindall, Palestine Police); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Palestine 1945-48 (Const., Pal. Police) naming officially re-impressed; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Defence & War Medals, together with a post-war duplicate issue of the C.P.M. for Gallantry (Br. Const., Palestine Police) generally very fine (7) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Police Awards From the Collection of John Tamplin.

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Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry London Gazette 8 November 1938. No citation appears in this Gazette but brief details were given when the award was announced in the Palestine Gazette of the same date: ‘For gallantry on the 4th August 1938, during an engagement against armed men on the Acre-Safad road.’

In a letter of congratulations to Sindall, however, the Inspector-General of the Palestine Police enclosed a copy of the recommendation which reads: ‘At 6.15 p.m. on 4th August 1938, the two armoured cars of the Police posts at Majdal Krum and Rameh on the Acre-Safad road were ambushed by some 12 to 14 armed men as they were returning from patrol. They were subjected to a raking fire from men concealed behind a series of large rocks on the foot-hills, some 30 yards from the road.

‘Both car crews brought their Lewis guns into action. A number of the gang attempted to gain the crest of the hill under cover of the fire of the remainder, but owing to the accurate gunnery from the cars, this was frustrated and they suffered considerable casualties.

‘Three dead bodies could be seen, and in order to attempt to gain possession of their rifles and S.A.A., B/Sgt. Gander and B/Const. Sindall left their car under cover of Lewis Gun fire and made for the foothills, making their way to within a few yards of the bodies. They were heavily and accurately sniped at by other members of the gang and having emptied their revolvers into two snipers who were within a few yards of them, they were forced to make their way back to the cars.

‘At this moment, a further party of some 25-30 armed men were seen approaching from the rear and heavy fire was opened on them from this party. B/Sgt. Gander then ordered both cars to move off and make for the nearest post which they did under heavy fire, from both sides of the road. They sustained no casualties but both cars were hit by bullets and the tyres punctured.

‘The following morning a large number of live and empty rounds were found on the scene together with ample evidence of casualties sustained. From reliable information it is believed that a fourth man was killed and some 10 to 12 men were wounded in this engagement.

‘Constable Sindall has come under notice on three occasions recently for courage and initiative under fire whilst serving on the Frontier, and I consider his conduct on this occasion is deserving of the award of the King’s Police Medal for Gallantry.’

Kenneth Sindall was the eldest son of Councillor Frank Sindall of Stamford. Prior to the Second War he was serving as a British Constable in the Palestine Police but joined the Intelligence Corps when war broke out. Whilst he was a W.O. II he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the General List on 26 October 1942, and promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant the same day. He was promoted a temporary Captain in April 1943, and held a special appointment, and was again promoted a temporary Captain in April 1944. In March 1945 he transferred to the Pioneer Corps and by August 1946 he had been released with the honorary rank of Captain.

In October 1946 Sindall was granted a Short Service Commission in the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment as a Lieutenant, being promoted temporary Captain in July 1947, and Captain in June 1949. He was appointed temporary Major in October 1951, and was transferred to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, Class III, S.S.C., of the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, in November 1955.

Sindall received one of the first four awards of the newly instituted Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry. His is used as the ‘Illustrative Award’ in British Gallantry Awards by P. E. Abbott & J. M. A. Tamplin. Sold with full research including original letter of congratulations, original copy recommendation and a news cutting.