Rediscovered fallen honoured at police Act of Remembrance

Staff and officers from Devon and Cornwall Police paid their respects to those who lost their lives at war during a ceremony today, Friday 11 November 2016.

The Force chaplain, Reverend Prebendary Philip Darby, opened the Act of Remembrance with prayers at Police Headquarters in Exeter, followed by a two minute silence at 11am.

This was followed by the laying of wreaths, led by Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer.

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said: “Today we express our gratitude as we pay tribute to, honour and remember those who lost their lives and have been affected during conflicts.

“We thank them for the courage they showed and the sacrifice they made for our country and our freedom.

“Our thoughts are also with those currently serving our country as they continue to demonstrate exceptional bravery.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez and members of Unison, the Police Federation, the Special Constabulary, the Superintendents’ Association, the National Association of Retired Police Officers, the Torbay Inter-Faith Forum, the Exeter Jewish Community, the Exeter Islamic Community and John Giblin of the Police Roll of Honour Trust also took part in the service.

Following research by police staff member Mark Rothwell, the names of six further former police officers who gave their lives during WW1 have been discovered. They were members of Plymouth Borough Police, Tiverton Borough Police and Truro City Police, now absorbed into Devon and Cornwall Police, which was explained to the gathered officers and guests by Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton, which you can watch in our video.

A new plaque commemorating these six officers has now been placed in the entrance to the main reception building at Middlemoor, and was dedicated today by Force chaplain Reverend Prebendary Philip Darby.

The names were added to those read out at the Act of Remembrance earlier in the day.