A Baton, Ball and Two Whistles!
Constable Donald Percy Neville Yeomans Royal Navy and Somersetshire Constabulary
The Man Donald Percy Neville Yeomans was born on 4th November 1899 in Hardingham, Norfolk, son of Evan, the Parish Clerk and Mary Elizabeth nee Finch. He was the youngest of six children, Sydney born in 1885, Winifred 1887, Hilda 1889, Helen 1893 and Lewis 1896. He was baptised on 7th May 1900 in the Parish Church, Hardingham by the local Rector, S Isaacson and by the time of the 1901 census, aged 11 was living with his family at 56 Nordle Corner in Hardingham, and shown as still as school. At the outbreak of World War I, Donald was only 15, however five days after his 18th Birthday on 9th November 1917 he enlisted into the Royal Navy, as an Ordinary Seaman with service number J.80864. On enlistment he was described as 5' 8½" tall with a chest of 37", brown hair and a fresh complexion. He completed initial training in HMS Pembroke, a shore barracks at Chatham until 3rd April 1918 and then HMS Inflexible, an Invincible Class Battlecruiser, until his demobilisation on 11th March1919. Inflexible was present on 21st November 1918, at Scapa Flow for the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet, and it is likely Donald was on board to witness this historic event. His service throughout was described as very good and he was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal. In 1925 Donald joined the Somerset Constabulary, the Police Force responsible for policing the county of Somerset, England, between 1856 and 1967, as Police Constable S.268. In January 1927 he attended and passed his first Aid Course with the St John Ambulance Association, requalifying in March 1929. He served for nearly five years on the Weston Super Mare Force, where he was described as being ‘very popular’, and in 1930 posted to Burnham on Sea. On Tuesday afternoon 30th June 1931, aged 30, Donald married Edith Ellen Eliza Neads in Kewstoke Church, Axbridge, Somerset. Edith was the only daughter of Mr and Mrs W H Neads of Rose Villa, Worlebury - a name given to an upland area lying between the flatlands of Weston-super-Mare and the Kewstoke area of North Somerset. Edith had worked at Messrs Wm C Thomas and Co in Weston, but more recently had moved to the Somerset County Education Offices.
The wedding ceremony was fully choral and conducted by the Reverend J H H Doorbar, with hymns Lead Us Heavenly Father, The Voice That Breathed O’er Eden and Oh Perfect Love. Donald’s best man was PC James Duncan, and following the reception held at Edith’s parent’s house she and Donald honeymooned in Weymouth, before returning to Burnham on Sea. They subsequently had a number of children. Interestingly the day was also Edith’s parents Silver Wedding Anniversary, and her father was well known locally as the rugby forward who obtained ‘caps’ for the Somerset, Weston and Bristol Clubs in 1906.
Donald was also a keen sportsman and well known in local sporting circles. He represented Somerset County Police at football and achieved some distinction as an athlete. He also played for Winscombe AFC during 1935-36 when they were the winners of Cheddar Valley League, Charity and Knock out Cups. Winscombe AFC was still going strong in 1982. Donald continued serving as a PC and in 1939 shown as living at the Police Station, Sandford Road, Springfield, Chelmsford, now the headquarters of Essex Police, with Edith. He had not transferred forces and is likely to have been relocated with World War II imminent. He served in the Police for the duration of World War II, a difficult time in many regards for the Police Force, and following the end of the War awarded the Defence Medal, followed by the Police Exemplary Service Medal in 1951, the year it was instituted to recognise 22 years exemplary service, in Donald’s case 26. He was now aged 52. Donald retired in about 1954 and appears to have also served in the Civil Defence, post retirement, as he was also awarded the Civil Defence Long Service Medal for 15 years service. In later life Donald and Edith lived at 3 Field Villas, Shepton Mallet and he died on 10th July 1987 aged 87, leaving £71,195.00. He was cremated on 17th July at the Haycombe Crematorium, Whiteway, Bath. His service was conducted by Rev J Woolmer and his ashes were taken by the family. Edith lived a further 10 years and passed away in 1997 aged 99.
Donald was also a keen sportsman and well known in local sporting circles. He represented Somerset County Police at football and achieved some distinction as an athlete. He also played for Winscombe AFC during 1935-36 when they were the winners of Cheddar Valley League, Charity and Knock out Cups. Winscombe AFC was still going strong in 1982. Donald continued serving as a PC and in 1939 shown as living at the Police Station, Sandford Road, Springfield, Chelmsford, now the headquarters of Essex Police, with Edith. He had not transferred forces and is likely to have been relocated with World War II imminent. He served in the Police for the duration of World War II, a difficult time in many regards for the Police Force, and following the end of the War awarded the Defence Medal, followed by the Police Exemplary Service Medal in 1951, the year it was instituted to recognise 22 years exemplary service, in Donald’s case 26. He was now aged 52. Donald retired in about 1954 and appears to have also served in the Civil Defence, post retirement, as he was also awarded the Civil Defence Long Service Medal for 15 years service. In later life Donald and Edith lived at 3 Field Villas, Shepton Mallet and he died on 10th July 1987 aged 87, leaving £71,195.00. He was cremated on 17th July at the Haycombe Crematorium, Whiteway, Bath. His service was conducted by Rev J Woolmer and his ashes were taken by the family. Edith lived a further 10 years and passed away in 1997 aged 99.
PC Donald Yeoman's National Identity and Warrant Card
The Story The medals awarded to Donald Percy Neville Yeomans were acquired from E-Bay in November 2019, following negotiation with seller, a family member, to merge several lots belonging or related to Donald Yeomans, and as a buy it now deal. The group was of interest because of the slightly unusual double long service combination of the Police Exemplary Service and Civil Defence Medal, a collection of scarce Somersetshire Constabulary badges and a large archive of documents and photographs. Sadly a lot of the archive contained photographs and details relating to other members of Donald’s family, possibly brothers and his wife, and many had not been annotated at the time of production, thus not possible to identify their relevance. However they have been retained as a part of the overall historical archive. That said, there were many photographs and documents relating to Donald, and from those, coupled with Ancestry.UK it has once again been possible to build up a comprehensive biography of the man, to give at least a taste of the person he was. Another example of a man who had served his country during two World Wars, with his medals and ephemera languishing in a loft for many years until bought back to life and preserved for history.
Award Certificate and box of issue for Donald's Defence Medal
Medal Details
- 1914-18 British War Medal: J.80864 D.P.N.YEOMANS. ORD. R.N.
- Victory Medal: J 80864 D.P.N.YEOMANS. ORD. R.N.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Police Exemplary Service Medal: CONST. DONALD.P.N.YEOMANS
- Civil Defence Long Service Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
Page last updated 8 Mar 20