Life story shared by Paul Beecroft
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
GEORGE
THE DEARLY LOVED HUSBAND OF
EMMA POCOCK
DIED 18TH MAY 1922 AGED 86 YEARS
EX. SUPT. BERKS CONSTABULARY
“PEACE PERFECT PEACE”
ALSO OF
EMMA
THE DEARLY BELOVED WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO FELL ASLEEP FEB. 8TH 1929
IN HER 84TH YEAR
“RE-UNITED”
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
THE BELOVED CHILDREN OF
GEORGE & EMMA POCOCK
ANNIE ROSINA
DIED 22ND SEPT 1891 AGED 18 YEARS
ELIZABETH EMMA
DIED 20TH JUNE 1872 AGED 3 MONTHS
ARTHUR JOHN
DIED 21st JUNE 1872 AGED 2 YEARS
GEORGE SANSUM
DIED 3rd DEC 1875 AGED 7 YEARS
CECIL VICTOR
DIED 24TH DEC 1884 AGED 3 MONTHS
George POCOCK was born on 24th May 1835 in Greenham, Newbury. He was one of the sons of George and Ann POCOCK (nee GILES) who were also both born in Greenham. He had seven siblings – Mary Ann (1828), John (1830), Charles (1832), Sarah (1833), Joseph (1840) and Elizabeth Mary (1843).
Nothing is known about his early years, but he must have received some schooling. The census for 1841 shows the family residing at Greenham Common. By 1851 George appears to have already left home. The census for 1851 shows that he is 16 years old and working as a Ploughboy at Templers Farm in West Shefford. He possibly remained as a farm worker for the next few years but in 1859 he became a Police Officer with the Berks Constabulary. He did his training in Reading at the constabulary headquarters and on completion was posted to Wantage. Whilst stationed there, he resided as a lodger with a family in Mill Street, Wantage. His next door neighbour was Police Inspector Joseph Drewett and his family. During his time there he was involved in a number of incidents and cases. A number of the cases were involving the theft of horses, petty theft and poaching. He was also assaulted twice whilst making arrests but was not badly injured. Both assaults appeared to have occurred in relation to the theft of horses.
In March 1862, his sister Elizabeth died. She was 20 years old, and no reason was given for her death. A newspaper simply recorded her passing with the comment “Her end was peace”.
In the same year, 1862, George transferred from Wantage to Reading where he would remain for the rest of his career. The town of Reading was, as it is now, a busy place for police officers. Constable Pocock is mentioned a number of times in local newspapers, but it appears that there was more than one Constable with the name Pocock and therefore hard to confirm which was which when criminal cases were in court. There is, however, one case worth mentioning. In September 1863 a theft occurred at the Swan Inn, Wantage by a person employed by the landlord Mr. Robert Sansum. George knew Mr. Sansum from his time spent as a constable in Wantage and all indications suggested that he also knew the thief and consequently spotted him in Reading and arrested him. The case was proved, and the offender was sentenced to six weeks hard labour.
On 22nd June, 1865, George married Emma SANSUM at St. Laurence’s Church in Reading. Emma was the daughter of the same Robert Sansum who was the landlord of the Swan Inn in Wantage. They then resided at the County Police Station. Their union was to result in the birth of fourteen children, most of whom are recorded as being born in Reading police station. Sadly, two of the children died when only three months old, another aged two, one who was seven and another aged eighteen. No details are recorded as to why they died. They are buried with their parents in Reading Old.
The surviving children were William Robert (1866-1914), Ellen Louise (1875-1956), Albert Edward (1877-1946), Joseph Augustus Howard (1878-1965), Alfred Sansum (1880-1957), Ethel (1882-1973), Elsie Maud (1883-1918), Mabel Alice (1885-1984) and Dorothy Victoria (1887-1963).
In August 1873 George was promoted to Sergeant and just three years later in 1876 he was promoted to Inspector.
The 11th December 1876 would prove to be one of the darkest days in the history of the Berks Constabulary. On this night Inspector Joseph Drewett, who had been George’s superior officer and neighbour during his time at Wantage, and Constable Thomas Shorter were on duty in Denford Bar, near Wantage when they encountered two men poaching. The officers were attacked and murdered by these men. George was one of the officers involved in a search of the scene. Four men were consequently arrested. George had the responsibility of transporting two of the prisoners, by train to the court. Huge crowds had gathered at Reading, Newbury and Hungerford railway stations and up to 20 police officers were required to pass them safely through the crowds that had gathered. Local feeling was very strong against the poachers and shouts of “Hang the villains” was heard. On returning the two prisoners to Reading some 2000 people had gathered at the railway station and fearing a disturbance George made arrangements with the railway to stop the train away from the normal platform causing the crowd gathered to miss their arrival and therefore avoided any disturbance. There were a number of court appearances, and the end result was that two of the poachers were executed for murder.
Both police officers were interred at St. Saviour’s, Eddington, Hungerford. Numerous police officers including George attended the funeral.
Guy Fawkes’ Day/Bonfire Night was also a problem back in the 1800s. In 1877, George and 60 other officers attended Wantage as a disturbance was expected. The officers were armed with cutlasses which at one point were drawn and used, although no further details are known. Fireworks were let off in the street and at one point an object was soaked in petrol, becoming a fireball, which the crowd wanted to kick down the street, but this was stopped by the police.
In 1884, George was promoted to the rank of Superintendent which was the rank he would retain throughout the remainder of his career. He became a Superintendent of the Reading Division and would be in charge of the Assize Courts where he would spend a lot of his time.
On 4th April, 1898, after some 39 years of service he made the decision to retire. It was not so much that he wanted too but in fact it was due to health reasons. When it became common knowledge that he was going to retire the following appeared in a local newspaper:-
SUPT. POCOCK,- Mr. Henry Creed, 160, Friar Street writes:- The retirement of Mr. Superintendent George Pocock from the Berks County Police has suggested to me that it would be a fitting occasion to present him with a testimonial. He has been connected with the Berks Constabulary for 39 years, 22 of which he has been in charge of the Reading District. I have known him during the whole of that period, and have always found him most courteous, attentive and efficient in the discharge of his duties. If any of your readers are willing to subscribe to the proposed testimonial, I shall be most happy to receive whatever sum they may think fit to give.
On Saturday 6th August 1898 a presentation was made to him. Local newspapers reported the following:-
PRESENTATION TO EX-SUPT. POCOCK OF READING
On Saturday morning, at the weekly sitting of the Reading County Bench, ex-Supt. Pocock, who has recently retired through ill-health from the command of the police connected with the Reading Petty Sessional division, was presented with a handsome illuminated address and a purse containing £57. Capt. Cobham, the chairman of the Bench, making the presentation. Mr. Pocock has for upwards of 20 years discharged the duties devolving upon him at headquarters with credit to himself and with advantage to the county, and his enforced retirement has called forth many expressions of appreciation from magistrates, members of the legal profession and the general public, who have all borne valuable testimony to the ability and urbanity which he has always displayed. Mr. H. Creed undertook the organisation of the testimonial, which has been subscribed to by all the principal residents of the county, and many connected with the borough. Mr. Pocock, who was accompanied by his wife and his son, looked very ill as he entered the courtroom leaning on the arm of a constable and supporting himself by means of a stick. He having been accommodated with a seat at the solicitors’ table.
Mr. Creed said that he had collected for Mr. Pocock the sum of £66 3s. 6d. from all classes of society, and each subscriber had expressed the very great respect he entertained for Mr. Pocock and the work he had done for so many years. After paying for the address, and deducting a small sum for expenses, a balance of £57 3s. Remained to be handed over.
Capt. Cobham, in making the presentation, said it had given him great pleasure to respond to the invitation he received a few days ago to preside at the meeting that day of those who desired that Supt. Pocock should not retire from public life without some token of appreciation of the manner in which he had discharged his duties during the time he had been in the police force – a period of 39 years. For 20 years he had been superintendent, and the fact that Mr. Creed represented the legal gentleman who practised at Reading showed very strongly how they, with others, appreciated the courteous way in which he had always acted in that Court and elsewhere in the county. He (Capt. Cobham) could say on behalf of the magistrates that they fully recognised the courtesy and urbanity which Mr. Pocock had shown in the exercise of his duties, while anybody who had attended the police court proceedings week after week must have been impressed with the small amount of serious crime with which the Bench had had to deal. Another feature of the manner in which the police business of the county was conducted, was the fact that the cases which they brought before the magistrates seldom broke down. This showed the amount of care, ability and discretion which the superintendent of the division displayed. He was sure that everybody felt that Mr. Pocock had acted throughout to a very able and efficient manner, and they regretted very much the cause – a breakdown in health – which had led to his retirement. They hoped that he might recover his health to a certain extent, and be so far restored as to enjoy in comfort the rest which he had so richly earned. Capt. Cobham then handed Mr. Pocock the purse of gold and the address, which is worded as follows:- “To Mr. Superintendent George Pocock, on his retirement from the Berkshire Constabulary after a period of 39 years. We, the undersigned, desire to testify to the high esteem in which we hold you, having always found you most courteous and attentive in your behaviour, and thoroughly competent and efficient in the discharge of your onerous duties. We have much pleasure in presenting to you the purse of money herewith as a slight token of our recognition of your long and valuable services, and our respect and regard for you. July, 1898.”
The address presented to George was signed by all the subscribers which totalled eighty-nine. At the end of Capt. Cobham’s speech George was so overcome he could not speak and bowed to him as a mark of his deep appreciation of the gift and the feelings which prompted it.
The newspapers also printed the following:-
Mr. Pocock was also recently presented with a handsome marble clock, a silver-plated teapot (for Mrs. Pocock) suitably engraved and an illuminated list of subscribers, subscribed for by the officers and men of the Reading and Head Quarters division and other comrades of the Berks Constabulary, as a token of their respect and esteem.
George then wrote a letter to the newspapers:-
Sir,- I shall feel obliged if you will kindly permit me through the medium of your valuable paper to return my sincere and grateful thanks to the subscribers to the handsome testimonial presented me on their behalf by Captain Cobham, at the Assize Courts, Reading, on Saturday last, the 6th instant.
It is extremely gratifying to know that my services in connection with the Berks Constabulary have been recognised by the Magistrates and public in such a handsome and substantial manner, and I beg to tender by thanks to Captain Cobham for the very eulogistic terms in which he referred to the manner my duties have been carried out at Petty Sessions, etc., also to the Magistrates and Magistrates’ Clerk for the invariable kindness and courtesy extended to me by all of them during my tenure of office, and to Mr. Creed for organising and carrying out all the duties in connection with the testimonial.
I regret that owning to the enfeebled state of my health I was unable to give adequate expression to my feelings at the presentation.
Your faithfully
George Pocock, Ex-Supt. Berks Constabulary
14, Jesse Terrace, Reading
8th August, 1898.
GOLDEN WEDDING
Ex-POLICE SUPERINTENDENT POCOCK
Mr. and Mrs. George Pocock, of 383, London Road, Reading, celebrated their golden wedding on Tuesday, and were the recipients of many hearty congratulations. They were married on 22nd of June, 1865, by the Rev. John Hall, the vicar of St. Laurence’s Church, Reading.
He was an officer who was held in very high esteem, and on the occasion of his retirement he was presented with a handsome marble clock and an illuminated address by the officers and men of the Reading Headquarters Division and other comrades of the Berks Constabulary. Mrs. Pocock was not forgotten. She was the recipient of a silver teapot. Mr. Pocock was also honoured by many of the leading residents in the county as well as the town. He was given an illuminated address, which was accompanied by a purse of money.
Mr. Pocock was in charge of the Assize Courts during many famous trials. One was a State trial, when a man named Maclean was tried before the then Lord Chief Justice and two other judges for shooting at Queen Victoria.
Mr. Pocock no doubt paved the way for what was his ultimate success by cleverly capturing at Wantage four thieves, who stole from the house at Woolley Park a ton and a half of lead. The building was being renovated, and the men left their work their flag-baskets always appeared very heavy, and he became suspicious. He set a watch, and ultimately discovered that they took the lead from time to time to a marine stores dealer, to whom they sold it. The thieves were tried at the Assizes at Reading and convicted, and Mr. Pocock earned the encomiums of the judges for his skilful capture.
George died in May 1922 at his home 383, London Road, Reading. The funeral took place on Tuesday 23rd May and was reported in a local newspaper:-
The first part of the service being held at St. Bartholomew’s Church, where the deceased had been a regular worshipper. The Rural Dean the Rev. E.J. Norris officiated and was assisted by the Rev. A.T. Gray (curate of St. Mary’s). Every police force in the County was represented, and the Chief Constable (Colonel Poulton) also attended. Others present were Supt. Goddard (Wokingham Div.), Supt. Foster (Abingdon Div.), Supt. Gibbs (Faringdon Div.), Supt. Maunders (Newbury Div.), Supt. Jannaway (Windsor Div.), Supt. Grant (Wantage Div.), Supt. Wiggins (Reading), and Inspector Gallop (Milton). The following sergeants acted as bearers, Sergts. Lambourne, Rhodes, Elsbury, Barrett, Parkins and Howett. There were many beautiful floral tributes.
The majority of George’s family were able to attend his funeral which included the then Deputy Chief Constable of the Berks Constabulary Alfred James Hedges who was married to George’s daughter Ellen Louise. George was laid to rest in Reading Old Cemetery.
Division 38, Row M, Plot 21