These pages are dedicated to the men of the City of London Police who died in the war that was to end all wars, and who now lie in graves, known and unknown, beneath the fields of France and Flanders, the sands of Egypt, Israel and Palestine, the waters of the North Sea and the green grass of England.

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The First World War officially began at 11 pm on 4th August 1914.

Ten City of London police officers have been recalled by the Royal Navy even before war had been declared.  The Army mobilised a total of 64 City Police reservists on 5th August.   These men handed in their basic police equipment and were struck off the strength of the City Police that very day.

One fifth of the City policemen who returned to the forces in 1914 were to lose their lives in their country’s service.  Ten men lost their lives before that first Christmas – when the war was originally expected to be over.

By the war’s end a total of 377 City policemen had reportedly led the force to join up.  On those, 34 died from wounds or sickness and a further 14 were rendered unfit to return to police duties.

Twenty four City men gained a commission, 20 were appointed Warrant Officers and 193 were made NCO. Two City men received the Military Cross, 4 the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 8 the Military Medal, 5 t he Meritorious Service Medal and 5 a foreign military decoration.

After the war a bronze plaque was placed in the then City Police Headquarters in Old  Jewry listing all 26 City policemen who had been killed or died of wounds form enemy action.  Over half them have no known grave.

Those who had died of other causes as a result of answering their country’s call to duty in the Armed Forces were not mentioned.