Police Constables 212, 263, 272 and 186

These four unknown officers appear together in an untitled photograph.

This photograph was found in the archives with no information attached. It is slightly odd because the officer on the left is wearing a helmet with a Victorian helmet plate while the other officers are wearing Edwardian helmet plates. 

Looking at the collar numbers of various officers and their joining dates as well as comparing some photographs of named officers and looking at their career paths we have identified the officers as:

1. Police Constable 212 Frederick Eames
2. Police Constable 263 John Hayden
3. Police Constable  272 Archie Spary
4. Police Constable 186 George Higson

It is believed that this photograph was taken in about 1907 when all the officers would have been serving in Gloucester.

Frederick Eames was born in 1864 and joined Gloucestershire Constabulary on 1st November 1885 after working as a Needle Filer. He served in Gloucester  in 1886 after initial training at Cheltenham,  then Dymock in 1901 and in Gloucester from 1907 until his retirement on 6th February 1915.

John Hayden was born in Ireland in 1876 and joined Gloucestershire Constabulary on 21st April 1901 after working as a groom. He served in Gloucester in 1901 after training in Cheltenham, then was in charge at Corse in 1911 and in charge at Churchdown in 1916. He retired in 1930.

Police Constable 272 Archie Spary.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 8693)

Archie Spary was born in 1878 and joined Gloucestershire Constabulary on 15th May 1903 after working as a Shed Porter for the Great Western Railway. He served in Gloucester in 1903 after his training in Cheltenham, then Bibury in 1919 and was in charge at Bourton in 1922. He retired in 1930.

Sergeant 186 George Higson.
(Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 8592)

George Higson was born in 1883 and joined Gloucestershire Constabulary on 1st December 1904 after serving as a soldier. He served in Gloucester in 1905 after training in Cheltenham and then in  1915 rejoined the army at the outbreak of war. In 1918 after the war he came back to Gloucestershire Constabulary before being posted in charge at Cainscross in 1919. In 1922 he went to E Division (Cheltenham and Tewkesbury) he retired in 1934.