Superintendent Stanley Charles White Strathclyde Police
The Man Stanley Charles White was born on 12th December 1921 in Hastings, Sussex, son of Charles Walter Harrison, a regular soldier serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment, later a Porter for LMS Railway and Madelaine Lockhart nee Dixie. He had one sister, Dorothy Gladys born in 1919.
Stanley attended Perry Road Elementary School in Hastings from 1927-29 aged 6 until 8; when the family moved to London with Walter’s work, he went to Lathom Road Elementary School 1929-33 aged 8 until 11. Sadly, his mother Madelaine died in 1933 aged just 47 when Stanley was only 12 years old.
He later attended East Ham Grammar School London 1933-38 aged 11 until 17 and on leaving attended courses at the Langside College of further Education, gaining a Royal Society of Arts – English (intermediate and advanced) and Teaching in Shorthand certificate.
Following college Stanley worked as a clerk with Arthur May Ltd, a firm of wholesale agricultural produce merchants in Spittalfields, London from 1938-41. In 1941, during World War II, he enlisted into the Royal Air Force on 9th June 1941 serving ‘at home’ in No 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit as an LAC with service number 1391696. He left the RAF on 13th June 1945 and transferred into the Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) from 14th June 1945 – 7th March 1946 as an Air Fitter, service number FX/688881 serving at RNAS Evanton, Scotland. He remained in Scotland following the war and was awarded his Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
During 1945, Stanley married Mary Elizabeth Marshall at Cathcart, Glasgow and they lived at 268 Aikenhead Road, Govanhall, Glasgo, having no children. On 27th May 1946 aged 24, he joined the City of Glasgow Police and was posted to ‘A’ Division. At the time he was described as 5’.10 ½” tall with brown hair and blue eyes, weighing 12st 4 lbs and his religion CoE.
He undertook his initial training at Glasgow Police Training School during May – August 1946 and awarded the Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medal in July, having qualified in basic lifesaving and artificial respiration techniques. He was also a keen athlete being a member of the Police Athletic Association and later a qualified coach and judge for them, officiating at their national and international athletic meetings.
Stanley attended Perry Road Elementary School in Hastings from 1927-29 aged 6 until 8; when the family moved to London with Walter’s work, he went to Lathom Road Elementary School 1929-33 aged 8 until 11. Sadly, his mother Madelaine died in 1933 aged just 47 when Stanley was only 12 years old.
He later attended East Ham Grammar School London 1933-38 aged 11 until 17 and on leaving attended courses at the Langside College of further Education, gaining a Royal Society of Arts – English (intermediate and advanced) and Teaching in Shorthand certificate.
Following college Stanley worked as a clerk with Arthur May Ltd, a firm of wholesale agricultural produce merchants in Spittalfields, London from 1938-41. In 1941, during World War II, he enlisted into the Royal Air Force on 9th June 1941 serving ‘at home’ in No 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit as an LAC with service number 1391696. He left the RAF on 13th June 1945 and transferred into the Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) from 14th June 1945 – 7th March 1946 as an Air Fitter, service number FX/688881 serving at RNAS Evanton, Scotland. He remained in Scotland following the war and was awarded his Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
During 1945, Stanley married Mary Elizabeth Marshall at Cathcart, Glasgow and they lived at 268 Aikenhead Road, Govanhall, Glasgo, having no children. On 27th May 1946 aged 24, he joined the City of Glasgow Police and was posted to ‘A’ Division. At the time he was described as 5’.10 ½” tall with brown hair and blue eyes, weighing 12st 4 lbs and his religion CoE.
He undertook his initial training at Glasgow Police Training School during May – August 1946 and awarded the Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medal in July, having qualified in basic lifesaving and artificial respiration techniques. He was also a keen athlete being a member of the Police Athletic Association and later a qualified coach and judge for them, officiating at their national and international athletic meetings.
Stanley transferred to the Traffic Department on 28th January 1952 where he served for the next 22 years. He was Specially Commended by the Chief Constable on 2nd March 1952 for apprehending a man and two accomplices for burglary and road traffic offences and again on 19th October for apprehending another man for burglary.
In 1955 he was living with Mary at 89 Boyd Street in Glasgow and still at the same address in 1962. Stanley was also interested in motor sport and a founder member of the Glasgow Police Motor Club in 1962 and Chairman of the Federation of British Police Motor Clubs.
On 30th March 1963 Stanley was promoted to Sergeant and attended his initial course on 20th January – 8th February 1964 and in charge of the force Traffic Enquiry section. This was followed by promotion to Inspector on 8th March 1967 when he became responsible for all Road Patrols in the force. In 1968 he was awarded his Police Exemplary Service Medal named at this rank.
Further promotion followed, to Chief Inspector on 29th June 1971 and Superintendent on 1st September 1973, leaving traffic having amassed a wide range of traffic related experience in Road Patrols, Traffic Management, Accident Investigation, Road Safety and as Ch Insp, also in charge of the Traffic Wardens Department, in which there were over 200 staff.
On his promotion to Superintendent he was posted to the ‘F’ Division and designated Deputy Divisional Commander in 1974. He transferred across to the Strathclyde Police, following its formation in 1975 when Glasgow City Police and other smaller forces were amalgamated into the larger force.
In 1977 Stanley was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 and now living at 49 Braidholme Road, Giffnock with Mary. Later in the year he was transferred to the ‘B’ Division in Clydebank, his final posting and appointed as Deputy Divisional Commander in October. This was a posting he was unhappy about for several reasons which he made clear. This may have had some bearing on his subsequent decisions, despite being given glowing reports from his Chief Superintendent.
Stanley applied for the role of Staff Officer to HM Inspectors of Constabulary on 4th February 1978, but was unsuccessful, having also previously applied for a similar role in 1973 with no success. Following this disappointment, he decided to retire from the Police which he did on 14th May 1978 aged 57, but immediately took up a new job with Strathclyde Regional Council as a Senior Emergency Planning Officer as part of a newly created unit. On his retirement his service was described as exemplary.
Outside of the police Stanley enjoyed angling and golf and he passed away in 1988 aged 76.
In 1955 he was living with Mary at 89 Boyd Street in Glasgow and still at the same address in 1962. Stanley was also interested in motor sport and a founder member of the Glasgow Police Motor Club in 1962 and Chairman of the Federation of British Police Motor Clubs.
On 30th March 1963 Stanley was promoted to Sergeant and attended his initial course on 20th January – 8th February 1964 and in charge of the force Traffic Enquiry section. This was followed by promotion to Inspector on 8th March 1967 when he became responsible for all Road Patrols in the force. In 1968 he was awarded his Police Exemplary Service Medal named at this rank.
Further promotion followed, to Chief Inspector on 29th June 1971 and Superintendent on 1st September 1973, leaving traffic having amassed a wide range of traffic related experience in Road Patrols, Traffic Management, Accident Investigation, Road Safety and as Ch Insp, also in charge of the Traffic Wardens Department, in which there were over 200 staff.
On his promotion to Superintendent he was posted to the ‘F’ Division and designated Deputy Divisional Commander in 1974. He transferred across to the Strathclyde Police, following its formation in 1975 when Glasgow City Police and other smaller forces were amalgamated into the larger force.
In 1977 Stanley was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 and now living at 49 Braidholme Road, Giffnock with Mary. Later in the year he was transferred to the ‘B’ Division in Clydebank, his final posting and appointed as Deputy Divisional Commander in October. This was a posting he was unhappy about for several reasons which he made clear. This may have had some bearing on his subsequent decisions, despite being given glowing reports from his Chief Superintendent.
Stanley applied for the role of Staff Officer to HM Inspectors of Constabulary on 4th February 1978, but was unsuccessful, having also previously applied for a similar role in 1973 with no success. Following this disappointment, he decided to retire from the Police which he did on 14th May 1978 aged 57, but immediately took up a new job with Strathclyde Regional Council as a Senior Emergency Planning Officer as part of a newly created unit. On his retirement his service was described as exemplary.
Outside of the police Stanley enjoyed angling and golf and he passed away in 1988 aged 76.
The Story The medal group awarded to Stanley Charles White were acquired from E-Bay on 12th December 2020 and of interest because of the Silver Jubilee 1977 and Police Exemplary Service Medal combination. It was also good to have a named Royal Life Saving Society medallion with the group.
A search of Scotland’s People uncovered only one direct match, a marriage, which in turn enabled a handful of electoral registers to be located on Ancestry.UK. Sadly little additional information could be found on either site as there were several ‘possible’ Stanley Charles Whites.
However, all this was to change when George Barnsley, Chairman of the Lanarkshire Police Historical Society, made contact in January 2024. He had been able to find Stanley White’s police file at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. It contained a wealth of information not only of Stanley’s police career, but of his wartime service and education.
As such, a very substantial biography has been put together enabling Stanley to be recognised and remembered as he should be.
A search of Scotland’s People uncovered only one direct match, a marriage, which in turn enabled a handful of electoral registers to be located on Ancestry.UK. Sadly little additional information could be found on either site as there were several ‘possible’ Stanley Charles Whites.
However, all this was to change when George Barnsley, Chairman of the Lanarkshire Police Historical Society, made contact in January 2024. He had been able to find Stanley White’s police file at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. It contained a wealth of information not only of Stanley’s police career, but of his wartime service and education.
As such, a very substantial biography has been put together enabling Stanley to be recognised and remembered as he should be.
Stanley Charles White's Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medallion and box of issue
Stanley White's Police Athletic Association Badge
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Scottish Police Cap Badge
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With thanks to George Barnsley, Chairman of the Lanarkshire Police Historical Society.
Medal Details
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Police Exemplary Service Medal: INSPR. STANLEY WHITE
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