Corporal Roger Edmund Penn Royal Air Force, Northamptonshire Special Constabulary and St John Ambulance Brigade.
Roger Edmund Penn
The Man Roger Edmund Penn was born on 15th September 1912 in Daventry, Northamptonshire, son of William Sydney a Chauffeur and Ellen nee Kenning, they only having married on 3rd August 1912 in the Parish Church of St Katherine William he aged 39 and she 29, just over a month later Roger was born! He had one brother Gerald N born in 1912.
Also of interest is that no further trace can be found of Roger’s father, the 1921 census shows Ellen (written as Eileen) still living at 16 Cross Street with her parents, they both now nearly 80 years old together with Roger and Gerald and she still shown as married.
Likewise, the 1939 Register Shows ‘Eileen’, Roger and Gerald at the same address although now aged 27 Roger has become a Clicker in the Boot Trade, a person who cuts the uppers for boots or shoes from a skin of leather or piece of man-made material (usually from a bulk roll). This includes all components of the upper, including linings, facings, stiffeners, reinforcements for eyelets and zip-protectors, whilst Gerald is listed as a House Painter.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Roger enlisted into the Royal Air Force at Padgate with service number 1110370 and during the last quarter of 1940 married Winnie Fairbrother in Rugby, they lived also at 16 Cross Street and appear to have had no children. He served ‘at home’ for the duration of the War, was promoted to Corporal and in the London Gazette of the 8thJune 1944 Mentioned in Despatches for meritorious service. Following the war Roger was awarded his Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and MiD oak leaf.
Also of interest is that no further trace can be found of Roger’s father, the 1921 census shows Ellen (written as Eileen) still living at 16 Cross Street with her parents, they both now nearly 80 years old together with Roger and Gerald and she still shown as married.
Likewise, the 1939 Register Shows ‘Eileen’, Roger and Gerald at the same address although now aged 27 Roger has become a Clicker in the Boot Trade, a person who cuts the uppers for boots or shoes from a skin of leather or piece of man-made material (usually from a bulk roll). This includes all components of the upper, including linings, facings, stiffeners, reinforcements for eyelets and zip-protectors, whilst Gerald is listed as a House Painter.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Roger enlisted into the Royal Air Force at Padgate with service number 1110370 and during the last quarter of 1940 married Winnie Fairbrother in Rugby, they lived also at 16 Cross Street and appear to have had no children. He served ‘at home’ for the duration of the War, was promoted to Corporal and in the London Gazette of the 8thJune 1944 Mentioned in Despatches for meritorious service. Following the war Roger was awarded his Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and MiD oak leaf.
Defence Medfal. War Medal 1939-45 'MiD'. Silver Jubilee Medal 1977. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal 'Long Service 1969'. Service Medal of the Order of St John and clasp.
In 1950 Roger joined the Daventry Borough Police Special Constabulary, which merged with Northamptonshire police in in 1966. He was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in 1959 and the next year joined the St John Ambulance Brigade, being awarded the Association medallion on 2nd April 1963. He was awarded the first clasp to his SCLSM in 1969 aged 57.
In 1976 he was awarded his Service Medal of the Order of St John and in 1984 a further clasp as well as being awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 for his service in the Special Constabulary at about the time he retired from the SC.
One night during 1987 Roger detected smoke in his house in Cross Street coming from his neighbour’s property. He alerted her only to find that her fireplace was alight! The Fire Brigade were called and all was well but Roger was credited with saving Clare Hay’s life. In 1988 now aged 76 he retired from the St John Ambulance Brigade and was presented with a set of limited-edition prints.
Roger lived another 10 years moving in later life from 16 Cross Street, where he had seemingly lived all of his life into the Wheatsheaf Court Nursing House and passed away on 23rd March 1998 aged 86. He was cremated at 1100h on 30th March at the Counties Crematorium, Milton Malsor. Winnie died a few weeks later on 5th June following a short illness at Northampton General Hospital and cremated on 12th June.
In 1976 he was awarded his Service Medal of the Order of St John and in 1984 a further clasp as well as being awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 for his service in the Special Constabulary at about the time he retired from the SC.
One night during 1987 Roger detected smoke in his house in Cross Street coming from his neighbour’s property. He alerted her only to find that her fireplace was alight! The Fire Brigade were called and all was well but Roger was credited with saving Clare Hay’s life. In 1988 now aged 76 he retired from the St John Ambulance Brigade and was presented with a set of limited-edition prints.
Roger lived another 10 years moving in later life from 16 Cross Street, where he had seemingly lived all of his life into the Wheatsheaf Court Nursing House and passed away on 23rd March 1998 aged 86. He was cremated at 1100h on 30th March at the Counties Crematorium, Milton Malsor. Winnie died a few weeks later on 5th June following a short illness at Northampton General Hospital and cremated on 12th June.
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Roger Penn's Special Constabulary and St John Ambulance badges, including his SJAA Medallion.
The Story The medals awarded to Roger Edmund Penn were acquired from Alnwick Auctions via The Saleroom in August 2025, they had been pointed out by a medal collecting colleague because of the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and Service Medal of the Order of St John combination, double long service being a main theme of this collection (notwithstanding the SMOStJ is not technically a long service medal!).
However, of additional interest was the inclusion of the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977, having been awarded to a serving Special Constabulary Officer, hitting another sub-theme of the collection, so desirable for two reasons.
They were, in fairness, halfheartedly bid upon whilst sitting in a bar in Hua Hin and being ambivalent about doing so! However, they were won and as is often the case some pleasing surprises were uncovered.
Ancestry had only one direct hit and Roger Penn had lived in Daventry, thus confirming the Northamptonshire Special Constabulary and St John badges that came with the medals. Newspaper archives produced some great results including a photograph of Roger. The Museum of the Order of St John also found additional details and the London Gazette confirmed the award of his Mention in Despatches, whilst serving in the RAF during WWII.
Despite the hesitation in bidding a good group with an unusual combination to a man who served in three organisations for many years.
However, of additional interest was the inclusion of the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977, having been awarded to a serving Special Constabulary Officer, hitting another sub-theme of the collection, so desirable for two reasons.
They were, in fairness, halfheartedly bid upon whilst sitting in a bar in Hua Hin and being ambivalent about doing so! However, they were won and as is often the case some pleasing surprises were uncovered.
Ancestry had only one direct hit and Roger Penn had lived in Daventry, thus confirming the Northamptonshire Special Constabulary and St John badges that came with the medals. Newspaper archives produced some great results including a photograph of Roger. The Museum of the Order of St John also found additional details and the London Gazette confirmed the award of his Mention in Despatches, whilst serving in the RAF during WWII.
Despite the hesitation in bidding a good group with an unusual combination to a man who served in three organisations for many years.
Daventry Express. 26th March 1988.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: ROGER E.PENN
- Silver Juilee Medal 1977: S.P.C. ROGER E.PENN
- Special Constabulary Long Service medal: ROGER E.PENN
- Service Medal of the Order of St John: ROGER E.PENN 1977
This page last updated 25 Oct 25
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