On Behalf of West Midlands Police Military History Society

Compiled 7thNovember 2016

By Su handford QPM

On behalf of West Midlands Police Military History Society

Acting Captain Wallace Talbot

Cpl A/Sgt 36877 11th bttn Royal Welch Fusiliers

Later of the 9th bttn Royal Welch Fusiliers

Superintendent Wallace Talbot 1938 Superintendent Wallace Talbot on retirement

Superintendent Wallace Talbot was the youngest Superintendent in

Birmingham as of Thursday 2nd June 1938

A native of Sutton Coldfield and son of a former Police Inspector of the ‘C’ Division, Wallace joined Birmingham City Police 7th December 1914 and he served on the ‘B’ Division with warrant number 8865 and collar number PC B 228. By the end of the following year he was serving his country in the Army and after acting as a bombing instructor for some time he was drafted out to Macedonia holding the rank of Sergeant with the 11th Royal Welch Fusiliers.

On the strong recommendation of his commanding officer he returned to England for training at Gidea Hall, Romford, where he passed out a commissioned officer with honour to rejoin the Welch Fusiliers.

When the Armistice came he was serving on the Somme as Acting Captain with the 9th battalion.

Back in the police in Birmingham it was not long before he was promoted sergeant fulfilling various duties in his capacity and then in 1924 he was transferred to the Chief Constable’s office where he remained for four years.

His next move was to take charge of the Public Carriage Department as Inspector a position which gave him valuable experience in connection with such events as Royal Visits to Birmingham and particularly the early workings of the Traffic Commissioners.

Then is 1932 Inspector Talbot, was made Chief Inspector of ‘R’ Division and in 1935 was drafted to the ‘C’ Division where he was on his promotion to Superintendent.

Apart from his work as an officer he found time to act for many years as the Secretary of the Police Social Club and for five years he was secretary of the ‘R’ Division Social and Athletic Club and was the first Pavilion Secretary of Birmingham City Police Sports Club, Pershore Road, and Edgbaston.

Wallace retired from Birmingham City Police 31st May 1942 and according to the Birmingham Mail Newspaper 3rd June 1942, Superintendent Wallace Talbot and Superintendent Albert Millington D Division were to be succeeded by Chief Inspector Ernest Keoch and Chief Inspector Howard Frankish, who also appears on Birmingham City Police WW1 Roll of Honour.

Each Superintendent was retiring on a pension of £400 per year however another pension of £293 per year was approved for Chief Inspector John William McWalter who was also retiring after 39 years police service.

Antecedents of Wallace Talbot

See below document on Inspector Thomas Talbot father of PC Wallace Talbot

Family trees on ancestry.com suggests the following antecedents for Wallace Talbot

• Wallace was born 15th December 1892 in Sutton Coldfield, and died on 27th June 1970 in Stratford Upon Avon
• His Father Thomas Talbot was born in 1868 in Warwickshire and died in1929 in Wolverhampton, and his motherwas Annie Eliza Talbot nee Davies, they married 3rd April 1889 in Aston
• Wallace was baptised in Sutton Coldfield May 7th 1893 where his father’s occupation is given as Police Officer
• Medal Index Card showing Wallace Talbot’s address as 36 Villa Road, Handsworth, Birmingham
• Wallace died 27th June 1970 in Stratford upon Avon

Inspector 8075 Thomas TALBOT Thomas

Father of Wallace Talbot

Thomas joined Warwickshire Police 14th October 1886 and on 9th November 1911 he was received from Warwickshire Police into Birmingham City Police it would appear this was due to the alteration of boundaries of Staffordshire police, Warwickshire Police and Worcestershire Police

He was issued with Warrant Number 8075 and was promoted for PC ‘C’ 20 to inspector

6th October 1902 Promoted to Sergeant

9th November 1911 paced in first class at 40 shillings per week

1st April 1912 Promoted to another class to 43 shillings per week

10th March 1914 Promoted to the rank and pay of 3rd Class Uniform Inspector at 47/6 per week to date from 16th march 1914

3rd August 1914 pay raised to 50 shillings per week (New scale)

16th March 1916 Promoted to 52 shillings per week to date from 20th March 1916

1 October 1917 pay raised to 56 shillings per week new scale

14th March 1918 promoted to 58 shillings per week new scale to date from 18th March 1918

2nd September 1918 pay raised to 87 shillings per week new scale

2nd October 1918 awarded a gratuity of a guinea and complimented in police Orders for courageous conduct in stopping a runaway horse

1st April 1919 pay raised to £360 per annum new scale

11 January 1920 Resigned on Superannuation

Rewards and punishments page

15th November 1915- Resigned to join HM Forces (RWF)

18th February 1919 – Rejoined after service with HM Forces

Records from his file shows many examinations and awards

21st April 1924 Transferred divisions to perform duties in Chief Constables Office

1at April 1928 To Take charge Public Carriage Department

1st December 1935 Transferred to C Division

2nd June 1937 awarded Coronation Medal (12.5.37)

Thomas Talbot brother of Wallace 1896 – 1984 driver RAMC WW1

• Thomas Talbot’s father was Rueben Talbot born 1844 in Lighthorne, Warks and who died 1921 in Southam, Warks, his father was Thomas Talbot born 1818 in Lighthorne, Warwickshire and who died January 1907 in Warwickshire, his father was Richard Talbot born 1769and who died 1854 in Lighthorne, Warwickshire his father was John Talbot who was born in 1721 Butlers Marston. His father was Thomas Talbot who was born in 1699, his death is unknown.
• Wallace Talbot’s mother was Annie Eliza Davies, who was born in 1867 in Malvern, and she married Wallace’s father Thomas in 1889.
• Wallace had three brothers
• Lawrence was born January 1894 and he died in Leicester in December 1965. In 1911 he was a stoker on board Fleet Scout, 2nd Destroyer Flotilla Home Fleet Portland Harbour. He married a Hilda Treadgold in 1915 in Alcester, Warwickshire. They had two sons, Lawrence (1916-2002) and an unknown named son.
• Thomas was born 24th June 1896 and died January 1984 in Birmingham. He was a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps and he married Fanny Alice Powell in March 1924 in Aston, Birmingham.
• Arthur Frederick was born 28th May 1900 in Sutton Coldfield and died in Torbay, Devon March 1974.
• Wallace had five sisters
• Daisy was born in March 1890 in Sutton Coldfield and died in September 1896 in Sutton Coldfield.
• Jessie was born April 1891 and her death is unknown
• Mary was born in 1892 in Sutton Coldfield
• Annie was born July 1897 in Sutton Coldfield
• Edna May was born July or September 1898 in Sutton Coldfield and her death is unknown.
• Wallace’s mother was Annie Eliza Davies, her mother and father are unknown