Jessie Mildon Hagley

Jessie Mildon Hagley joined Gloucestershire Constabulary on 6th May 1918 one of the original eight policewomen.

She was born on 3rd July 1889 on the Isle of Wight and the family moved to Yately Surrey before 1901, this may have been related to her father William’s work as a gardener.

Jessie Mildon Hagley
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 8862)

Jessie originally worked as a governess.Many of the women who joined the Women Police Service were nurses and teachers.

Jessie Mildon Hagley as a Governess.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 8865)

She served in the Women Police Service during the First World War and was stationed at the National Filling Factory No. 14 at Hereford in 1916.

Woman Police Constable Hagley with another officer who is unknown. Thought to be while they were at Hereford Filling factory during the First World War. (Gloucestershire Police Archives 8238)

Ministry of Munitions Women Police Service hat badge belonging to Jessie Hagley.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 8256)

During her service in Gloucestershire she was stationed at Police Headquarters in New Court Cheltenham.

Headquarters 1920 with Woman Police Constable Hagley on the top right hand side of the picture.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives 8237)

Headquarters staff in 1920 outside New Court Police Headquarters, Lansdown Road Cheltenham.
Back Row left to right; Police Constables Crouch, Jotcham, Orderly Keyse, Police Constables Lippett, Wynniatt.
Middle row left to right: Miss Watts, Police Constables Williams, Large, Woman Police Constable Hagley, Police Constables Wakefield, Birchard, Miss Stowell.
Seated left to right: Police Sergeant T.A. James, Inspector J Evans, Superintendent J.B. Biggs, Chief Superintendent Cooke, Inspector A. Sainsbury,Police Sergeants J.A. Price, G. Pugh.
(Gloucestershire Police Archive URN 116)

In 1920 Jessie left the police to marry Police Constable Patrick Bird, at this time women were unable to continue to serve as police officers after marriage.

Police Constable Patrick Bird out of uniform.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 8861)

Jessie’s brother Francis Collins Hagley was a Sergeant in the Surrey Constabulary he would have joined the police at a similar time to his sister, he died in 1969.His son Ronald was a Chief Superintendent also in Surrey who joined in 1935 and retired in 1974, he continued his links with the Constabulary by working as the welfare officer until 1983.