'In search of Tug'

A tribute to nine Southend officers

A tribute to the nine Southend Officers who lost their lives during the First World War has been published to coincide with Remembrance Day - Friday, November 11, 2005.

‘In search of Tug’s Dad’ is an 86 page booklet, written and published by ex Deputy Chief Constable, Jim Dickinson and features tales of all nine Southend officers including original photographs.

It was inspired by a meeting in 2002 between Mr Dickinson and Wilfred George (Tug) Wilson at the re-dedication of the memorial of police officers killed during WWI in Southend. Alfred Wilson, Tug’s father, was one of the constables killed during the war; however, Tug knew little of the circumstances of his father’s death. By coincidence, the following week, Jim was to visit France and offered to photograph the memorial on which Tug’s father was commemorated.

In an extract from the book, Mr Dickinson says: “Our conversation led me to think more about the nine policemen who had died and to reflect with sadness on the little or no information we had about them. I decided to research the available records and to visit the cemeteries and memorials where the nine are commemorated and, where possible, the locations where they had died.”

Tug’s father, Alfred Wilson, joined Southend Police on March 10, 1915. Just nine months after joining the police he volunteered to enlist with the 16th Rifle Brigade and by February 1916, Alfred had moved to northern France with the 39th Division. In 1917 as part of the XVIII Corps Alfred fought in the Third Battle of Ypres. It was here on September 20, 1917, close to the Menin Road that Lance Sergeant S/14598 Alfred Wilson gave his life. He was 27 years old.

The author, Jim Dickinson, joined the Southend-On-Sea Constabulary on January 18, 1968 which later amalgamated with Essex Constabulary on April 1, 1969. He retired from Essex Police in 1997.

Jim is now searching for information on the Essex Constabulary and Colchester Constabulary officers who were killed during World War I. He is interested to hear from any relatives or anyone who may have more information or photographs to help with his research.

Pc Alfred Wilson