Marion Sandover and Elizabeth Tonra seem to have developed a life long friendship. They had both been members of the Women Police Service that was formed by Margaret Damer Dawson and after her death run by Mary Allen who had been a suffragette. They served in the same Munitions factories and then joined Gloucestershire Constabulary together in May 1918. They shared a house together in St Paul’s Road Gloucester until Elizabeth’s death in 1959, Marion died 10 years later.
Gloucestershire Force History has always been written from the perspective that Lizzie Tonra was the first police woman to join the force but further investigation has shown that Marion Sandover is listed as having collar number 1 and Elizabeth Tonra as number 9.
Marion Sandover. First woman to join Gloucestershire Police 6th May 1918
Women Police Service Membership Card dated 1917 belonging to Gloucestershire Woman Police Constable Marion Sandover.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2119)
Elizabeth Tonra
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 7863)
Thought to be some of the original police women taken in August 1917 while they were still employed in the National Filling Factory. Woman Police Constable Tonra third from left, Woman Police Constable Sandover seventh from left. Marion Sandover was the first police woman in Gloucestershire having collar number 1.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 102)
Printed citation awarding Silver Jubilee Medal to Woman Police Constable Marion Elsie Sandover.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 88)
Woman Police Constable Marian Elsie Sandover on Certificate of Service
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 185)
Woman Police Constable Tonra certificate of service.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 171)
Woman Police Constable Marion Elsie Sandover 1939.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 90)
Woman Police Constable Tonra 1945.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 172)
Woman Police Constable Marian Elsie Sandover on retirement 1948.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 184)
Copy of article from Citizen March 17th 1948 about Marion Sandover’s retirement.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 7835)
Report of death of Marion Sandover Citizen 6th August 1969.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 7836)
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