Special Sergeant Daphne Ann Thomas Hertfordshire Police
Silver Jubilee Medal 1977. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.
The Woman Daphne Ann Thomas was born on Thursday 17th April 1941 the only child of Albert Adolphus Pine Cotton, an Insurance Clerk and Major in the Devonshire Regiment during World War II and Vera Sybil nee Nash.
Possibly because of Albert’s work in the insurance trade, Daphne and her mother travelled extensively, sailing aboard P&O Line Dunera on 24th July 1953, embarking at Southampton to Hong Kong, bound for Kure in Hiroshima, Japan. At the time their address was given as 17 Burton Road, Branksome Park, Bournemouth.
In May 1958, on another trip Vera and Daphne sailed from Hong Kong to Southampton aboard the Oxfordshire of the Bibby Brothers Line, Their address is shown as Winkton Lodge, Christchurch and Daphne aged 17 as a student at Dorchester School, Parkstone. Interestingly their future ‘onward’ residence is shown as Rhodesia for six months.
On 8th December 1960 the family sailed once again aboard the MV Breconshire of the Glen Line, from London to Singapore.
During the 1960s Daphne aged approximately 20 joined the Hertfordshire Special Constabulary as a Constable being promoted to Special Sergeant. She was awarded her Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and in 1977 the Silver Jubilee Medal.
Daphne never married and lived at some time in Dalkeith Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire and passed away peacefully on 4th January 2022 aged 81, living at Rustington Hall Care Home in Littlehampton, Sussex. Her funeral service was held at worthing Crematorium on 1st February at 1200h.
She seemingly died an extremely wealthy lady!
Possibly because of Albert’s work in the insurance trade, Daphne and her mother travelled extensively, sailing aboard P&O Line Dunera on 24th July 1953, embarking at Southampton to Hong Kong, bound for Kure in Hiroshima, Japan. At the time their address was given as 17 Burton Road, Branksome Park, Bournemouth.
In May 1958, on another trip Vera and Daphne sailed from Hong Kong to Southampton aboard the Oxfordshire of the Bibby Brothers Line, Their address is shown as Winkton Lodge, Christchurch and Daphne aged 17 as a student at Dorchester School, Parkstone. Interestingly their future ‘onward’ residence is shown as Rhodesia for six months.
On 8th December 1960 the family sailed once again aboard the MV Breconshire of the Glen Line, from London to Singapore.
During the 1960s Daphne aged approximately 20 joined the Hertfordshire Special Constabulary as a Constable being promoted to Special Sergeant. She was awarded her Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and in 1977 the Silver Jubilee Medal.
Daphne never married and lived at some time in Dalkeith Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire and passed away peacefully on 4th January 2022 aged 81, living at Rustington Hall Care Home in Littlehampton, Sussex. Her funeral service was held at worthing Crematorium on 1st February at 1200h.
She seemingly died an extremely wealthy lady!
The Story The medal pair awarded to Daphne Ann Thomas were won at the Noonan’s auction on 18th January 2023 and of immediate interest because of the scarcity of the pairing, fitting within a sub-theme of this collection.
It is very rare to find just a Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, especially with no clasps, together with a confirmed Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 awarded for the same service. Add to this the fact it is a female recipient and factor in her age at only about 36 when she received the SJM and it becomes even scarcer!
Clearly Daphne had achieved something very special or outstanding in her time in the Specials as the equivalent ‘male’ groups usually have at least two clasps on the SCLSM, the SJM awarded at about the time of their retirement.
Initially little could be found on Ancestry UK, but a google search revealed her obituary which in turn helped locate her will and some basic details from Ancestry. It is interesting to note that Daphne was a millionaire upon her death.
There is a hidden story with these medals, but will it ever be revealed one wonders.
It is very rare to find just a Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, especially with no clasps, together with a confirmed Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 awarded for the same service. Add to this the fact it is a female recipient and factor in her age at only about 36 when she received the SJM and it becomes even scarcer!
Clearly Daphne had achieved something very special or outstanding in her time in the Specials as the equivalent ‘male’ groups usually have at least two clasps on the SCLSM, the SJM awarded at about the time of their retirement.
Initially little could be found on Ancestry UK, but a google search revealed her obituary which in turn helped locate her will and some basic details from Ancestry. It is interesting to note that Daphne was a millionaire upon her death.
There is a hidden story with these medals, but will it ever be revealed one wonders.
Daphne Thomas's uniform ribbon bar.
Medal Details:
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: SERGT DAPHNE A.THOMAS
This page last updated 8 Feb 23
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