Special Sergeant Arthur Percival Cosway Isle of Ely Special Constabulary
The Man Arthur Percival Cosway was born on Wednesday 11th November 1903 in Milton, Cambridgeshire. Son of Henry Daniel, a Master Butcher and Flora nee Ellis he was one of four children, Henry Sydney (1896-1928), Flora Nellie (1897-1973) and Louie (1907-89).
The 1911 census shows the family living at 30 High Street, Wisbech above their Butcher’s Shop. During World War I, Arthur was too young to be called up aged just 11 in 1914. Henry Sydney however, served in the Army Service Corps in India. Following his education, Arthur followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a butcher.
During the summer of 1929, Arthur was involved in a tragic incident whilst driving his car on the Lynn-Wisbech Road. It had been raining and a motorcycle in front of Arthur’s car skidded throwing the passenger, Mary E Hiles, aged 21 into the path of his car. He had little time to react and ran over Mary, who died of her injuries shortly after. The subsequent Coroner’s Inquiry reported in the local press exonerated Arthur of any blame.
In about 1930 he joined the Isle of Ely Special Constabulary and the 1930, 1935 electoral Registers and the 1939 Register show Arthur and family at the same address, 30 High Street. He is now aged 36, unmarried and his occupation listed as a butcher. No mention is made on the latter of him being a Special Constable however.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, it seems Arthur, for whatever reason was ineligible for call up into the armed forces and continued serving in the SC. He was promoted to Special Sergeant and awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1939, followed by a Long Service clasp in 1942 and 46, war service counting treble. He was also awarded the Defence Medal.
Arthur continued in the Butcher’s trade after the war and remained in the SC being awarded a third clasp to his medal in 1956, aged 53 and at about the time of his retirement. The electoral register of 1965 shows him living at 6 Market Street, Wisbech, still unmarried.
During the summer of 1976, Arthur was the victim of a robbery which was reported in the local press and he lost £6.00 as a result. The perpetrator was caught, remanded and sentenced.
Arthur died during the third quarter of 1976 aged 73, he left no will.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 30 High Street, Wisbech above their Butcher’s Shop. During World War I, Arthur was too young to be called up aged just 11 in 1914. Henry Sydney however, served in the Army Service Corps in India. Following his education, Arthur followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a butcher.
During the summer of 1929, Arthur was involved in a tragic incident whilst driving his car on the Lynn-Wisbech Road. It had been raining and a motorcycle in front of Arthur’s car skidded throwing the passenger, Mary E Hiles, aged 21 into the path of his car. He had little time to react and ran over Mary, who died of her injuries shortly after. The subsequent Coroner’s Inquiry reported in the local press exonerated Arthur of any blame.
In about 1930 he joined the Isle of Ely Special Constabulary and the 1930, 1935 electoral Registers and the 1939 Register show Arthur and family at the same address, 30 High Street. He is now aged 36, unmarried and his occupation listed as a butcher. No mention is made on the latter of him being a Special Constable however.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, it seems Arthur, for whatever reason was ineligible for call up into the armed forces and continued serving in the SC. He was promoted to Special Sergeant and awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1939, followed by a Long Service clasp in 1942 and 46, war service counting treble. He was also awarded the Defence Medal.
Arthur continued in the Butcher’s trade after the war and remained in the SC being awarded a third clasp to his medal in 1956, aged 53 and at about the time of his retirement. The electoral register of 1965 shows him living at 6 Market Street, Wisbech, still unmarried.
During the summer of 1976, Arthur was the victim of a robbery which was reported in the local press and he lost £6.00 as a result. The perpetrator was caught, remanded and sentenced.
Arthur died during the third quarter of 1976 aged 73, he left no will.
The Story The medals awarded to Arthur Percival Cosway were acquired from e-Bay on 17th December 2023 and of interest because of the treble clasped Special Constabulary Medal, photograph of Arthur and documents with the pair.
Upon further inspection of the vendor’s items at auction and direct communication, it was confirmed that further items from Arthur’s archive had been split into several lots and with a gap of some days.
Following extensive trawling and double-checking, bids were placed on each item and most acquired, ensuring Arthur’s archive is maintained for posterity.
Because of the unusual name Ancestry.UK, the Newspaper archives and his papers, revealed sufficient information for a reasonable and interesting biography to be compiled.
Upon further inspection of the vendor’s items at auction and direct communication, it was confirmed that further items from Arthur’s archive had been split into several lots and with a gap of some days.
Following extensive trawling and double-checking, bids were placed on each item and most acquired, ensuring Arthur’s archive is maintained for posterity.
Because of the unusual name Ancestry.UK, the Newspaper archives and his papers, revealed sufficient information for a reasonable and interesting biography to be compiled.
30 High Street, Wisbech 1960 and 2014.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: SERGT. ARTHUR.P.COSWAY
This page last updated 9 Jan 4
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