Gunner and Sub-Divisional Officer Geoffrey Scarr Royal Artillery and Humberside Special Constabulary
Geoffrey Scarr
The Man Geoffrey Scarr (Geoff) was born during the third quarter of 1924 in Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire, his mother’s maiden name was Harper.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Geoff was aged 15 and too young to enlist, however, on 18th March 1943 aged 18 he enlisted into the 25th Medium and Heavy Battery Royal Artillery as a Gunner with service number 14566169.
He saw service at home with the 1st and 3rd Mountain Regiment RA and following the end of the war posted to India in 1946 and discharged to Class B – ‘Release from service as serviceman’s skills or services no longer deemed essential for the war effort or national reconstruction’ on 27th July. For his services he qualified for the War Medal 1939-45, although did not claim it for 33 years until 1978.
During the final quarter of 1951 aged 29 he married Marjorie V Robinson (Madge) in Howden and they had a daughter Sandra V born in 1956.
During 1960 Geoff joined the East Riding of Yorkshire Special Constabulary, in 1968 this was amalgamated with York City Police and the North Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary to form the York and North-East Yorkshire Police. In about 1969 he received his Special Constabulary Long Service medal and rose through the ranks to Sub-Divisional Officer. In 1974 the York and North-East Yorkshire Police was broken and split between the North Yorkshire Police, Humberside Police, Durham Constabulary and Cleveland Constabulary. Serving in Howden Geoff was transferred to the Humberside Police working on C Division and in 1979 awarded the first clasp to his Special Constabulary Medal representing 24 years’ service. The award was made six years later in December 1984 at Beverley by the Assistant Chief Constable Len Barker, by which time Geoff had left the Specials.
In 1979 Geoff and Madge lived at Riverview, Blacktoft, Howden and in July 1985 aged 60 he suffered a serious accident when he was thrown from a tractor bucket 20 feet above ground. He had been lopping trees in a field next to Hall Farm. A flying doctor and ambulance attended and he was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, where he had leg, chest and suspected spinal injuries.
He was in hospital for about three months and placed a thank you notice in the local press in October, possibly upon his release. Geoff appears to have made a good recovery as he was also elected as a Councillor to Blacktoft Parish Council, appearing in the local press in 1993 aged 69.
Madge passed away on 11th April 2004 and was buried in Howen Cemetery. Geoff then lived at 14, Houghton Walk, Hull and lived a further 14 years passing away on 30th March 2018 aged 93. He was buried alongside Madge in Howden Cemetery.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Geoff was aged 15 and too young to enlist, however, on 18th March 1943 aged 18 he enlisted into the 25th Medium and Heavy Battery Royal Artillery as a Gunner with service number 14566169.
He saw service at home with the 1st and 3rd Mountain Regiment RA and following the end of the war posted to India in 1946 and discharged to Class B – ‘Release from service as serviceman’s skills or services no longer deemed essential for the war effort or national reconstruction’ on 27th July. For his services he qualified for the War Medal 1939-45, although did not claim it for 33 years until 1978.
During the final quarter of 1951 aged 29 he married Marjorie V Robinson (Madge) in Howden and they had a daughter Sandra V born in 1956.
During 1960 Geoff joined the East Riding of Yorkshire Special Constabulary, in 1968 this was amalgamated with York City Police and the North Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary to form the York and North-East Yorkshire Police. In about 1969 he received his Special Constabulary Long Service medal and rose through the ranks to Sub-Divisional Officer. In 1974 the York and North-East Yorkshire Police was broken and split between the North Yorkshire Police, Humberside Police, Durham Constabulary and Cleveland Constabulary. Serving in Howden Geoff was transferred to the Humberside Police working on C Division and in 1979 awarded the first clasp to his Special Constabulary Medal representing 24 years’ service. The award was made six years later in December 1984 at Beverley by the Assistant Chief Constable Len Barker, by which time Geoff had left the Specials.
In 1979 Geoff and Madge lived at Riverview, Blacktoft, Howden and in July 1985 aged 60 he suffered a serious accident when he was thrown from a tractor bucket 20 feet above ground. He had been lopping trees in a field next to Hall Farm. A flying doctor and ambulance attended and he was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, where he had leg, chest and suspected spinal injuries.
He was in hospital for about three months and placed a thank you notice in the local press in October, possibly upon his release. Geoff appears to have made a good recovery as he was also elected as a Councillor to Blacktoft Parish Council, appearing in the local press in 1993 aged 69.
Madge passed away on 11th April 2004 and was buried in Howen Cemetery. Geoff then lived at 14, Houghton Walk, Hull and lived a further 14 years passing away on 30th March 2018 aged 93. He was buried alongside Madge in Howden Cemetery.
War Medal 1939-45. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal clasp 'Long Service 1979'.
The Story The medal pair awarded to Geoffrey Scarr were acquired from E-Bay on 3rd March 2025 and of interest because of the unusual combination of the War Medal 1939-45 and Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, rather than the more common Defence Medal and SCLSM, plus the relatively recent (1979) clasp to the SC medal.
With the medals came the box of award for his War Medal giving an address, which together with his slightly unusual surname enabled his Medal Index Card, confirming the single award of the WM and his service number together with his RA Tracer Card, giving his enlistment date in 1943 to be found. Taking 18 off 1943 (giving less than three years to have been awarded the Defence Medal) came to 1925 and a speculative search for Geoffrey using this as his birth year gave one direct hit from 1924.
Oddly research wasn’t as straightforward as it might be! Some excellent items were found on Newspaper Archives, including a poor-quality picture of him and even a photograph of his grave, but the one elusive point was the 1939 Register as no records of him could be found, meaning his family detail was not available.
As a matter of interest Geoffrey only claimed his War Medal in 1978, possibly to wear with his SCLSM as he was awarded the 1979 clasp a year later. Both medals were quaintly mounted individually with a matching safety pin and have been left as they were worn. He had also claimed the 1939-45 and Burma Stars, but was advised his service was ineligible.
An interesting story of a man who served in the latter part of World War II, was a senior Special Constabulary Officer for 24 years, suffered a serious accident and later a Parish Councillor.
With the medals came the box of award for his War Medal giving an address, which together with his slightly unusual surname enabled his Medal Index Card, confirming the single award of the WM and his service number together with his RA Tracer Card, giving his enlistment date in 1943 to be found. Taking 18 off 1943 (giving less than three years to have been awarded the Defence Medal) came to 1925 and a speculative search for Geoffrey using this as his birth year gave one direct hit from 1924.
Oddly research wasn’t as straightforward as it might be! Some excellent items were found on Newspaper Archives, including a poor-quality picture of him and even a photograph of his grave, but the one elusive point was the 1939 Register as no records of him could be found, meaning his family detail was not available.
As a matter of interest Geoffrey only claimed his War Medal in 1978, possibly to wear with his SCLSM as he was awarded the 1979 clasp a year later. Both medals were quaintly mounted individually with a matching safety pin and have been left as they were worn. He had also claimed the 1939-45 and Burma Stars, but was advised his service was ineligible.
An interesting story of a man who served in the latter part of World War II, was a senior Special Constabulary Officer for 24 years, suffered a serious accident and later a Parish Councillor.
Geoff Scarr's Medal Index Card, showing award of the single War Medal 1939-45.
Royal Artillery Tracer Card
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Geoff Scarr's Medal award box and Certificate showing award of the War Medal 1939-45.
Geoff and Madge Scarr's headstone, Howden Cemetery.
Medal Details:
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: GEOFFREY SCARR.
This page last updated 24 Mar 25
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