City of Glasgow Police 1800 - 1975 Senior Officer's Medals

Lieutenant Thomas Simcox, BEM,  City of Glasgow Police

City of Glasgow Police

Lieutenant Thomas Simcox, BEM

The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service (BEM)

The Queen’s South Africa Medal

The King’s South Africa Medal

King Edward VII Police Medal, (Scotland) 1903 (VTSM)

Introduction

Thomas Simcox was born in 1873 in Aston, Warwickshire, the son of Thomas Simcox, a Moulder, and Emily Pace or Simcox. They had been married in Bordesley, Warwickshire on 14 December 1872.

After brief service in a Militia Regiment, the 3^rd Battalion the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, in 1892, Thomas enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders. He served seven years and was transferred to the Army Reserve in 1899, only to be ‘Called to the Colours’ for the Boer War a few months later.

He joined the City of Glasgow Police in 1902 and was later promoted to Inspector in charge of Drill Instruction in the Police Training School at the Central Police Station. He developed the syllabus for all recruits and gradually extended the scope of their training to include a variety of subjects which greatly enhanced the knowledge and discipline of the recruits.[i]

He resigned to serve as a Lieutenant in the 5^th Scottish Rifles and later, the Royal Defence Corps during World War I in Home Defence duties that involved the prevention and detection of enemy spying activity. After the war, he rejoined the police and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. During this time, Thomas married and had a family.

Thomas Simcox retired in December 1932.

What follows now is a chronological record of the life of Thomas Simcox and his family, taken from public records, City of Glasgow Police records, and newspapers.

The Early Years

In the Census of England, 1871, the following were living at 88 Bordesley Green, in Bordesley, Parish of Aston, Warwickshire.[i]

*This is Thomas Wilcox’ father, Thomas, living as a lodger before his marriage.

The Census of England 1871

The following were living at Cherry Lane, Saltley, in the Parish of Aston, Warwickshire, on the night of the Census 1871.[ii]

*It is not clear who is the mother of Emily Pace, (3).

**Lucy Elizabeth Bowden died in 1871, aged one year and was buried in Saltley on 4 September 1871.

Birmingham, England, Church of England Marriages & Banns, 1754 – 1937

On 14 December 1871 at St Andrew’s Parish Church, Bordesley, Aston, Warwickshire, Thomas Simcox, (21), a Moulder of Watery Lane, and son of George Simcox, a Saddler, married Emily Pace, (22), also of Watery Lane, and daughter of Elisha Pace, Landscaper.

This is the marriage of Lieutenant Thomas Simcox’ parents.

England & Wales Births, 1837 – 2006

Thomas Simcox was born on 13 April  1873 in Cherry Lane, Saltley, Erdington, Warwickshire. His birth was registered by his mother on 29 April 1873.[iii]

The Census of England 1881

The following were living at 44 Wyle Cop, St Julian, Shrewsbury, Shropshire,, on the night of the Census 1981.[iv]

The Census of England 1891

The following were living at 24 Hawkes Street, Bordesley, Aston, Warwickshire, on the night of the Census 1891.[v]

Records of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1892

On 27 April 1892, Thomas Simcox, 18 years and 4 months of age, born in the town of Birmingham in the County of Warwick,  of 24 Hawk Street, Smallheath, occupation, Blacksmith, employed by John Hunt of Samson Road, Smallheath, Warwickshire, enlisted in the 3^rd Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as Private No. 4307.[i]

His description states he is ’18 years and 11 months’, almost 5’ 8” tall with a ‘fresh complexion’, ‘brown eyes’ and ‘light brown hair’. His religion was ‘Church of England’.

He was passed medically fit to enlist but his engagement did not last long. He was discharged on 25 September 1892, the reason given was, “enlisted into Gordon Highlanders 25.9.82.”.

Records of the Gordon Highlanders 1892

On 25 August 1892, Thomas Simcox, 19 years and 4 months of age, a Blacksmith born in Birmingham in the County of Warwick, with previous service in the 3^rd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, attested before a Magistrate . He enlisted at Castlehill Barracks (see picture), the Depot, in Aberdeen on 1 September 1892 as Private No. 4502 in the Gordon Highlanders.[ii]

His description states he is ’19 years and 4 months’, almost 5’ 8” tall with a ‘medium complexion’, ‘brown eyes’ and ‘  brown hair’. His religion was ‘Church of England’.

His next of kin was listed as ‘ Father, Thomas Simcox, 110 Little Green Lane, Smallheath, Birmingham’.

Army Postings: 4502 Thomas Simcox

As a member of the Army Reserve, Thomas Simcox was ‘Called to the Colours’ as part of the mobilization for the Boer War.

Army Postings: 4502 Thomas Simcox

Military History Sheet

This table shows Thomas Simcox’ places of duty during his 12 years of service.

Medals & Decorations

The Military History Sheet lists the medals to which Thomas Simcox was entitled for his service in the Boer War. They are:

The Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899 -1902 and Clasps,  ‘Paardeberg’, ‘Driefontein’, Johannesburg’ and ‘Cape Colony’ and the King’s South Africa Medal and Clasps,  ‘South Africa - 1901’ and ‘South Africa - 1902’.

[iii]

Medal Roll 1^st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders, Queen’s South Africa Medal

The above Medal Roll dated 23 August 1901 at Pretoria, South Africa, records Sergeant Thomas Simcox’ entitlement to the medal and clasps listed above.[iv]

Medal Roll 1^st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders, King’s South Africa Medal

The above Medal Roll dated 10 November 1902 at Glasgow, records Sergeant Thomas Simcox’ entitlement to the medal and clasps listed above.[v]

The Census of England 1901

The following were living at 489 Green Lane, Bordesley, Aston, Warwickshire, on the night of the Census 1901.[vi]

Census of Scotland 1901

Living at 24 Rosemount Street, Glasgow on the night of the census 1901 was the following:

This is Thomas Simcox’ future wife.[vii]

Record of Marriages in the District of St Rollox in the County of Lanark 1902

On 16 September 1902, at St Mungo’s Church, Glasgow, after Banns according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church, Thomas Simcox, (29), Sergeant, 1^st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, presently residing at 22 Glenfield Street, Glasgow, married Hannah McGuickian, (25), Tailoress, of the same address.

Thomas’ parents were Thomas Simcox, foreman Iron Moulder and Emily Pace or Simcox. Hannah’s were William McGuickian, Cab Driver (Deceased) and Rose McGrath or McGuickian, (Deceased).

The witnesses were W. McCafferty and Elizabeth Roberts. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend Raphael Morris.[viii]

City of Glasgow Police Records 1902

Thomas Simcox joined the City of Glasgow Police on 25 September 1902.

Record of Births in the District of St Rollox in the County of Lanark 1904

Emily Simcox was born on 28 April 1904 at 73 Albert Street, Glasgow. Her father was Thomas Simcox, a Police Office Clerk and Army Reservist, and her mother, Hannah McGuickian or Simcox. Her father registered her birth.[i]

Record of Deaths in the District of St Rollox in the County of Lanark 1905

Emily Simcox, (9 months), died on 14 February 1905 at 73 Albert Street, Glasgow. Her father registered her death.[ii]

Valuation Roll for the Burgh of Glasgow for the Year 1905 -1906

Thomas Simcox is recorded living at 73 Albert Street, Glasgow for that year. His occupation is ‘Clerk’.[iii]

Record of Births in the District of St Rollox in the County of Lanark 1906

Thomas Simcox was born on 11 July 1906 at 73 Albert Street, Glasgow. His father was Thomas Simcox, a Police Office Clerk, and his mother, Hannah McGuickian or Simcox. His father registered his birth.[iv]

Record of Births in the District of St Rollox in the County of Lanark 1909

Rose Simcox was born on 2 May 1909 at 1286 Springburn Road, Glasgow. Her father was Thomas Simcox, an Inspector of Police, and her mother, Hannah McGuickian or Simcox. Her father registered her birth.[v]

Census of Scotland 1911

Living at 34 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow on the night of the census 1911 was the following:

The 1911 census was the first to demand that women record the number of years they had been married, how many live births they had experienced, and how many of those children were still alive at the date of the census. Hannah Simcox recorded that she had been married for 8 years, given birth to three live children, two of whom were still alive at the date of census.[vi]

The Daily Record & Mail, Wednesday 4 February 1914

The Daily Record & Mail edition of Wednesday 4 February 1914 carried the following article under the heading of ‘Policemen at Dinner’.

“POLICEMEN AT DINNER

GLASGOW CHIEF PRAISES HIS

STAFF

Glasgow Police Inspectors held their annual dinner in the Grosvenor Restaurant last evening. Bailie McMillan presided. Among others present were:- Chief constable Stevenson, Bailies Bruce, Murray, Paxton, Alston, D. Graham, R.S. Brown, J. Stewart, (12^th Ward), Irwin, Stark, Brown. River-Bailie Stewart, the superintendents of the various divisions and  Mr Brough. Inspectors Butler and McDonald acted as croupiers, and the general arrangements were in the hands of Inspector Simcox, Honorary Secretary.

Replying to the toast ‘The Glasgow Police Force’, proposed by Bailie Alston, The Chief Constable said that the Glasgow Police aimed at efficiency and courtesy in the discharge of their duties. These duties had become multifarious, and when they considered that the Force was recruited from young men drawn, in the majority of cases, from agricultural occupations, he thought it was a credit both to them and their instructors if they attained  in any measure to the standard demanded of them by the public.

So much had the duties of the police increased and become complicated in these days that it was necessary to have  a special force, specially trained. He would like to make a plea for the ordinary constable. Considering his comparatively slight training it was not surprising that he made mistakes sometimes. Rather was it surprising that he made so few. (Applause).

Mr Stevenson referred to the great loss sustained in the death of Superintendent Mathewson, who he said, possessed all the qualities of an ideal superintendent.

Loyal and other toasts were honoured. An excellent programme of music was provided during the evening.”[i]

The Post Sunday Special 8 August 1915

The Post Sunday Special newspaper of  8 August 1915 carried the following report:

“Ex-Inspector Simcox, late of the Glasgow Police Force and now a Lieutenant in the 5^th Scottish Rifles, was presented in Partick Police Office, with a wristlet watch and a case of pipes by the special constables of Partick Division. Lieutenant Simcox was the special constables drill instructor previous to joining the army.”[ii]

Valuation Roll for the Burgh of Glasgow for the Year 1915 -1916

Thomas Simcox is recorded living at 60 Market Street, Glasgow for that year. His occupation is ‘Inspector of Police’.[iii]

Military Service in WWI

From a 1915 newspaper report and entries in the London Gazette, it appears that Thomas Simcox enlisted in the Army between late 1914 and mid 1915 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 5^th Scottish Rifles. He was certainly a Lieutenant in the Royal Defence Corps (RDC)  by June 1916 since he appears in that unit in the Army List for that month.

The structure of the RDC is shown below and whilst Lt. Simcox was part of a Protection Company, it is believed he worked in plain clothes making enquiries into suspected spies  and other threats to military installations in the Scottish Command area.[iv]

Supplement to the London Gazette 24 July 1915

The Supplement to the London Gazette of the 24 July 1915 carried the following notice on page 7297:

“General List. – The undermentioned to be Lieutenants:- 

Thomas Simcox. Dated 12 July 1915”.[v]

The Monthly Army List June 1916

The Monthly Army List (of officers in the British Army), published by His Majesty’s Stationary Office in June 1916 carried the following entry under ‘War Services of Officers of the Army etc’ on page 3067:

“(t) SIMCOX, T.(Lt. R. Def. Corps.):-

S. African War, 1901-2 – Served in rank. Operations in the Orange Free State, including operations at Paardeberg and action at Driefontein. Operations in the Transvaal, including action near Johannesburg, operations in Cape Colony. Queen’s Medal 6 clasps”.

(t) Indicates ‘Temporary’. ‘R. Def. Corps.’ Refers to the Royal Defence Corps.[vi]

The Royal Defence Corps of 1916 -1918

Formation

The Royal Defence Corps  was introduced by a Royal warrant of 17 March 1916 and promulgated by Army Order 115 of 19 March 1916.

The Warrant deemed the RDC to be Corps for the purposes of the Army Act and that the rates of pay should be those of for the infantry of the line as laid down in the pay warrant of 1 December 1914.

The RDC was defined in further detail in Army Council Instruction (ACI) 841 of 19 April 1916. It had been created “To carry out duties connected with the local defence of the United Kingdom including those hitherto performed by the Supernumery Territorial Force Companies, as well as those allotted to the Observer Companies now in process of formation”.

Transfers of Officers and Men who were already serving

Officers would be commissioned into the Territorial Force  and posted to units of the RDC for duty. Those officers already serving with Supernumery Territorial Force Companies would be transferred on 1 May 1916.

The Units of the RDC

The RDC would consist of two types of unit.

1.Protection Companies. They would take over the duties of the Supernumery Territorial Force Companies and would come into existence on 29 April 1916. While it was expected that that the number of such units would vary across the army’s geographical command areas, company numbers were issued in blocks of 50.

1. Protection Companies 1- 50 would be for Lines of Communication Companies.

2. Protection Companies 51 -100 would be for Eastern Command.

3. Protection Companies 101 – 150 would be for London District.

4. Protection Companies 151 – 200 would be for Northern Command.

5. Protection Companies 201 – 250 would be for Scottish Command. [vii]

6. Protection Companies 251 – 300 would be for Southern Command.

7. Protection Companies 301 – 350 would be for Western Command.

8. Protection Companies 351 – 400 would be for Any Protection Companies required that were outside this structure would be numbered 351 and upwards.

2.Observer Companies. They would be numbered consecutively in their own sequence, starting from 1.

The establishments of Protection Companies was defined in ACI 1373 of 10 July 1916. This shows that the establishment was not fixed but varied by company. They would typically have 1 Major in command; 1 Captain; 4 – subalterns; 1 Company sergeant Major; 1 Company Quartermaster sergeant; 35 – 48 NCOs’ and 150 – 290 privates.

In April 1918 some 27,000 men were serving in the RDC. Of these, 14,000 were employed at prisoner of war camps.[viii]

The Monthly Army List June 1919

The Monthly Army List published by His Majesty’s Stationary Office in January 1919 carried the following entry under ‘Royal Defence Corps, Territorial Force’ on page 1622c:

(The entry begins with a small crossed swords symbol* followed by)

“Simcox, T. 12 July 1915”.[ix]

*The section of the Army List explains the symbols as follows. The crossed swords symbol means an:

“Officer serving the Special Reserve of Officers, Territorial Force, Reserve of Officers & c., or holding a temporary commission who has War Service. (1) The entry of this symbol in the above classes is made as Officers belonging thereto are not shewn in the Graduation List of the quarterly Army List, In which book any such symbols are recorded against the name of Officers of the permanent Regular Army. (2) The symbol refers to campaigns prior to the present war, except in cases where Officers, on account of service in any of the several theatres of war overseas, have been mentioned in Despatches, promoted for Service in the Field, or granted a Reward

Supplement to the London Gazette 14 April 1919

The Supplement to the London Gazette published on 14 April 1919 recorded the following on page 4870:

“Royal Defence Corps.

Protection Companies:-

Lt. T Simcox relinquishes his commission on ceasing to be employed, 16 January 1919, and retains the rank of Lt.”[x]

Register of Deaths in the District of Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire 1919

Emily Simcox, (68) died in Aston, Warwickshire in the 2^nd Quarter of 1919. The record can be found in the Registration District of Aston, Inferred county, Warwickshire, Volume 6d, Page 330.[i]

New Year Honours List 1929

In the list of awards under the British Empire Medal, Civil Division for Meritorious Service,  was ‘Thomas Simcox, Lieutenant, Glasgow City Police’. The BEM is to the extreme left of the above picture.

Supplement to the London Gazette 26 February 1929

Page 1445 of the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 26 February 1929 recorded the following:

“CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD

St James’s Palace, S. W. 1,

1^st March 1929

The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Medal of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to the undermentioned:-

For Meritorious Service

…Thomas Simcox, Lieutenant, Glasgow City Police.”[ii]

The Scotsman, 23 May 1929

The Scotsman newspaper of Thursday, 23 May 1929 carried the following notice on page 7:

“GLASGOW POLICE INSPECTION:- The annual inspection of the Glasgow Police force took place yesterday. Owing to the break in the weather the event was held in the Kelvin Hall, instead of Glasgow Green. About 500 officers who had to take up duty yesterday were inspected the previous day, and on that occasion, Lieutenant T. Simcox, instructor to the Glasgow force, was presented with the British Empire Medal in recognition of his 26 ½  years’ service.

The main body, numbering about 1700, was inspected by Lt. Col. W. D. Allan, H. M. Inspector of Constabulary. Chief Constable A. D. Smith was in command and was accompanied by Assistant Chief Constable A. Williamson. Following upon the inspection the men proceeded to the City Chambers and marched past Lord Provost Sir David Mason.”[i]

Valuation Roll for the Burgh of Glasgow for the Year 1930 -1931

Thomas Simcox is recorded living at 46 Camphill Street, Glasgow for that year. His occupation is ‘Lieutenant of Police’.[i]

Thomas was still at that address in 1933.

Register of Deaths in the District of Cathcart in the County of Lanark 1931

Hannah Simcox, (53),  married to Thomas Simcox, Lieutenant of Police, died on 19 January 1931 at 46 Camphill Street, Glasgow. Her husband registered her death.[ii]

City of Glasgow Police Records 1932

Lieutenant Thomas Simcox, BEM, City of Glasgow Police, retired on pension on 31 December 1932.[iii]

Valuation Roll for the Burgh of Glasgow for the Year 1935 - 1936

Thomas Simcox is recorded living at 23 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow in the Voter’s roll for that year.[iv]

Register of Marriages in the District of Blythswood in the Burgh of Glasgow 1936

On 21 April 1936, Charles Alexander, (28), a Furniture Salesman, of 68 Dixon Avenue, Glasgow, married Rose Simcox, (26), a Hairdresser of 23 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow after Publication in accordance with the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church.[v]

Charles’ parents were Charles Alexander, Inspector of Police, (Deceased) and Agnes Ryan or Alexander. Rose’ parents were as above.

The witnesses were James Alexander (Brother) and Catherine McDonach. The ceremony was performed by Fr Joseph Daniel, Catholic Priest of St Peter’s College , Bearsden.

Register of Marriages in the District of Kelvingrove in the Burgh of Glasgow 1937

On 15 October 1937, at the Grand Hotel, Glasgow, after Banns  and Publication according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland, Thomas Simcox, (31), Post Office Engineer, of 23 Nithsdale street, Glasgow, married Jean Gilmour Allan Hutcheon, (27), Hairdresser, of 19 Ormonde Drive, Muirend, by Glasgow.[vi]

Jean’s parents were Alexander Still Hutcheon, Company Director, (Deceased) and Mary Campbell Ritchie or Hutcheon.

The witnesses were Charles Alexander and Dorothy Stewart. The ceremony was performed by Walter McGlone, Minister of Netherlee Church, Renfrewshire.

Valuation Roll for the Burgh of Glasgow for the Year 1940 - 1941

Thomas Simcox is recorded living at 23 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow in the Voter’s roll for that year.[vii]

Valuation Roll for the County of Renfrew for the Year 1940 - 1941

Thomas Simcox (Junior), Civil Servant, is recorded living at 51 Orchard Park Avenue, Giffnock, in the County of Renfrew in the Voter’s roll for that year.[viii]

Register of Deaths in the District of Govan in the Burgh of Glasgow 1941

The Register of Deaths in the District of Govan in the Burgh of Glasgow records that Thomas Simcox, (68), Lieutenant of Police (Retired), Widower of Hannah McGuickian, died on 5 September 1941 at 1301 Govan Road, Glasgow. His usual address was 23 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow.

His parents were as listed above and his son, Thomas Simcox of 51 Orchard Park Avenue, Giffnock, registered his death.[ix]

The End of the Story

Thomas Simcox, (73) died in Eastwood and Mearns in 1979. His record can be found with the reference: ‘1979, 650/542, Eastwood & Mearns’.

Rose Simcox or Alexander, (79), died in Glasgow in 1989. Her record can be found in reference: ‘1989, 605/252, Glasgow, Martha Street’.

Thomas Simcox had a remarkable career as a soldier in two wars and as a police officer responsible for setting up the City of Glasgow Police Training School.

I am eternally grateful to Alastair Dinsmor,  MBE, of the City of Glasgow Police for permission to use the photographs of Lieutenant Thomas Simcox in uniform.

This has been an interesting project to research and record. If there are any factual errors or omissions, please contact the website and I will correct them. Thank you.