Page 23 - Federation magazine: December 2016 / January 2017

Andy honours war-time hero

Sergeant Andy Padmore travelled 700 could to pay our respects; it’s been a in such affection by my grandma and mum
miles to remember a fallen police fascinating journey taking the group to a so I’m delighted it helped Andy get in contact
officer killed in the first World War. number of sites from Ypres to Normandy. with me and touched that he is going to
Andy is a member of the Wolverhampton “These guys were the bravest of the such trouble to pay his respects at Harry’s
Police Military History Group which honours brave, they served their local community as resting place.”
former colleagues who died while serving police officers and when the call came they Harry Kidd - who was aged 27 at the
their country and his research enabled him signed up for King and Country.” time of his death and originally from
to track down the family of fallen Janet added: “I was thrilled to hear of the Thetford in Norfolk - was a constable in
Wolverhampton officer PC Henry George group’s visit and wholeheartedly approved. I Wolverhampton Borough Police. He lived
Kidd. put great uncle Harry’s name on the with his wife in a town house in Lower
“PC Kidd signed up with the First remembrance website because he was held Vauxhall, Wolverhampton.
Battalion Grenadier Guards at the outbreak
of the war but he died from machine gun
wounds sustained in a Somme battle in
September 1916,” Andy said.
“I saw his photo and was able to contact
his great niece, Janet Frusher, and asked for
her permission to visit Henry’s grave.”
Andy paid his respects on 16 September
- the same date as the offensive which
ultimately killed PC Kidd. He laid a West
Midlands Police wreath at the grave in La
Neuville British Cemetery, near Corbie in the
valley of the Somme in France, to mark the
centenary of Guardsman Kidd’s death. He
also laid a second wreath on Janet’s behalf.
Andy explained: “This came about
because there is a memorial at
Wolverhampton Police Station featuring the
names of former local police officers killed in
conflict. I used to walk past it every day but
one day I decided to do a bit of research into
each officer and the results were amazing.
“On the back of that the Police Military
History Group decided they wanted to visit
the graves of as many of the fallen as we

MPs debate giving officer Roadshows
status to police animals continue touring
the Force area
More than 120,000 people have signed an online petition calling for police dogs and horses
to be given ‘officer status’, sparking a debate in Parliament. The last roadshow of the 2016 tour by West
The petition was set up by PC Dave Wardell of the Beds, Herts and Cambs Dog Unit, Midlands Police Federation was staged at
after his German shepherd, Finn, was seriously injured when he was stabbed repeatedly in Coventry on Tuesday 6 December.
the head and chest as he tackled an armed man accused of robbing a Stevenage taxi driver. But the roadshows will be back up and
Tom Cuddeford, interim chairman of West Midlands Police Federation, said: “We are running in the New Year with dates already in
pleased by the support that this petition has received from within the police and from the the diary for visits to Oldbury Superblock on
public. It had to achieve 100,000 signatures to trigger the debate. 19 January and West Bromwich on 22
“We hope that the appalling attack on Finn, and evidence from other injuries to police February.
dogs and horses in the line of duty, will highlight the issues and will lead to a change in At all events, member services providers
the law.” will talk to members about the services they
PD Finn underwent a four-hour operation after the attack and had to have part of his provide and Federation representatives will be
lung removed but is now recovering at home. on hand to offer advice and support.
During the debate on Monday 14 November, police minister Brandon Lewis said he had Free Federation ‘goodies’ will also be on
written to colleagues at the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Environment, Food offer and there is an opportunity to enter a
and Rural Affairs to explore whether more could be done in law to offer appropriate prize draw for a £50 Amazon gift voucher.
protection to working animals. He did not rule out further legislation if it was found to be
necessary and would look for opportunities to introduce this next year.

www.westmidspolfed.com federation December 2016/January 2017 23