Full medal write up
KING'S POLICE MEDAL, 1ST TYPE, COINAGE HEAD, G.V.R., WITH GALLANTRY RIBAND ‘P.C., JOSEPH ALLEN. METROPOLITAN POLICE.’
K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1924. The original recommendation states:
'On the evening of the 16th October 1922 this officer attempted to stop a mare which had bolted 2 1/2 miles with an uncovered trolley at Loughton but he was struck on the chest by a shaft of the trolley and knocked down. He then mounted behind a passing motor cyclist and overtook the runwaway but again unsuccessful in his efforts to stop it. He resumed the chase in a motor car and overtaking the animal climbed over the rear of the trolley on to the mare's back and brought it to a standstill. The constable sustained injuries to his leg and was placed on the sick list.'
Joseph Allen, a labourer from Forest Hill, London, was born on 10 April 1883 and enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry (No 13626) on 13 November 1902. Serving aboard H.M.S. Albion, Aboukir, Endymion and Patrol, with periods ashore with Chatham Division, he was discharged on 5 August 1910 (paid £8) and enrolled into the Royal Fleet Reserve. On 26 September 1910 he joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable, No.420, of ‘J’ Division (Hackney); which seems the likely reason for leaving the Marines.
On 2 August 1914, Allen was recalled to service and 3 days later embarked on H.M.S. Marmora, an armed Merchant Cruiser recently requisitioned by the Admiralty. Leaving Marmora on 10 August 1916, he joined Antrim 4 days later, serving until 2 April 1917 and for the duration of the War seems to have served ashore with Chatham Division, Pembroke (Hibernia) and Victory. During his wartime service he variously held the ranks of Private, Lance Corporal and Acting Corporal. He was discharged from war service in February 1919 and returned to the police.
For his services during the Great War, Allen was awarded the 1914 Star trio, which were claimed via the Metropolitan Police in January 1921 and in November 1921, he received the Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service, Good Conduct Medal, having been discharged from the Reserve the previous August.
On October 1922, Constable Allen performed his act of gallantry, which resulted in him being badly injured. Injured when knocked down by the horse and trolly when he tried to stop the horse from bolting, he then got on the back of a passing motor cycle and on reaching the runaway, presumably tried to get onto the trolly and fell off, injuring his leg. As if this wasn’t enough, he must have flagged down a car and on overtaking the horse, somehow managed to get from the moving car to the moving trolley and then on to the back of the horse itself, which he was able to bring to a standstill!
For his ‘exceptional courage’, he was presented with a cheque for £7 by the Bow Street Reward Fund and a year later was further recognised with the award of the King’s Police Medal.
Constable Allen was finally discharged from the Police on 28 September 1934, when he was pensioned ‘in consequence of injury received on duty’. His Metropolitan Police discharge certificate (present in group) notes his conduct as ‘exemplary’ and lists him still with ‘J’ Division. The nature of the injury which resulted in him being pensioned is as yet unknown.
1) Metropolitan Police discharge certificate dated 5 October 1934 confirming his resignation in consequence of injury received on duty.
2) Typed citation for the award of the King's Police Medal.
3) Newspaper cutting relating to his gallantry and noting the presentation of a cheque for £7 given to him for his action, given by the Bow Street Reward Fund.
4)Three original photographs of Constable Joseph Allen in uniform; one, in postcard format, wearing his King’s Police Medal, presumably on the award being made. Two further 20 x 15cm press type photos, both damaged in places; the first guarding Prince Edward (later Edward VIII). This clearly 1930’s as Allen is noticeably older but his police number, 420J, can still be seen. The second is a policeman directing traffic. This is presumably Constable Allen but its not clear enough to see his number.
5) A fine large 23 x 19cm bordered portrait photograph (removed from frame) of a police officer wearing a Coronation 1902 medal (Metropolitan Police issue) and a King’s Police Medal. Originally believed to be Constable Joseph Allen, it is definitely not. This medal and document group came direct from the family and it is therefore likely this is another family member, probably an older brother or perhaps an uncle or cousin. A Charles Allen of the City of London Police was awarded the King’s Police Medal in 1923, so a possibility but given he wears the Coronation 1902 medal, its would suggest it is a pre 1930 award. This Officer’s number is 233 though unfortunately the Division letter can’t be seen but this still may help nail down who it is.
6) A rare original 1909 Warrant for the King’s Police Medal. This ripped in places and repaired with old tape but complete.
7) Royal Army Ordnance Corps Gazette for July 1938. With ‘Pte Allen’ inscribe to front cover. 8) Original Certificate of Service for Joseph Allen (13626) Royal Fleet Reserve.
Approximately 417 GVR 1st type King’s Police Medals for gallantry were awarded to British and Irish Police constabularies and Fire Brigades before the 2nd type came into being in 1933.
One of 226 King’s Police Medals awarded to the Metropolitan Police between 1910 and 1940; GVR, 1st and 2nd types and GVIR 1st type. A good breakdown of what the awards were awarded for can be viewed here:
htps://web.archive.org/web/20210421072700/htp://www.historybytheyard.co.uk/gallantry.htm
And a list of those awarded 1919 to 1938, including Allen, here:
Condition GVF. A really quite superb group, recently to the market from Constable Allen’s family.