Sergeant Kenneth Wilce Campbell OStJ BEM Royal Navy and West Mercia Police
Kenneth Wilce Campbell
The Man Kenneth Wilce Campbell (Kenny) was born on Thursday 28th October 1926 in King’s Caple, Herefordshire, son of Arnold Richard a Postman and Beatrice nee Scudamore. He was one of five children Donald John Scudamore (1911–1983), Beatrice Elizabeth (1913–2007), Arnold Richard junior (1916–2002) and Margaret Agnes (1920–1999).
The 1939 Register shows the family living at Millditch Cottage, Ross and Whitchurch, although Kenny does not appear or has been redacted. At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Kenny was aged just 12 and still at school. In 1943 when aged 17 he joined the Royal Navy serving throughout the rest of the War and until 1947, rising to the rank of Petty Officer, for which he was awarded his War Medal 1939-45.
Upon leaving the RN he joined the Herefordshire Constabulary as a Constable, which had been formed in 1946 following the Police Act of the same year when the Hereford Borough Police merged with the Herefordshire Force. During the last quarter of 1948 Kenny married Winifred Alice Garrett in Hereford and they had two children. He also joined the Ross On Wye St John Ambulance Brigade in about 1955.
On 1st October 1967 Herefordshire Constabulary amalgamated with Worcestershire Constabulary, Shropshire Constabulary and Worcester City Police to form West Mercia Constabulary and Kenny was transferred. He was promoted to Sergeant and in 1969 awarded his Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was also awarded his Service Medal of the Order of St John (medal No 17552/H) in 1968 and subsequently four additional clasps in 1974, 1979, 1984, and 1989, the fourth being silver gilt and replacing the three silver ones, representing 32 years’ service.
In 1974 he was appointed as a Serving Brother of the Order of St John, appearing in the London Gazette 29th November 1974 when he was the Divisional Superintendent for the Kingston Combined (adult) Division. His citation read:..
The 1939 Register shows the family living at Millditch Cottage, Ross and Whitchurch, although Kenny does not appear or has been redacted. At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Kenny was aged just 12 and still at school. In 1943 when aged 17 he joined the Royal Navy serving throughout the rest of the War and until 1947, rising to the rank of Petty Officer, for which he was awarded his War Medal 1939-45.
Upon leaving the RN he joined the Herefordshire Constabulary as a Constable, which had been formed in 1946 following the Police Act of the same year when the Hereford Borough Police merged with the Herefordshire Force. During the last quarter of 1948 Kenny married Winifred Alice Garrett in Hereford and they had two children. He also joined the Ross On Wye St John Ambulance Brigade in about 1955.
On 1st October 1967 Herefordshire Constabulary amalgamated with Worcestershire Constabulary, Shropshire Constabulary and Worcester City Police to form West Mercia Constabulary and Kenny was transferred. He was promoted to Sergeant and in 1969 awarded his Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was also awarded his Service Medal of the Order of St John (medal No 17552/H) in 1968 and subsequently four additional clasps in 1974, 1979, 1984, and 1989, the fourth being silver gilt and replacing the three silver ones, representing 32 years’ service.
In 1974 he was appointed as a Serving Brother of the Order of St John, appearing in the London Gazette 29th November 1974 when he was the Divisional Superintendent for the Kingston Combined (adult) Division. His citation read:..
Serving Officer of the Order of St John. British Empire Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Silver Jubilee Medal 1977. Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Service Medal of the Order of St John and silver gilt clasp.
...“In addition to being a long serving member of the Brigade, Mr. Campbell has carried out the duties of Superintendent of the Ross-on-Wye Ambulance Division very effectively. As a serving member of the Police Force he was transferred to Kingston where he retained his interest in the Brigade despite being on the Reserve for a time, during which he did particular good work with the ambulance cadets. Fairly recently he took over as Superintendent of the Adult Division at Kingston and has already proved to be a driving force in that area. This is particularly helpful as the present time in view of the acquisition of new premises as a Divisional Headquarters. In addition to his Brigade duties he serves St. John well in the competition field in which he is a regular member of the Police team competing not only in Police Competition but also in the Hereford Ambulance League etc., In my opinion he well merits appointment as a Serving Brother of The Order.”
Kenny retired from West Mercia Police in 1977 aged 51 and clearly highly regarded as he was awarded both the British Empire Medal in Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee Birthday Honours list, appearing in the London Gazette on 11th June 1977 and the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977.
He was promoted to Serving Officer of the Order of St John, this appearing in the London Gazette of 5th December 1978 and retired from them in about 1989-1994 in his sixties. Following his retirement Kenny devoted his time to the Freemasons of which he was a member and involved in the Provincial Grand Lodge, becoming a director of Arrow Masonic Hall Co Ltd from 2003 – 2010. He was also for a time Managing Director of Cyclone Realisations Ltd, a manufacturer of electronic components.
Winifred passed away in June 2001in Hereford and Kenny lived at Brook House, Waterloo Road where he passed away nine years later on 16th June 2010 aged 83 and following a long illness. A service on committal too place at Hereford Crematorium at 1545h on Monday 5th July. Uniforms, tartans and medals could be worn if desired.
Kenny retired from West Mercia Police in 1977 aged 51 and clearly highly regarded as he was awarded both the British Empire Medal in Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee Birthday Honours list, appearing in the London Gazette on 11th June 1977 and the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977.
He was promoted to Serving Officer of the Order of St John, this appearing in the London Gazette of 5th December 1978 and retired from them in about 1989-1994 in his sixties. Following his retirement Kenny devoted his time to the Freemasons of which he was a member and involved in the Provincial Grand Lodge, becoming a director of Arrow Masonic Hall Co Ltd from 2003 – 2010. He was also for a time Managing Director of Cyclone Realisations Ltd, a manufacturer of electronic components.
Winifred passed away in June 2001in Hereford and Kenny lived at Brook House, Waterloo Road where he passed away nine years later on 16th June 2010 aged 83 and following a long illness. A service on committal too place at Hereford Crematorium at 1545h on Monday 5th July. Uniforms, tartans and medals could be worn if desired.
The Story The medals awarded to Kenneth Wilce Campbell were first seen on Alnwick Auction’s site via the Saleroom and were of interest because of the police Long Service and Silver Jubilee 1977 combination, together, in this case, with a potentially unique combination. They were bid upon but sadly not won.
Whilst in London for the Britannia Medal Fair in November 2025, the London Medal Centre was visited and their shop perused. Shortly after and before leaving the area, a check of their website was made to ensure there was nothing of interest for sale not on display. The medal group to Kenneth Campbell appeared and was instantly recognisable as the same group lost at Alnwick Auctions, confirmed by a double check of the Saleroom archives.
The shop was re-visited and the medals ordered for collection, after seeing them, at the Britannia Medal fair the following day, where they were the fist acquisition of the that day.
Ancestry, London Gazette, Newspaper Archives and the Order of St John Museum all helped piece together a good biography of a clearly highly regarded Police Officer who was awarded the British Empire Medal and the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 both in the same year and on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Jubilee.
Whilst in London for the Britannia Medal Fair in November 2025, the London Medal Centre was visited and their shop perused. Shortly after and before leaving the area, a check of their website was made to ensure there was nothing of interest for sale not on display. The medal group to Kenneth Campbell appeared and was instantly recognisable as the same group lost at Alnwick Auctions, confirmed by a double check of the Saleroom archives.
The shop was re-visited and the medals ordered for collection, after seeing them, at the Britannia Medal fair the following day, where they were the fist acquisition of the that day.
Ancestry, London Gazette, Newspaper Archives and the Order of St John Museum all helped piece together a good biography of a clearly highly regarded Police Officer who was awarded the British Empire Medal and the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 both in the same year and on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Jubilee.
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Keeneth Wilce Campbell aged 7 years old and in the Royal Navy
Medal Details:
- Serving Officer of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
- British Empire Medal: KENNETH WILCE CAMPBELL
- War Medal 1938-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Police Long Servicve and Good conduct Medal: SERGT. KENNETH W. CAMPBELL
- Service Medal of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
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