Special Constabulary Medal. GV 1st type 'Crowned Head' obverse. With clasp 'Great War 1914-1918' (William B. Bensley.)

The recipient - a Metropolitan Police Pensioner - is confirmed as serving as a Special Constable the the Caister-on-Sea, Special Constabulary, in Norfolk, England, during the Great War 1914-18

William Bultitude Bensley - son of William Bensley (described variously as a Fisherman and Carpenter) and Mary Ann Bensley (nee Bultitude) was a native of Caister, Norfolk, England, where he was born on, 9 January 1860 (his extant Metropolitan Police records refer). William joined 'K' or, 'Bow' Division of the Metropolitan Police at Limehouse, London, on, in London on, 6 October 1890. He went on to serve a total of 19 years 127 days with the Metropolitan Police, serving throughout with the same division, before taking his final discharge from the force on, 1 March 1910. William's pension record that during his service he received injuries to the face while stopping a runaway horse. During his service he remained a Constable, and had married Mary Ann Catchpole. At discharge in 1910, his London address was, 200 Grange Road, Ilford. Shortly after retiring from the Metropolitan Police, William and his family retired to Caister, Norfolk, England, where in the 1911 National Census for England & Wales, he is described as a 'Metropolitan Police Pensioner and General Carter' residing with his wife and son, Frederick William Bensley (17), at Norfolk House, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, England. During the Great War, the experienced and public minded William Bensley, volunteered as a Special Constable, serving with a unit of the Norfolk Special Constabulary. William B. Bensley is recorded to have died at Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, England. on, 1 March 1939

Bizarrely, the recipient's father died a shocking death in January 1918, as reported under 'Principal Events occurring in Great Yarmouth, 1918' the local newspaper The Yarmouth Independent issue of 4 January 1919:

Quote,

William Bensley, an aged retired Carpenter died from shock and injuries, caused by his beard and whiskers catching fire from a candle

Unquote.

The full story of the strange death of the recipients father was reported at length in the 'The Yarmouth Independent' issue of, 2 February 1918

Medal retaining its original, and now stitched silk medal riband

Condition: GVF

Code: 24217