X Acting Sergeant T. G. HALL. MM.Dear Nigel,Thank you for your nicely worded request forinformation concerning Thomas, you would besurprised how many enquires we get from people whonever say please or thank you, but first I have topoint out a few things. Sadly we do not have aphotograph, that is to say we may, there areliterally hundreds of photographs of officers, buttheir names were never recorded on the reverse ofthe photograph therefore from a Museumsperspective they remain unidentifiable.The Cheshire Constabulary was formed in April1857; there are many thousands of records, theseare held by the Cheshire Record Office, Chester.As a retired Police officer and volunteer PoliceMuseum Researcher I am slowly extracting theserecords. Cheshire Police Officer Enrolment Recordsare held under Reference CJP7 Volumes 1-5. Thesefive volumes are very large and in poor condition,run from 1857- 22 March 1913; the informationwhich you seek would therefore be recorded inVolume 5. The information regarding his marriageis retained in CJP24/2, 1847-1966. And with regardto his wife's pension CJP20/2/1, 1857-1965,however Matilda's widow's pension is not recorded.I say all this because I want to try and reassureyou that what I give you is as it appears in therespective volumes. However if you so wish, youcan of course have the records confirmed by theChester Records Office Archivist. But it would beremiss of me if I did not point out that TheRecord Office will charge you a minimum of £27 persearch per volume; therefore your total bill wouldbe £81, so please be aware. As we are working on atrust basis would kindly make payment of £10 andforward by cheque made payable to the 'Museum ofPolicing in Cheshire' and send it to The Curator,Mr. Peter Wroe, Museum of Policing in Cheshire,Warrington Police Station, Arpley Street,Warrington, Cheshire. WA1. 1LQ.If you also read the history of the CheshireConstabulary by going to the web site, INDEX dropdown menu, HISTORY and look for "To the Best ofOur Skill and Knowledge" I feel certain that auseful picture can be obtained of life in theforce at the time, my own opinion is thatdiscipline was draconian and those who strayedoutside the rule's were fined way above what theyearned or dismissed. Also the restrictions ontheir private life, an officer was not allowed todrink on or off duty even in his own home. It allcomes down to the fact that up until the 1960'severy Chief Constable of Cheshire was an exmilitary officer and they of course brought withthem the military codes of practice. At the rearof this history Thomas's name is recorded as beingawarded the Military Medal during World War I.You are probably aware, but just in case you arenot the Military Medal was first instituted inMarch 1916 as an award for distinguished servicein the field for Warrant Officers, NCO's and Lowerranks. The award of an MM was also possible forwomen. All awards of the MM were announced in theLondon Gazette, with no citation. No citations orrecommendations now exist. If you research theLondon Gazette (on line), note the date ofpublication. The event for which the award wasmade was usually 3-4 months before. MM awards areoften mentioned in War Diaries. The recipient wasallowed to use the initials MM after his name. Inthis particular case I have checked the LondonGazette, The Times Newspaper and with Ancestry UKMedal Rolls. I have been unable to find the LondonGazette entry, the entry Medal Card with Ancestrydoes not show the MM award. The Times December15th 1916, does show the award. In essence theitem should have been in the London Gazette aroundthe 14th December 1916.I think the Royal Welsh Fusiliers also have aRegimental Museum within Caernarfon Castle, NorthWales, and an 'enquiry service' which may get youfurther information on the award of the MM and hisservice prior to joining the CheshireConstabulary.I trust you will enjoy what follows and can I askyou when you get a moment would you send a quickmail so I can mark of your enquiry as complete? Ifyou have any further questions please don'thesitate to contact me.Jim TalbotTrustee and Researcher, Cheshire Museum ofPolicing.Collar Number/Rank. Acting Sergeant 454 ThomasGeorge HALLBorn. Circa 1882, Balsall Heath, Birmingham,Warwickshire.Date of Entry. 8th August 1908.Date of Leaving. 5th August 1914 (for serviceduring WWI)Returned to police service. 6th February 1919.Final Date of Leaving. 25th March 1922.How Discharged. Death in service.Initial Posting. HQ Reserve Division, ChesterOther Postings and Dates. 29th August 1908 Crewe,13th November 1910 Woolstanwood, Crewe, 1st April1912 Shavington, Crewe. 5th August 1914 RejoinedRegiment. 6th February 1919 Rejoined Constabularyposted Shavington, Crewe. 1st May 1920 Altrincham.Miscellaneous Information. Previous OccupationPolisher. Prior undated service of 8 years withthe Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Army No 6405) and datedservice of 4 years 184 days again with Royal WelshFusiliers (army number 345520 this number is shownwith the Ancestry UK Medal Roll records).Religion Protestant, Height 5' 9", Age 26 years8months, Eyes Brown, Hair Brown, Complexion Fresh,Build Proportional. Distinguishing Marks Tattooedboth arms, Back, Chest and back of Right Hand.Wife Matilda Hall Died 29th September 1955.This is an extraction of the Royal IrishConstabulary for the years 1816-1921 For more information about this database,click here.The Generations NetworkPromotion. 1st May 1920promoted Acting Sergeant.Misconduct. None recorded.Weekly Pay. 8th August 1908 25/1d. 8th August 190926/3d, 8th August 1910 26/10d, 8th August 191128/-, 1st April 1912 30/4d. 8th August 1913 31/6d.6th February 1919 51/-, 1st April 1919 90/-.Awards. Military Medal for service during WWI.Good Conduct/Other information. None recorded.Marriage RecordOfficer. Thomas HALLOccupation. Police Constable.Age. 27 years.Condition. Bachelor.Place of residence at Marriage. 2 Lawrence Street,Crewe, Cheshire.Date of Marriage. 22nd May 1909.Place Married. Christ Church, Crewe, Cheshire.Fathers Name. Thomas HALL.Fathers Occupation. Carpenter.Spouse. Matilda SCRAGG.Occupation. Nil.Age. 32 years.Condition. Widow.Place of residence. 2 Lawrence Street, Crewe,Cheshire.Fathers Name. George OLLIER (Deceased)Fathers Occupation. Machinist.