Special Constable Leonard Thomas Oliver Wolverhampton Borough Police
Leonard Thomas Oliver
The Man Leonard Thomas Oliver (Len) was born on 29th April 1910 in Wolverhampton, son of Joseph Benjamin, a Plumber and Madelaine Mary nee Andrews. He had one sister Eunice Miriam (born in 1914 - 2004).
The 1911 census shows the family living at 27 Laburnum Street, Wolverhampton. Following his education, Len followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a Plumber.
During the third quarter of 1939 aged 29, Len married Doris Ida Turner in Wolverhampton and they had two children, Robin Clement born in 1946 and Gillian Mary 1952. The 1939 Register shows them living at 24 Norfolk Road, Penn Fields and he as a plumber. At the outbreak of World War II, Len was not called up either because his job was considered a reserved occupation or on health grounds. However, in about 1940 he joined the Wolverhampton Borough Police.
Len served throughout the war being awarded his Special Constabulary long Service Medal in 1943 (war service counting treble). At the end of the War he was awarded his Defence Medal and remained in the Special Constabulary, being awarded a long service clasp in 1949 (1943-45 = 6 years 1945-49 normal time = 4 total 10 years) and the second clasp in in 1959 aged 49.
Litle further detail is known, except that Doris died in 1989 aged 77 and Len lived at 8 Wynn Road, Wolverhampton, passing away a year after Doris on 10th June 1990.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 27 Laburnum Street, Wolverhampton. Following his education, Len followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a Plumber.
During the third quarter of 1939 aged 29, Len married Doris Ida Turner in Wolverhampton and they had two children, Robin Clement born in 1946 and Gillian Mary 1952. The 1939 Register shows them living at 24 Norfolk Road, Penn Fields and he as a plumber. At the outbreak of World War II, Len was not called up either because his job was considered a reserved occupation or on health grounds. However, in about 1940 he joined the Wolverhampton Borough Police.
Len served throughout the war being awarded his Special Constabulary long Service Medal in 1943 (war service counting treble). At the end of the War he was awarded his Defence Medal and remained in the Special Constabulary, being awarded a long service clasp in 1949 (1943-45 = 6 years 1945-49 normal time = 4 total 10 years) and the second clasp in in 1959 aged 49.
Litle further detail is known, except that Doris died in 1989 aged 77 and Len lived at 8 Wynn Road, Wolverhampton, passing away a year after Doris on 10th June 1990.
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The Story The medals awarded to Leonard Thomas Oliver were acquired from E-Bay on 7th October 2024 as a buy it now. They were of interest because of the double clasped Special constabulary long Service Medal, the paperwork and boxes of issue with the medals and the very reasonable price!
Thanks to the SCLS Medal box of award showing Len had served in Wolverhampton, Ancestry provided sufficient detail for a brief biography to be completed, together with rather pleasing photographs of a younger Len and his family and his will to be extracted. Another long forgotten Special Constable who served his country during World War II and remained in the force post War. 
Len Oliver's uniform ribbon bar.
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Defence Medal. Special Constabulary Long Servoice Medal clasps 'Long Service 1949, 1959'
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Medelaine, Len, Eunice and Joseph circa 1917.
Joseph
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Madelaine
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Eunice
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- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary long Service Medal: LEONARD T. OLIVER
This page last updated 18 Oct 24
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