Constable Roy Kenneth Jeffery Devon and Cornwall Special Constabulary
The Man Roy Kenneth Jeffery was born on Thursday 10th November 1927 in Plymouth, youngest child of Charles John, a Skilled Electrical Labourer at the HM Dockyard Devonport and former Royal Navy Stoker and Mary Ann nee Summerfield. He was one of five children, Mary Winifred M born in 1910, Alice Eliza Clara 1913, Violet Georgina M born in 1916 and Sidney Ronald 1923.
By the time of the 1939 census, the family were living at 82 Wolseley Road, Plymouth. Roy, aged 12 was presumably still at school, Sidney was a Yard Boy (Electrical) at the same Dockyard as his Father, Violet was a Cinema Attendant, Alice had married in 1934 becoming a Meddleton and Mary junior had also married becoming an Anstis, but sadly was in the City of Plymouth Sanatorium as a patient and listed as ‘incapacitated’, although she lived until 1987.
After leaving school in about 1941 aged 14, Roy began working at the Devonport Dockyard, like Sidney and his father, becoming a Caulker Riveter Burner Driller. Roy was too young to serve in World War II, but sadly, Sidney was killed in action in 1942, whilst serving in the Royal Navy aboard SS Boston on Atlantic Convoy duties.
During the final quarter of 1951 aged 24, Roy married Margaret Stark in Plymouth and they lived in Keyham, a Victorian-built area of Plymouth in the and originally built to provide dense cheap housing just outside the wall of HM Dockyard Devonport for the thousands of civilian workmen.
In 1964 aged 37 he joined the Plymouth City Police Special Constabulary as a Constable, serving on E and F Divisions in the city. In 1967 he was transferred to the Devon and Cornwall Police upon the merger of Devon and Exeter, Cornwall County and Plymouth City Police forces. In October 1974 he was awarded the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal by Superintendent Maunder.
In 1987 HM Dockyard Devonport was privatised and taken over by Devonport Management Limited (DML). Upon this transfer to commercial management, Roy was awarded the Imperial Service Medal aged 60. The maintenance facilities are currently operated by Babcock Marine, a division of Babcock International Group, who took over from DML in 2007. It is possible Roy continued working until 1992 aged 65 under the new management.
Roy passed away in June 1997 aged 69 in Plymouth.
By the time of the 1939 census, the family were living at 82 Wolseley Road, Plymouth. Roy, aged 12 was presumably still at school, Sidney was a Yard Boy (Electrical) at the same Dockyard as his Father, Violet was a Cinema Attendant, Alice had married in 1934 becoming a Meddleton and Mary junior had also married becoming an Anstis, but sadly was in the City of Plymouth Sanatorium as a patient and listed as ‘incapacitated’, although she lived until 1987.
After leaving school in about 1941 aged 14, Roy began working at the Devonport Dockyard, like Sidney and his father, becoming a Caulker Riveter Burner Driller. Roy was too young to serve in World War II, but sadly, Sidney was killed in action in 1942, whilst serving in the Royal Navy aboard SS Boston on Atlantic Convoy duties.
During the final quarter of 1951 aged 24, Roy married Margaret Stark in Plymouth and they lived in Keyham, a Victorian-built area of Plymouth in the and originally built to provide dense cheap housing just outside the wall of HM Dockyard Devonport for the thousands of civilian workmen.
In 1964 aged 37 he joined the Plymouth City Police Special Constabulary as a Constable, serving on E and F Divisions in the city. In 1967 he was transferred to the Devon and Cornwall Police upon the merger of Devon and Exeter, Cornwall County and Plymouth City Police forces. In October 1974 he was awarded the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal by Superintendent Maunder.
In 1987 HM Dockyard Devonport was privatised and taken over by Devonport Management Limited (DML). Upon this transfer to commercial management, Roy was awarded the Imperial Service Medal aged 60. The maintenance facilities are currently operated by Babcock Marine, a division of Babcock International Group, who took over from DML in 2007. It is possible Roy continued working until 1992 aged 65 under the new management.
Roy passed away in June 1997 aged 69 in Plymouth.
The Story The pair of medals awarded to Roy Kenneth Jeffery were acquired from E-Bay on 12th September 2021 and of interest because of the double long service combination.
With the medals came a small newspaper cutting showing the award of the SCLS Medal and the name of the town Roy lived in, Keyham. This enabled an Ancestry.UK search to be made, with only one direct hit and together with the London Gazette a biography was pieced together.
During the research it was found that Roy’s older brother Sidney (spelled Sydney on some documents) had enlisted into the Royal Navy in 1941 and sadly killed in action aboard SS Boston, a Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship in 1942.
Sidney’s biography was also pieced together and the MoD Medal Office contacted to establish what medals he was awarded. His story is on the next page. Click here to read it.
An interesting story of two brothers, that may not have been possible without the tiny newspaper cutting, once again proving the importance of documentation, no matter how little.
With the medals came a small newspaper cutting showing the award of the SCLS Medal and the name of the town Roy lived in, Keyham. This enabled an Ancestry.UK search to be made, with only one direct hit and together with the London Gazette a biography was pieced together.
During the research it was found that Roy’s older brother Sidney (spelled Sydney on some documents) had enlisted into the Royal Navy in 1941 and sadly killed in action aboard SS Boston, a Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship in 1942.
Sidney’s biography was also pieced together and the MoD Medal Office contacted to establish what medals he was awarded. His story is on the next page. Click here to read it.
An interesting story of two brothers, that may not have been possible without the tiny newspaper cutting, once again proving the importance of documentation, no matter how little.
Naming around the Imperial Service and Special Constabulary Medals
Medal Details:
- Imperial Service Medal: ROY KENNETH JEFFERY
- Special Constabulary Long service Medal: ROY.K.JEFFERY
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This page last updated 20 Sep 21
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