Description

Produced by Buckingham Covers

Limited to 100 signed covers

5 signatures of Police Officers who have received the George Cross

See additional image of rear of cover and information sheet.

James Wallace BEATON – In March 1973, Beaton was transferred to the Royal Protection Squad A Division, and from 14 November served as a personnel protection officerto Princess Anne. . On 20 March 1974 the princess and her husband Captain Mark Phillips were returning to Buckingham Palace  from a royal engagement. Their car was stopped in the Mall by another vehicle driven into its path. The car was driven by Ian Ball, who was later declared to be mentally ill; Ball jumped out of his vehicle and tried to force the Princess from her car. He shot the royal chauffeur, Alex Callender, and a passing journalist, Brian McConnell, who tried to assist. Inspector Beaton was shot three times, including serious wounds in the chest and abdomen, and a gunshot wound to his hand, sustained when he tried to block Ball’s weapon with his own body, after his own gun had jammed. Beaton also sustained injuries to his pelvis while trying to disarm Ball.

Anthony John GLEDHILL – On 25 August 1966 Gledhill was serving as a constable in the Metropolitan Police at the time. His partner, Constable Terry McFall, was awarded the George Medal for the same action. They were on patrol when they were ordered to chase a car driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Fifteen shots were fired at their police car during the ensuing chase. The criminals’ car crashed into a lorry and they attacked the police officers, who were trying to arrest them. Both police officers were injured in the confrontation but managed to subdue the men until assistance arrived.

Michael PRATT – Constable, Victoria Police Force. Melbourne Australia –  On the morning of 4th June 1976 three masked men entered a bank and carried out an armed robbery.

Constable Pratt, who was off-duty and unarmed, was driving past the bank in his private car and saw the men entering the bank ; he noticed that each man was masked and carrying a firearm and realised that they were about to commit an armed robbery. He immediately turned his car, switched up the lights and, sounding his horn, mounted the kerb and blocked the bank entrance. He instructed a passer-by to call for police assistance.

The raiders were taken by surprise, but one of them threatened the Constable with a gun and signaled to him to remove the car, whereupon the officer refused, removed the ignition key, and armed himself with the handle of a car jack. The men then attempted to leave the bank by kicking in the lower section of the glass door and climbing over the bonnet of the car. As the first man straddled the front of the car Constable Pratt grabbed him firmly and during the violent struggle which ensued the robber was knocked unconscious. By this time a second gunman had left the bank and climbed over the car, aimed his weapon and threatened to shoot the officer at close range ; the man had his arms extended at shoulder height and pointed a revolver directly at Constable Pratt. The first man had by now recovered consciousness and was getting to his feet, so the officer grabbed him again and the man called to the gunman to shoot the Constable. A shot was then fired and Constable Pratt who was in the process of trying to protect his back and at the same time retain his hold on his captive, was seriously wounded.

Constable Pratt displayed outstanding bravery, devotion to duty and a complete disregard for his own safety when, unarmed and single handed, he faced and attempted to arrest these dangerous armed criminals.

Henry STEVENS –

Around 8.00 pm, on 29 March 1958, a local criminal named Ronald Easterbrook, who was armed with a gun, whilst  burgling a house in Bickley, London in the. Police had been alerted to the burglary and dispatched PC Henry Stevens along with two other colleagues to investigate. Stevens went round to the rear of the property and spotted Easterbrook climbing over a wooden fence. Stevens identified himself as a police officer but when Easterbrook ran, Stevens gave chase along St. Georges Road, Bickley. As Stevens was gaining on Easterbrook, Easterbrook turned and pointed the gun at Stevens before saying “Stop, or you’ll get this”. Ignoring the warning, Stevens continued the chase and Easterbrook opened fire, shooting Stevens in the face

The .22 calibre bullet ricocheted off Stevens’ teeth before embedding itself in his tongue. Despite having been shot, Stevens managed to grab hold of Easterbrook and force him up against some iron railings at the side of a railway bridge. During the struggle, the constable managed to twist the gun from Easterbrook’s hand, but Easterbrook managed to pull free. Stevens managed to grab the back of Easterbrook’s overcoat. Easterbrook who was still running with the constable being dragged behind, suddenly slipped off his overcoat and jacket causing Stevens to fall to the ground. Easterbrook then escaped over the railway bridge.The coat and jacket were later used to help identify Easterbrook. The officer, PC Henry Stevens was also able to identify Easterbrook from photographs shown to him whilst he was in hospital.^[

The case was heard at the Old Bailey and on 13 May 1958. Ronald Easterbrook was initially charged with attempted murder but was acquitted due to lack of evidence that he actually intended to kill PC Stevens. Easterbrook was instead convicted of the lesser charge of GBH and intent to Resist arrest. He was sentenced to 10 years.

Carl WALKER – On 23 August 1971, when Walker was aPolice Constable  he was one of several officers who pursued a gang of five armed robbers who had attacked a jeweler’s shop in Blackpool. When the gang split up, Walker and his colleague and superintendent Gerry Richardson  chased one of the raiders down a dead-end alleyway. ‘Fat’ Fred Sewell shot Walker in the groin then Richardson twice in the stomach. Richardson died of his injuries later that day, and was also later awarded the George Cross, posthumously.