An example of the now rare King George V Police Coronation M...

Hammer

£1,250

An example of the now rare King George V Police Coronation Medal 1911 with ‘Royal Parks’ reverse. Named to: E Chatterton.
Edward Delves Chatterton was born in Ipswich on 4 February 1848. He enlisted in the Army on 19 May 1880, using the name Edward Delves and understated his age by 10 years. He served for 21 years in the Royal Horse Guards as a musician (trumpeter), being discharged on 20 May 1901; he was awarded the Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in 1898 although unfortunately the present whereabouts of this medal are not known. After leaving the Army he joined the Metropolitan Police as a Royal Parks gatekeeper, stationed at The Regents Park. In this capacity he was awarded the Police Coronation Medal 1911 with ‘Royal Parks’ reverse. He married Emily Downing in 1887 and they had a son (who served in the RE in WW1) and a daughter. He died of a heart attack at Park Square (presumably on the way to work) on 24 June 1911 at the age of 63.
A total of only 119 (so now classified ‘rare’) of these medals were awarded to Sergeants, Gate Keepers and Park Keepers of the Royal Parks. Naming is by very neat upright engraved capital letters, with only the first initial of recipient shown (only first initials appear to have been used on the majority of the 1911 police medals). Recipients would have been employed at the following six royal parks, five of which are in London, together with the Holyrood Palace gardens in Edinburgh:
Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, Green Park, The Regent’s Park, Holyrood (11)
Staff at the following parks did not receive medals: Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Greenwich Park, Hampton Court.
These medals are now rarely offered for sale.
With copies of his Army service record, census records and other notes on his lineage and life & times.
Extremely Fine (EF) condition.