Special Inspector Charles Frederick William Strickland Kent Special Constabulary
Charles Frederick William Strickland
The Man Charles Frederick William Strickland was born on Thursday 15th August 1901 at Brasted, Westerham, Kent, son of William Sidney Lassafax, a Builder, Estate Plumber and Painter and Melinda Mary nee Harvey. He had one sister Rose Eva Marion born in 1888. The 1911 census shows Charles aged 9 living with his family at Combe Bank Lodge Brasted.
At the outbreak of world War I on 4th August 1914, Charles was too young to enlist, but in 1917 aged 15 he became one of the first employees of the Sevenoaks and District Electricity Company based in Sundridge, the war having ended by the time he was 18.
Charles joined the Kent Special Constabulary in 1926 and on Saturday 9th May 1931 at St Botolph’s Church, Chevening, married Winifed Emily Cowlard, they held their reception in the house of Winifred’s parents and honeymooned in Eastbourne. They had no children and in 1932 were living at Tovill House, Riverhead.
In 1935 Charles was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and the 1939 Register shows them now living at Fairmead, Main Road, Sundridge, his occupation given as Electrical Engineer and serving in the KSC, collar number S.400.
At the outbreak of World War II, Charles was aged 38 and either because of age or possible reserved occupation did not serve in the Armed Forces but continued in the SC throughout the war. By now he was working for the Chislehurst Electric Company, but in April 1941 was summonsed before the Magistrates at Bromley Petty Sessions as having visited the company’s sub-station at Royal Parade, Chislehurst during the day to replace a blown fuse, seems to have not turned off the lights when he left. As darkness fell, this resulted in a fully illuminated front yard and lights showing from within the building. That night a heavy air raid occurred and police had to hold blankets over the windows for forty minutes before a representative arrived to extinguish them. Charles was fined £5.00 (£211.00 in 2024 approx) and the company £20.00 – the latter stating they would appeal. The press, sensibly made no mention of Charles being a member of the SC.
At the outbreak of world War I on 4th August 1914, Charles was too young to enlist, but in 1917 aged 15 he became one of the first employees of the Sevenoaks and District Electricity Company based in Sundridge, the war having ended by the time he was 18.
Charles joined the Kent Special Constabulary in 1926 and on Saturday 9th May 1931 at St Botolph’s Church, Chevening, married Winifed Emily Cowlard, they held their reception in the house of Winifred’s parents and honeymooned in Eastbourne. They had no children and in 1932 were living at Tovill House, Riverhead.
In 1935 Charles was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and the 1939 Register shows them now living at Fairmead, Main Road, Sundridge, his occupation given as Electrical Engineer and serving in the KSC, collar number S.400.
At the outbreak of World War II, Charles was aged 38 and either because of age or possible reserved occupation did not serve in the Armed Forces but continued in the SC throughout the war. By now he was working for the Chislehurst Electric Company, but in April 1941 was summonsed before the Magistrates at Bromley Petty Sessions as having visited the company’s sub-station at Royal Parade, Chislehurst during the day to replace a blown fuse, seems to have not turned off the lights when he left. As darkness fell, this resulted in a fully illuminated front yard and lights showing from within the building. That night a heavy air raid occurred and police had to hold blankets over the windows for forty minutes before a representative arrived to extinguish them. Charles was fined £5.00 (£211.00 in 2024 approx) and the company £20.00 – the latter stating they would appeal. The press, sensibly made no mention of Charles being a member of the SC.
Defence Medasl. Special Constabulary Long Service Medasl, clasps 'Long Service 1942, 54, 53, 63'.
Despite his misdemeanor Charles continued serving in the SC being awarded the first clasp to his LS Medal in 1942 (the approximate calculation being 1935-39 = 4 years normal time. 1939 - 41 = 6 years treble time, depending on his month of qualification). And his second in 1945 (1942-45 = 10 years treble service, again dependent upon his joining date). At the end of the War, he was also awarded the Defence Medal.
Charles continued his SC service for many more years, being awarded his third clasp in 1953. Sadly, Winifred passed away in Orpington Hospital in July 1954, having been ill for some time. Her funeral was held on 12th July at Chevening with the Reverend G F Richard officiating. He remarried in the second quarter of 1959 to Rose Elizabeth Bellingham in Tonbridge and adopted his Stepson John William Charles Bellingham.
As well as his Special Constabulary service, Charles was also interested in local history and involved with the Sevenoaks Hicks Own Scout Group.
In 1963, as a Special Sergeant he was awarded the fourth clasp to his Medal by the Assistant Chief Constable S Jenner and the County Commandant Captain Leigh-Pemberton MBE at a ceremony reported in the Chronicle and Courier of 10th January 1964, where thanks were given to the service offered for free by the Specials. Charles was later promoted to Special Inspector at the Brasted, Westerham and Edenbridge section
Charles passed away on 11th July 1969 aged just 67 at the Edenbridge War Memorial Hospital and still living at 40 Main Road, Sundridge. His funeral was held at Sundridge Parish Church. Thus ended the life of a man who had given 43 years’ service out of his 67 to the Special Constabulary.
Charles continued his SC service for many more years, being awarded his third clasp in 1953. Sadly, Winifred passed away in Orpington Hospital in July 1954, having been ill for some time. Her funeral was held on 12th July at Chevening with the Reverend G F Richard officiating. He remarried in the second quarter of 1959 to Rose Elizabeth Bellingham in Tonbridge and adopted his Stepson John William Charles Bellingham.
As well as his Special Constabulary service, Charles was also interested in local history and involved with the Sevenoaks Hicks Own Scout Group.
In 1963, as a Special Sergeant he was awarded the fourth clasp to his Medal by the Assistant Chief Constable S Jenner and the County Commandant Captain Leigh-Pemberton MBE at a ceremony reported in the Chronicle and Courier of 10th January 1964, where thanks were given to the service offered for free by the Specials. Charles was later promoted to Special Inspector at the Brasted, Westerham and Edenbridge section
Charles passed away on 11th July 1969 aged just 67 at the Edenbridge War Memorial Hospital and still living at 40 Main Road, Sundridge. His funeral was held at Sundridge Parish Church. Thus ended the life of a man who had given 43 years’ service out of his 67 to the Special Constabulary.
The Story The medals awarded to Charles Strickland were acquired from E-Bay on 22nd August 2024 and of immediate interest because of the scarce four clasped Special Constabulary Medal, the clasp dates appearing chronologically correct.
Although the medal was named to Charles Strickland and the box of award showed Kent as his force, initial research proved fruitless and there were no entries with just the first name of Charles. Following some tweaking of the search criteria one name, Charles F W Strickland kept appearing and showed him as ‘K.S.C. No S 400’ in the 1939 Register – presumably Kent Special Constabulary.
A search of the newspaper archives using his name and ‘police’ as the search details, revealed the award of the fourth clasp to the SCLS Medal to a Charles Strickland in January 1964, his fourth clasp dated 1963. Further digging revealed he had died in 1969, his obituary confirming his 43 years in the Special Constabulary. It also showed a photograph of Charles, not a brilliant image, but clear enough to see what he looked like in life.
Other interesting facts were revealed during the research, but once again it was rewarding to rescue a medal from relative obscurity with no background and be able to put together a reasonable biography of a man who served in the Special Constabulary for 43 years out of his total 67 and especially to have confirmation of the scarce fourth claps and a photograph.
Although the medal was named to Charles Strickland and the box of award showed Kent as his force, initial research proved fruitless and there were no entries with just the first name of Charles. Following some tweaking of the search criteria one name, Charles F W Strickland kept appearing and showed him as ‘K.S.C. No S 400’ in the 1939 Register – presumably Kent Special Constabulary.
A search of the newspaper archives using his name and ‘police’ as the search details, revealed the award of the fourth clasp to the SCLS Medal to a Charles Strickland in January 1964, his fourth clasp dated 1963. Further digging revealed he had died in 1969, his obituary confirming his 43 years in the Special Constabulary. It also showed a photograph of Charles, not a brilliant image, but clear enough to see what he looked like in life.
Other interesting facts were revealed during the research, but once again it was rewarding to rescue a medal from relative obscurity with no background and be able to put together a reasonable biography of a man who served in the Special Constabulary for 43 years out of his total 67 and especially to have confirmation of the scarce fourth claps and a photograph.
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Charles Strickland's Medal award box, four clasps, medal naming and uniform ribbon bar
Chronicle and Courier 10th January 1964. Showing award of fourth clasp.
Charles Frederick William STRICKLAND is one of five in this collection with the scarce four clasped Special Constabulary Medal
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: CHARLES STRICKLAND.
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