Special Inspector Dennis Herbert Lavers Wiltshire Special Constabulary
The Man Dennis Herbert Lavers was born 4th January 1925 in Wiltshire, the only child of Herbert John, an engineering pattern maker and Minnie Maud nee Cranch.
By 1939 aged 14 Dennis was living with his parents at 34 Jennings Street, Swindon and working as an errand boy. World War II began on 3rd September 1939 and later in the war when he was aged 17, Herbert joined one of the local civil defence organisations, possibly Home Guard, serving for three years and at the end of the War, was awarded the Defence Medal. He did not serve in the regular forces, most likely due to entering a reserved occupation or on health grounds.
Dennis married Kathleen Patricia Baker in the third quarter of 1947 in Swindon aged 22 and they had one son Kevin Howard Lavers.
In about 1955 Herbert joined the Wiltshire Special Constabulary as a Constable. He was awarded the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in 1964 and first clasp in 1974. On the occasion of Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, he was awarded the Jubilee Medal having been promoted to Special Inspector and in 1985 the second clasp to his long service medal, aged 60 and representing 30 years’ service in the Specials.
Dennis and Kathleen lived at 32 Heronscroft, Covingham Park, Swindon and Kathleen died in August 2001 aged 79. She was buried in grave 20 section T in the Roman Catholic area of the Whitworth Road Cemetery in Swindon.
Dennis passed away aged 80 on 15th April 2005 and was buried in the same grave as Kathleen.
By 1939 aged 14 Dennis was living with his parents at 34 Jennings Street, Swindon and working as an errand boy. World War II began on 3rd September 1939 and later in the war when he was aged 17, Herbert joined one of the local civil defence organisations, possibly Home Guard, serving for three years and at the end of the War, was awarded the Defence Medal. He did not serve in the regular forces, most likely due to entering a reserved occupation or on health grounds.
Dennis married Kathleen Patricia Baker in the third quarter of 1947 in Swindon aged 22 and they had one son Kevin Howard Lavers.
In about 1955 Herbert joined the Wiltshire Special Constabulary as a Constable. He was awarded the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in 1964 and first clasp in 1974. On the occasion of Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, he was awarded the Jubilee Medal having been promoted to Special Inspector and in 1985 the second clasp to his long service medal, aged 60 and representing 30 years’ service in the Specials.
Dennis and Kathleen lived at 32 Heronscroft, Covingham Park, Swindon and Kathleen died in August 2001 aged 79. She was buried in grave 20 section T in the Roman Catholic area of the Whitworth Road Cemetery in Swindon.
Dennis passed away aged 80 on 15th April 2005 and was buried in the same grave as Kathleen.
The Story The medal trio awarded to Dennis Herbert Lavers were acquired from E-Bay on 29th November 2022 and of interest, because of the Special Constabulary and Silver Jubilee 1977 Medal combination, the former also having two recent…ish long service clasps, 1974 and 1985. Fitting comfortably within a sub theme of this collection.
It is also a simpler combination of medals, an ultimate desire being just the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and Silver Jubilee, than hitherto acquired.
Ancestry.UK, the Silver Jubilee Medal Roll and his will enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
As his will specifically requested burial and named his undertakers, a call to them confirmed he was buried in the Whitworth Road Cemetery in Swindon, the cemetery then very quickly and kindly provided details of the burial plot, which was visited on 25th May 2023.
It is also a simpler combination of medals, an ultimate desire being just the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and Silver Jubilee, than hitherto acquired.
Ancestry.UK, the Silver Jubilee Medal Roll and his will enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
As his will specifically requested burial and named his undertakers, a call to them confirmed he was buried in the Whitworth Road Cemetery in Swindon, the cemetery then very quickly and kindly provided details of the burial plot, which was visited on 25th May 2023.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: DENNIS H.LAVERS
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This page last updated 26 May 23
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