Sergeant Bernard Francis Colquhoun Royal Artillery and Birmingham City Special Constabulary
Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Medal 'Territorial'. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.
The Man Bernard Francis Colquhoun was born on Born on Wednesday 16th October 1912 in Swansea, son of Oscar Richard, a serving soldier in the 97th Battery Royal Field Artillery and Marguerite Mary nee Starling. He was one of three children Monica Mary (1909-67) and Winifred (1911 - ).
No trace of the family can be found on the 1911 or 1921 census, possibly as Oscar was serving overseas. By 1925 however, the family had moved to Birmingham, living at 267 Bellbarn Road, Edgbaston and Bernard attending Midland Counties School in Edgbaston gaining an award for solo singing, this reported in the Birmingham Gazette of 16th May 1925.
Following his education, Bernard became a Clerk and by 1934, aged 21 was living at 14 Summer Road, Acocks Green with his family. He joined the Birmingham City Police Special Constabulary on 5th July 1934 with collar number 158, in the E Division, Acocks Green and in 1935 the Territorial Army, Royal Artillery with service number 2565690.
During the last quarter of 1938 Bernard married Gladys Lilian Butts in Birmingham and they lived at 43 Shaftmoor Lane together with his mother and sister Monica, Oscar having passed away in 1938. They had three children Bernadette Lilian born in 1936, Jeanette Gladys 1939 - 2015 and Iain Francis 1942.
On 10th June 1939 aged 27, Bernard resigned from the Special Constabulary in preparation for his imminent call up in readiness for World War II. The 1939 Register shows Gladys living at 125 Chamberlain Crescent, Solihull, with the Prosser family, Bernard having already been embodied.
Bernard served with the Royal Artillery Searchlight Regiment at home, throughout the war and awarded his Efficiency Medal in Army Order 215 of 1943 and after the war his Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Following the war Bernard was disembodied, he and Gladys living at 209 Acheson Road, Shirley, Bernard now working as a Shop Manager. He re-joined Birmingham City Special Constabulary on 9th May 1947 aged 35 with collar number E64 on the Robin Hood Division. He served a further six years resigning on 30th June 1953 aged 41, having been awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal during 1951 (1934 -1939 = 5 years. 1947-1951 = 4 years – total 9 years)
In 1955 Bernard and Gladys lived at 633 Shirley Road, Solihull, and in 1957 at 119 Collingbourne Avenue, Washwood Heath and in 1962 at 635 Shirley Road, Solihull.
Following his retirement Bernard returned to the land of his birth, Wales and in 1968 was living at 16 Cannisland Park Estate, Parkmill, Swansea. In later they lived at 57 Derlwyn Dunvant, Swansea and Bernard passed away on 19th January 1980 aged 68.
Gladys lived a further 11 years and died in May 1991 in Swansea.
No trace of the family can be found on the 1911 or 1921 census, possibly as Oscar was serving overseas. By 1925 however, the family had moved to Birmingham, living at 267 Bellbarn Road, Edgbaston and Bernard attending Midland Counties School in Edgbaston gaining an award for solo singing, this reported in the Birmingham Gazette of 16th May 1925.
Following his education, Bernard became a Clerk and by 1934, aged 21 was living at 14 Summer Road, Acocks Green with his family. He joined the Birmingham City Police Special Constabulary on 5th July 1934 with collar number 158, in the E Division, Acocks Green and in 1935 the Territorial Army, Royal Artillery with service number 2565690.
During the last quarter of 1938 Bernard married Gladys Lilian Butts in Birmingham and they lived at 43 Shaftmoor Lane together with his mother and sister Monica, Oscar having passed away in 1938. They had three children Bernadette Lilian born in 1936, Jeanette Gladys 1939 - 2015 and Iain Francis 1942.
On 10th June 1939 aged 27, Bernard resigned from the Special Constabulary in preparation for his imminent call up in readiness for World War II. The 1939 Register shows Gladys living at 125 Chamberlain Crescent, Solihull, with the Prosser family, Bernard having already been embodied.
Bernard served with the Royal Artillery Searchlight Regiment at home, throughout the war and awarded his Efficiency Medal in Army Order 215 of 1943 and after the war his Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Following the war Bernard was disembodied, he and Gladys living at 209 Acheson Road, Shirley, Bernard now working as a Shop Manager. He re-joined Birmingham City Special Constabulary on 9th May 1947 aged 35 with collar number E64 on the Robin Hood Division. He served a further six years resigning on 30th June 1953 aged 41, having been awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal during 1951 (1934 -1939 = 5 years. 1947-1951 = 4 years – total 9 years)
In 1955 Bernard and Gladys lived at 633 Shirley Road, Solihull, and in 1957 at 119 Collingbourne Avenue, Washwood Heath and in 1962 at 635 Shirley Road, Solihull.
Following his retirement Bernard returned to the land of his birth, Wales and in 1968 was living at 16 Cannisland Park Estate, Parkmill, Swansea. In later they lived at 57 Derlwyn Dunvant, Swansea and Bernard passed away on 19th January 1980 aged 68.
Gladys lived a further 11 years and died in May 1991 in Swansea.
Bernard Colquhoun's Medal Index Card showing award of the Defence and War Medal 1939-45.
The Story The medals awarded to Oscar Richard and Bernard Francis Colquhoun were acquired from e-Bay on 13th February 2025. They were of interest because of the Efficiency Medal and Special Constabulary Long Service Medal combination and the unusual surname, the first of the two groups seen.
The EM / SCLSM were listed as “WW2 Territorial efficiency medal officially impressed on rim to 2565690 SGT B F Colquhoun RA and George V1 sp. Constabulary medal also impressed to Bernard F COLQUHOUN.
These could probably be a relative of the Mons star group listed above.”
A check of Ancestry, quickly revealed Bernard’s full name and medal entitlement, including West Midlands Police service records showing enlistment date and year of award for the SCLSM. Further checking revealed his father’s name to be Oscar Richard. The vendor’s Sellers Other Items were checked and revealed the 1914 Star trio, listed as “WW1 Mons star trio with original clasp, also entitled to roses, officially impressed to 2110 GNR O.R COLQUHOUN RFA on star and RA on medals. Medals in generally good worn condition ,ribbons well worn with BWM ribbon missing. 35th Brigade RFA.” Clearly his father’s medals.
An offer was made on both groups, to keep them together as a family and was accepted. Ancestry, Wills, Newspaper Archives and Forces War Records all helped to piece together brief biographies of father and son, both of whom served their country in different wars and who will now be remembered.
The EM / SCLSM were listed as “WW2 Territorial efficiency medal officially impressed on rim to 2565690 SGT B F Colquhoun RA and George V1 sp. Constabulary medal also impressed to Bernard F COLQUHOUN.
These could probably be a relative of the Mons star group listed above.”
A check of Ancestry, quickly revealed Bernard’s full name and medal entitlement, including West Midlands Police service records showing enlistment date and year of award for the SCLSM. Further checking revealed his father’s name to be Oscar Richard. The vendor’s Sellers Other Items were checked and revealed the 1914 Star trio, listed as “WW1 Mons star trio with original clasp, also entitled to roses, officially impressed to 2110 GNR O.R COLQUHOUN RFA on star and RA on medals. Medals in generally good worn condition ,ribbons well worn with BWM ribbon missing. 35th Brigade RFA.” Clearly his father’s medals.
An offer was made on both groups, to keep them together as a family and was accepted. Ancestry, Wills, Newspaper Archives and Forces War Records all helped to piece together brief biographies of father and son, both of whom served their country in different wars and who will now be remembered.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal:: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 2565690 SGT. B.F.COLQUHOUN. R.A.
- Special Constabulary Medal: BERNARD F.COLQUHOUN
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This page last updated 14 Apr 25
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