Captain and Chief Superintendent John Charles Crown Kings Shropshire Light Infantry and Metropolitan Police
The Man John Charles Crown was born on Thursday 11th March 1926 in Frome Somerset, son of Charles M, a District Auditor and Sybil K nee Edwards. He had one sister Eileen M born in 1923.
John attended secondary school and by 1939 the family were living at 51 Bryngwyn Road, Newport Wales. At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, John was only 13 and still at school, later finding a job as a Clerk. On 6th April 1944 shortly after his 18th Birthday he enlisted as an Officer Cadet with service number 14738991 and on 12th May 1945 was commissioned into The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry as a 2nd Lieutenant with a new service number of 346827. He was awarded the War Medal 1939-45 having served the requisite 28 days.
John was promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant on 12th November 1945 and later temporary Captain. On 2nd July 1946 he was posted to Palestine as the armed conflict there had escalated during the final phase of the World War II, when The Irgun declared a revolt in February 1944, ending the hiatus in operations that had begun in 1940. For this he was awarded the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine 1945-48’.
John was demobilised on 13th December 1947 and three years later, on 4th September 1950 aged 24 joined the Metropolitan Police and because of his Officer service was exempted from the entrance examination.
He married very shortly afterwards on 23rd September to Yvonne C Collins in Stoke Newington and they had four children Philip J born in early 1951, Ann G 18th July 1953, Paul A 17th January 1959 and Mary Elizabeth 29th March 1966.
John attended secondary school and by 1939 the family were living at 51 Bryngwyn Road, Newport Wales. At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, John was only 13 and still at school, later finding a job as a Clerk. On 6th April 1944 shortly after his 18th Birthday he enlisted as an Officer Cadet with service number 14738991 and on 12th May 1945 was commissioned into The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry as a 2nd Lieutenant with a new service number of 346827. He was awarded the War Medal 1939-45 having served the requisite 28 days.
John was promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant on 12th November 1945 and later temporary Captain. On 2nd July 1946 he was posted to Palestine as the armed conflict there had escalated during the final phase of the World War II, when The Irgun declared a revolt in February 1944, ending the hiatus in operations that had begun in 1940. For this he was awarded the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine 1945-48’.
John was demobilised on 13th December 1947 and three years later, on 4th September 1950 aged 24 joined the Metropolitan Police and because of his Officer service was exempted from the entrance examination.
He married very shortly afterwards on 23rd September to Yvonne C Collins in Stoke Newington and they had four children Philip J born in early 1951, Ann G 18th July 1953, Paul A 17th January 1959 and Mary Elizabeth 29th March 1966.
Following his attendance at the Police Training School at Hendon, he was posted to the F Division on 18th December 1950 where he served his two-year probationary service, his appointment being confirmed on 9th September 1952. He also successfully passed his First Aid training examinations the same year.
In 1952 John, Yvonne and Philip were living at 21 Petley Road, Fulham and by 1954 at Broadmead, 12 Auriol Road, Fulham where they remained until at least 1965. On 24th March 1956 he passed his Sergeant 2nd Class examination and was transferred on promotion to the B Division on 3rd September. He took his Sgt 1st Class examination on 17th January 1960 failing it but passing on his second attempt on 21st January 1961 and being posted to L Division on 1st January 1962. On 22nd August the same year he qualified as a Motor Driver and on 1st April 1965 moved to M Division.
John was promoted to Inspector on 5th July 1965 and transferred to the X Division, working at Ealing Police Station and passing a Pistols course on 30th September 1966. Further promotion to Chief Inspector came on 1st July 1968 with a move to A Division at Gerald Road and to Chief Superintendent on 1st May 1972 and transfer to CB Division.
John was awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal on 13th March 1973 and was assigned to work on a special case from 9th to 15th June 1974.
Further moves of division followed on 1st October 1975 to F Division as Detective Chief Superintendent, where in 1977 he was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977. BD division on 1st September 1978 still as a detective and VW on 6th August 1979.
John retired from the Metropolitan Police as Chief Superintendent on 21st September 1980 aged 54 and with 30 years 18 days service. His conduct was given as exemplary and he received a pension of £6787.41 (£23,518.00 in 2021).
John returned to Somerset and in later life lived with Yvonne at 11, River Mead, Clevedon and died on 10th April 2010 aged 84.
In 1952 John, Yvonne and Philip were living at 21 Petley Road, Fulham and by 1954 at Broadmead, 12 Auriol Road, Fulham where they remained until at least 1965. On 24th March 1956 he passed his Sergeant 2nd Class examination and was transferred on promotion to the B Division on 3rd September. He took his Sgt 1st Class examination on 17th January 1960 failing it but passing on his second attempt on 21st January 1961 and being posted to L Division on 1st January 1962. On 22nd August the same year he qualified as a Motor Driver and on 1st April 1965 moved to M Division.
John was promoted to Inspector on 5th July 1965 and transferred to the X Division, working at Ealing Police Station and passing a Pistols course on 30th September 1966. Further promotion to Chief Inspector came on 1st July 1968 with a move to A Division at Gerald Road and to Chief Superintendent on 1st May 1972 and transfer to CB Division.
John was awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal on 13th March 1973 and was assigned to work on a special case from 9th to 15th June 1974.
Further moves of division followed on 1st October 1975 to F Division as Detective Chief Superintendent, where in 1977 he was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977. BD division on 1st September 1978 still as a detective and VW on 6th August 1979.
John retired from the Metropolitan Police as Chief Superintendent on 21st September 1980 aged 54 and with 30 years 18 days service. His conduct was given as exemplary and he received a pension of £6787.41 (£23,518.00 in 2021).
John returned to Somerset and in later life lived with Yvonne at 11, River Mead, Clevedon and died on 10th April 2010 aged 84.
The Story The medal group awarded to John Charles Crown were acquired from the British Medal Forum on 6th June 2022, having been ‘flagged up’ by a medal collecting colleague the day before.
They were of interest because of the Police Exemplary Service and Jubilee Medal 1977 combination, a sub theme in this collection. The fact the Police Long Service Medal was also named to the recipient as a Chief Superintendent, made it a quite scare award, showing a rapid promotion within 23 years.
With the medals came a copy of Crown’s Police record and a poor-quality photograph enabling a brief biography to be compiled. This in turn led to Ancestry.UK revealing more details following some time spent on cross referencing it the police records.
A pleasing find, especially to such a senior rank within the Metropolitan Police.
They were of interest because of the Police Exemplary Service and Jubilee Medal 1977 combination, a sub theme in this collection. The fact the Police Long Service Medal was also named to the recipient as a Chief Superintendent, made it a quite scare award, showing a rapid promotion within 23 years.
With the medals came a copy of Crown’s Police record and a poor-quality photograph enabling a brief biography to be compiled. This in turn led to Ancestry.UK revealing more details following some time spent on cross referencing it the police records.
A pleasing find, especially to such a senior rank within the Metropolitan Police.
Medal Details:
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- General Service Medal: LT. J.C.CROWN. K.S.L.I.
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Police Exemplary Service Medal: CH.SUPT. JOHN.C.CROWN
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This page last updated 17 Jun 22
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