Page 22 - Insight edition 1 2017

“i Army tanks were seen on On its journey back to the UK, sailing unescorted close to Sierra
An Old Tale
Leone, the Umona was struck by a torpedo launched by the
The Police Federation was formed in 1919 following the Police Strikes Lime St, and a Navy battleship German U-boat U-124. Of the crew of 101, only 5 survived. Ex-
of 1918 and 1919. Paul Kinsella, our manager at Green Lane tells a was seen on the River Mersey. Constable John Deering was not one of the survivors.
Police related family story going back over 100 years, about a family U-124 was later sunk in 1943 by two British warships, HMS
member who went on strike, and paid the ultimate consequences. Paul Kinsella - ” Stonecrop and Black Swan. All crew were lost.
Finance & Business Manager The home in Chevin Road soon after the Umona was sunk was
Merseyside Police Federation
This was compounded by large numbers of police officers having totally destroyed in an air raid. When my Great Grandmother
been enlisted into the army, placing a greater strain on those left went along to view her destroyed home, she was greeted with a
As part of my role, I pull together and produce this farm fire in Speke. His career highlight appeared to be receiving a at home. They ended up working a 96-hour week, with leave messenger with a telegram informing her of her husband’s death.
Insight Magazine. In this edition, I find myself with a commendation for stopping a runaway horse and carriage. restricted to one day a fortnight. There endeth this old tale.
two page gap, so I thought I would share an old tale. The census in 1911 showed at the age of 34 years he now had And so, three months before the end of the war, police officers The eventual outcome of the strike benefited police workers.
As I enter my 62nd year I have become fascinated four young sons between 3 and 10 years. went on strike for the first time. Ex Constable Deering was left They received a pay increase that doubled their wages, and the
with family history, and started looking into genealogy with a young family and no home or job. government was forced to take notice of their issues, establishing
and my family tree. His Police Career came to an abrupt halt on the 1st of August the Police Federation in the process. The strikes also increased
1919 when he was dismissed from the service after partaking in the government’s awareness of the importance of the police in
I was aware my great Grandfather was killed during World War the Police Strike in Liverpool. He was 42 years of age. He lost his terms of the government’s own stability. After 1919, the police
II whilst serving in the Merchant Navy, but my research revealed job, his Police house, and all pension entitlements. Of the 1874 were never again taken quite as for granted, as they had been in
some fascinating facts of which we were unaware. From the members of Liverpool City Police, 954 went on strike. The streets the years before. Maybe not until recent times?
census of 1901, I was able to see that my Great Grandfather, at of Liverpool were in total anarchy. Army tanks were seen on Lime Neither myself nor my brother, soon to retire from
22 years of age was Constable 114 F John Deering of Liverpool St, and a Navy battleship was seen on the River Mersey. Gloucestershire Constabulary, had any knowledge we had a close
City Police, living in Alexandra Drive, Aigburth. He was married family member who was a police officer in Liverpool, particularly
with a 4 year old son. Back then, Police Officer’s pay was comparable to that of an one with such a story to tell.
agricultural worker or unskilled labourer. The cost of living had
He clearly was not afraid of getting his hands dirty as old Liverpool more than doubled during the First World War, but police had My own career path took me to into the Police Federation where
City Police records show him being assaulted in Window lane, received a pay rise of only 3 shillings since 1914. I have served as a Representative and employee for 21 years.
Garston in 1907 and in 1913; he was burned when attending a Ironically as previously mentioned the Police Federation was
formed in August 1919 immediately after the Police Strike.

I write quite proudly of my Great Grandfather’s story in our
member magazine and the sacrifice he made in standing up to
what he felt was right, but the truth of the matter is that his
actions cost him everything.
He then joined the merchant Navy. He served on a variety of
liners on the Liverpool to Quebec route, and now resided in He doesn’t appear in many official records, but he certainly did
Chevin Road in Walton. his bit for his country, and his actions maybe made conditions
better for colleagues 100 years ago, but at a massive cost to
At the start of World War 2, he was a Baggage Master on the his family.
Duchess of Richmond, normally a passenger liner, but now a troop
ship. On his final trip, he took ill on board and was transferred to the
SS Umona to be taken back home. He was after all 64 years of age.

22 Insight Magazine of Merseyside Police Federation - Issue 1 of 2017 • www.merpolfed.org.uk Insight Magazine of Merseyside Police Federation - Issue 1 of 2017 • www.merpolfed.org.uk 23