H Division Sergeant. Can anyone identify???

[Inspector-Abberline]

Hi,

Can anyone possibly identify this H division Sergeant based on his collar number?

Thanks

[Herlock Sholmes]

I’ve sent Neil Bell a pm over on JtRForums. He’s the likeliest man to ID your interesting photo.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi,

Can anyone possibly identify this H division Sergeant based on his collar number?

Thanks

I just received an email from David Orsam after he saw your post and my response and he tells me that in March of 1888 H14 was a Seargeant Stoner. He thinks, but he can’t be certain, that his first name was George.

[rjpalmer]

I just received an email from David Orsam after he saw your post and my response and he tells me that in March of 1888 H14 was a Seargeant Stoner. He thinks, but he can’t be certain, that his first name was George.

Hi Herlock,

Yes. Stoner's name was George Stoner, transferred to H-Division in 1882. Before that, in 1881, H-14 was Sergeant Alexander Meiklejohn, but he was demoted to constable, so maybe that's when Stoner assumed the badge number?

Stoner ended up a station sergeant in Camberwell, retiring 23 July 1895.

The Hancock & Williams photography studio is in the London directory for 1890, but I don't know how long before or after that date it was in operation.

[rjpalmer]

George Stoner, assuming this is the right bloke:

[Inspector-Abberline]

Wow guys! Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it. It's nice to put a name to the photo. Great detective work!!

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi Herlock,

Yes. Stoner's name was George Stoner, transferred to H-Division in 1882. Before that, in 1881, H-14 was Sergeant Alexander Meiklejohn, but he was demoted to constable, so maybe that's when Stoner assumed the badge number?

Stoner ended up a station sergeant in Camberwell, retiring 23 July 1895.

The Hancock & Williams photography studio is in the London directory for 1890, but I don't know how long before or after that date it was in operation.

Hi Roger,

Thanks for that. I was wondering if Sergeant Meiklejohn was related to the Inspector John Meiklejohn of the Turf Fraud Scandal of 1877?

[rjpalmer]

Hi Herlock,

Yes, he was the older brother of the more infamous John Meiklejohn. Both born in Dunblane, Scotland, as confirmed in the 1841 Scotland census & marriage certificates, etc. Their father Robert was a farmer.

I don't know much about Alexander other than he was sergeant in H-Division in 1881 as mentioned in a couple of newspaper articles and in that year's census. If I remember, his name comes up in the Old Bailey records, too.

[jerryd]

Wow guys! Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it. It's nice to put a name to the photo. Great detective work!!

Thanks for posting the photo!

It's always nice to see vintage photos like this. Can we be certain this is Stoner and not Alexander Meiklejohn? We wouldn't know for sure unless we know the date for the photo. Am I mistaken in thinking that?

[rjpalmer]

Thanks for posting the photo!

It's always nice to see vintage photos like this. Can we be certain this is Stoner and not Alexander Meiklejohn? We wouldn't know for sure unless we know the date for the photo. Am I mistaken in thinking that?

Hi Jerry,

I don't have full access to all London directories, but I'm not yet seeing any sign of the Hancock and Williams photography studio before 1885. Maybe you or someone else can take a look as this would narrow it down?

Cheers.

[jerryd]

Thanks RJ. I will do that. I am at work now but will look when I get home.

[Inspector-Abberline]

I would it's George Stoner and not Alexander Meiklejohn. The Sergeant in the pic is wearing the 1887 Jubilee medal as issued to the Metropolitan Police. so, 1887 or later

[chubbs]

An online calculator tells me Sgt Stoner's pension of £77/7/7d p/a is the equivalent of about £250 per week in 2025 - and his weekly pay at the time of his retirement (£2/8/0d per week) is about £403 p/w, in 2025 money, before tax.



Edit: I've tried to get rid of those weird A's, but they just come back