Hector's 'Farm' House  

Special Constable Hector Charles Feveryear  Lincolnshire Constabulary  

PictureDefence Medal. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal. Clasps 1944, 1946, 1952.
The Man   Hector Charles Feveryear was born on Saturday 13th October 1900 in Somerby, Grantham, Lincolnshire, son of Arthur Charles, a Farmer and Catherine nee Flatters.  He had one sister Lizzie born in 1898 and the family lived at their farm, Elm Farm, on Pasture Lane.  Following his education in about 1914 Hector began working with his Father, later becoming a farmer himself. It seems likely he would have just missed out on eligibility for conscription during World War I as in May 1916 a second Government Act extended conscription to married men and the age limit was lowered to 18, thus Hector turned 18 only 30 days before the Armistice.  Additionally as a farmer, he may have been classed as a Scheduled Worker (reserved occupation) therefore not called up.  Hector enlisted into the Lincolnshire Special Constabulary during the 1920s or 30s as a Constable Collar Number 3405 and based at Stamford police Station.  By 1939 aged 39 he was shown as still working on the farm with his father and this was a Reserved Occupation so he was ineligible to be conscripted for military service during World War II.  
Hector served with the Specials during and after the war being awarded the Defence Medal, Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and three clasps 1944, 46, 52.  There appearing to be some mathematical confusion over the award of his clasps.  In April 1949, Hector’s Father, Arthur died, and Hector inherited the farm, continuing to live and work on it until his death on 23rd June 1978 aged 77.  He was buried on 28th June 1978 in Somerby, where he had lived all his life and never married.  He left £28,471.00  equivalent to £142,600.00 approx today (2020).
The Story   The pair of medals awarded to Hector Charles Feveryear were acquired from E-Bay in April 2020 as part of a buy it now deal with the group to Francis Benedict Parnell.  They were of interest because of the three additional long service clasps dated 1944, 1946 and 1952, however there is an uncertainty surrounding these that will probably never be fully revealed.  The award of the Special Constabulary Medal is for 9 years’ service, with an additional clasp awarded every further 10 years.  Hector’s clasps do not initially appear to fit this criteria, even taking into account various complications such as the medal being a George VI first type issued awarded from 1936 to 1949, war service counting treble for the awards, and the fact medals and clasps were not issued from 1943 until the end of the war.  However, bearing in mind Hector was shown in the 1939 census as a serving Special Constable, there are a number of possibilities.
  • One – He is only entitled to the Defence and Special Constabulary Long Service Medal
  • Two – His medal was awarded in approximately 1940 after nine years’ service (joining in 1933), thus he became eligible for the 1944 and 1952 clasps considering the x 3 rule.  (1933-39 = 6 years normal time. 1939 - 40 x3 = 3 years – medal.  1940 - early 44  x 3 = 10 years - 1944 clasp.  1944-45 x 3 = 3 years plus 1945 – 1952 normal time = 7 years = total 10 years - 1952 clasp.)
  • Three – He qualified for the medal in 1936.  However due to the death of George V and the abdication crisis it was not awarded until some time after George VI became King. This having a knock on effect with award of subsequent clasps  (1936-39 = 3 years normal time. 1939- 1941 x 3 plus odd months = 7 years – 1941 clasp due – awarded late in 1944. 1941-44 plus odd months = 3 years x 3 = 10 years – 1944 clasp due – awarded late in 1946.  1944-45 = 1 year x 3 = 3 years. 1945-1952 = 7 years normal time = 10 years – 1952 clasp awarded and timings adjusted.
Option two is the most likely with the 1946 clasp being erroneously added.  Option three is possible, but unlikely as it was known to issue existing stocks of George V medals during the intervening year of 1936.  The general confusion over clasp issue dates again is possible but not likely.  That said, errors were made and coupled with the war, possible late issue of the medal, poor record keeping, it begins to appear less improbable.  Sadly with no existing records, the truth will never be known, but as the clasps came with the medal they have all been mounted together.  In addition to this interesting mathematical puzzle, Ancestry.UK revealed sufficient information for a brief biography of Hector to be pieced together and another person who served his country in time of need remembered.
Picture
Stamford Police Station, Lincolnshire.
Picture
Special Constabulary Medal box.
Medal Details:​
  • Defence Medal:  Unnamed as awarded.    
  • Special Constabulary Long Service Medal:  HECTOR C FEVERYEAR
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This page last updated   23 Apr 20