A Collection of Police Medals

A C.B.E., Q.P.M. group of five awarded to R. G. Fenwick Esq., H.M. Inspectorate of Constabulary, formerly Chief Constable of Shropshire and Detective Chief Inspector, Metropolitan Police, who as Officer in Charge of the investigation into the death of Police Constable Ray Summers, secured the successful conviction in 1959 of his murderer Ronald Marwood, one of the last men to be hanged in this country

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with full and miniature-width neck ribands, in Toye, Kenning & Spencer, London, case of issue; Queen’s Police Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue, for Distinguished Service (Robert G. Fenwick, H.M. Inspector of Constabulary); Defence Medal; Coronation 1953; Police Long Service Medal, E.II.R., 1st issue (Inspr. Robert G. Fenwick.), with named card box of issue, mounted as worn; together with the recipient’s Home Office H.M. Inspectors of Constabulary for England and Wales Badge, silver (hallmarks for Birmingham 1967), named ‘R. G. Fenwick.’, nearly extremely fine (6) £700-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Police Medals.

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C.B.E. London Gazette 14 June 1975.

Q.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1969.

Robert George Fenwick was born in 1913 and joined the Metropolitan Police in 1934. After six years’ service in the East End’s “K” Division, he spent 14 years with the Yard’s C1 Department in the ranks of Detective Constable and Detective Sergeant. ‘He was a careful, meticulous detective, who favoured fraud investigations, which obviously suited his methodical way of working. Most of his ten Commissioner's Commendations were for successfully investigating cases of false pretences, confidence tricks, company fraud, and conspiracy to defraud, and this included a Commendation for his contribution to what became known as the ‘Lynskey Tribunal’, a complex and lengthy investigation which threatened to bring down the Government.’ (Death on the Beat, by Dick Kirby refers).

Destined for high office within the Police Force, Fenwick was called to the Bar in November 1951, and then spent two years as an Instructor at the Detective Training School, before being posted to Chelsea as a Detective Chief Inspector. In December 1958 he was appointed Officer in Charge of the investigation into the murder of Police Constable Ray Summers, which led to the conviction and hanging of Ronald Marwood, one of the last men to receive the death penalty in this country. Seconded to the Foreign Office in July 1959, he had further postings to both the Flying and Fraud Squads, before being appointed Deputy Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, and then, in 1962, Chief Constable of Shropshire. Appointed one of H.M. Inspectors of Constabulary in October 1967, he was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 1969, and was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on his retirement in 1975.

Sold together with the Bestowal Document of the C.B.E., dated 14 June 1975; Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn Certificate appointing the recipient an Utter Barrister, dated 27 November 1951; Letter of Appointment as one of H.M. Inspectors of Constabulary in England and Wales, dated 1 October 1967; a copy of the Warrant for the Queen’s Police Medal; and three photographs of the recipient, one showing him being presented to H.M. the Queen.