Caithness Constabulary – Sgt David Miller (1861-1885) : 無料・フリー素材/写真
Caithness Constabulary – Sgt David Miller (1861-1885) / conner395
| ライセンス | クリエイティブ・コモンズ 表示 2.1 |
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| 説明 | CAITHNESS CONSTABULARY – SGT DAVID MILLER (1861-1885)Sgt Miller - probably late 1870sDavid Miller was born on 14th September 1839 (or was he? See much later!!) at Black Park, Halkirk and grew up in the Halkirk area. After working as a Labourer locally he applied aged 22 to join the County Police of Caithness.On 4th December 1861 Chief Constable Alexander Mitchell appointed young David as a Constable in the Caithness-shire Constabulary and the following day he was medically examined by Dr Eric S Sinclair, JP, LFPSG, Medical Officer, Wick who certified he found him well qualified for the police service in terms of his health and bodily strength. He was sworn in as a Constable on the 8th December by Alexander Bruce, JP.Of his FOUR referees, two were ministers of religion, being the Halkirk incumbents of the Church of Scotland and Free Church respectively. Another was his current employer, Donald Tait, Contractor, Halkirk who had known young David for 11 years. Constable David Miller was initially stationed at Wick, where he would have received an element of on-the-job training, and then on 26th May 1864 he was transferred across the Wick River to Pulteney Harbour. This would have been an interesting transfer as technically Pulteneytown and its harbour (today that part of Wick south of the river) lay outwith Caithness and it had its own police force independent of the County. This was because the municipality of Pulteneytown had been set up by the British Fisheries Society, a quasi-governmental organisation and by virtue of an 1844 Act of Parliament in respect of it, the “town” operated literally as a law unto itself. That Act gave the Commissioners powers to establish its own police (and special constables for the harbour area), which it did but there was no chief officer, other than the Resident Naval Officer. Experience of the potential for serious fall-out between locals and incoming fisherfolk (Battle of the Orange, 1859) meant the County Police maintained a presence in the “town” - despite the two or three local bobbies over whom the County Chief Constable had no control.After 3 years in Pulteney (during which time he married Jessie, a farmer’s daughter), and only 6 years police service, PC Miller was in November 1867 promoted to the rank of Sergeant – no mean feat as the County only had two of that rank, one of whom would act as Deputy to the Chief Constable – and Sergeant Miller was transferred through to Thurso to take charge of the Western Area of the force. His duties also involved attending to the Procurator Fiscal, then also based in Thurso.Sergeant Miller would remain in Thurso – effectively the Chief officer of that half of the County force – for the next 18 years.Meantime, another young man had joined the County force in May 1865 - Constable Thomas Sinclair (a 20 year old native of Wick) was initially posted to Mey which would have been within the Thurso Division of the County. Being a single man, he was moved about a bit and he transferred to Thurso in February 1866 - where he would be under the charge of Sgt Miller. Then PC Sinclair moved yet again – this time to Lybster on the southern part of the east coast of the County – in February 1868. Three months later PC Sinclair was relocated back into the Thurso Division, at Reay - Caithness’s furthest west posting, right on the boundary with the County of Sutherland (whose force had a police station 5 miles along the road at Melvich across the River Halladale). Exactly one year later Thomas Sinclair was posted yet again, this time to “Harbour” (Pulteneytown). After four years there Sinclair was promoted to Sergeant (at Wick) – thus putting him on a par with David Miller (and actually ahead because, by being based in Wick, Sergeant Sinclair would deputise for the Chief Constable). So when the rank of Inspector (and Deputy Chief Constable) was created in the force on 27th august 1878 it came as no great surprise that the man to fill that post was none other than Thomas Sinclair. One wonders how Sergeant Miller, who had seniority of service, would have felt – slighted perhaps, or alternatively maybe he was glad to be overlooked and left in relative peace on the west side of the County.Chief Constable Mitchell who had served in that role for 25 years died on 15th June 1884 aged only 56 years. It is likely that the Chief was unwell for some time and Inspector Sinclair was running the force, as in May 1884 (no date given!) Constable James Swanson was pulled into Wick from Lybster and promoted to Sergeant. Some twelve days after Mr Mitchell’s death, Inspector Thomas Sinclair was appointed Chief Constable, and immediately thereafter Sgt Swanson became Inspector Swanson. Now new brooms invariably sweep clean, and on 28th May 1885 Sergeant David Miller was transferred to Lybster. After so long in Thurso, this would have come as quite a shock to the system ,whether or not Chief Constable had sold him on the idea of moving. The area was one quite unknown to him. Lybster is 40-odd miles across the county from Thurso, and some 13 miles south of Wick. Although the fishing station would have meant plenty of police work, it would have been alien territory to Sgt Miller. Transfers in Highland forces almost always tended to be carried out in the spring so the officer had an opportunity to well acquaint himself with his new area before the nights started drawing in.The Personnel Records of this era look as though they were completed (retrospectively) by the Chief Constable himself – but PC John Macaulay, who seems to have been at Lybster in 1885 was promoted Sergeant on the same day as Sgt Miller was transferred to Lybster, and Sgt Macaulay ended up in Thurso (but seemingly not till 1886, although it may just be that Mr Sinclair’s memory was a bit hazy as to transfer dates). Sgt Macaulay remained in Thurso for 3 years before being moved again – back to Lybster. Having joined the force in 1870, he had previously served in Thurso under Sgt Miller from 1871 to 1872, before serving for a whole ten years at “Harbour” (Pulteneytown)So after 24 years, Sergeant Miller was at the crossroads of his career. With 24 years service, and rapidly approaching the age of 50, he had to take stock. Back then there were no pensions for police officers, and no hope of financial assistance for him to move back to his "home” area of Halkirk/Thurso when he was no longer fit enough to do the job. He clearly therefore concluded that his police career was at an end and that it would be prudent for him and his family to return to Thurso. Indeed it is possible - and he would definitely NOT be the last to do so! - to have gone on ahead without the family and lived in lodgings for the time being. His obituary reported of his time as Sergeant at Thurso: “he carried out his duties to the entire satisfaction of the Police Commissioners and was on many occasions congratulated on the absence of crime due to his tact and geniality.”After resigning (his obituary says “retired” but his police record says “resigned” with no mention of any gratuity, which would have to have been done out of the goodness of the police committee's heart anyway) on 21st October 1885 – the nights would have been drawing in by then – David Miller and family moved to Scrabster, harbour of Thurso, where he took over the hotel there ”where he carried on a successful business for a long number of years.”“In 1896 he retired from the business and came to reside in Thurso when he was appointed sole traffic agent for the North of Scotland for the Caledonian London and North Western Railway till the year l9O7. After the amalgamation of the traffic departments he was appointed to other agencies for Orkney and Shetland and the Northern Counties and always gave entire satisfaction to the companies.”David Miller passed away on Sunday 22nd December 1929, which would have made him aged 90 years, although his biographer – having begun his eulogy by saying that he was born in 1841 – made him out to be 88. His police records definitely state he was born on 18th September 1839 but it may be he (like many others back in the day) “erred” about his age on his application to join the police. There were no Birth Certificates back then! Perhaps he thought by saying he was “only” 20, Chief Constable Mitchell might have considered him a bit young for the job? Although there was no minimum age stipulated for a recruit, the age of 21 was generally regarded as adulthood. His initial postings being to the Wick area meant little or no chance of his age being challenged by his peers in his “probation” on the job! In any case, with the kind of robust policing which would have been required around the Harbour of Wick at that time, if you were big enough, you were old enough! His biography provided a great deal of other background information not generally recorded in respect of police officers back then. “Mr Miller was a great draughts player and was a founder member of the Caithness Draughts Club. When the Worlds Draught Champion ‘Herd Laddie’ visited Thurso Mr Miller drew him in a game and was congratulated by the champion. Up to the time of his death he enjoyed a game with his numerous friends.“Mr Miller all his life took a deep interest in the town and though not a member of any public body was often approached by the principal citizens of the town and county to do so.“Mr Miller who celebrated his golden wedding 14 years ago is survived by Mrs Miller and two daughters to whom and other relatives , the deepest sympathies is extended.“Mr Miller who enjoyed the best of health all his life until a short time ago, was a regular attender of the Parish Church and took a deep interest in church matters.“His remains were interred in Thurso Cemetery on Wednesday and the funeral was very largely attended. Revs G.H. MacLennan, W.D. Mackenzie and G.L. Maclachlan officiated at the house and Rev Mr MacLennan at the grave.”Chief Constable Sinclair retired on pension in 1912 (police pensions having been introduced in 1890) after 47 years service and aged almost 67. He passed away in February 1930, only seven weeks after David Miller did. David Miller served at an important period in the history of policing. The Caithness force, along with all the other Scottish forces, were re-formed as proper professional preventative law enforcement organisations in 1858, and the forces would just be “settling” in when he joined 3 years later. The embryonic police service had quite a throughput of staff in those days, as the requirements imposed – discipline, commitment, sobriety and fitness of mind and body, patience, tact and endurance (huge beats patrolled on foot in all weathers) – were not achieved by many. To reach the rank of Sergeant at such an early stage implied that his ability was considerable and that his predecessor fell by the wayside or succumbed to health issues.Judging by the photographs, which together with the obituary and career details were kindly supplied by David Miller’s great great granddaughter, Sergeant Miller was regarded as a father figure by the officers under him, and obviously was held in high regard and respect by his Thurso public. Chief Constable Mitchell clearly regarded him highly, having promoted him early and entrusting him with the Thurso division – and presumably saw no reason to change things during his time at the helm of the force. In some of the photographs, officers have put a hand on his shoulder – this is a pose encouraged by professional photographers in bygone times as a way of signifying family relationship between the parties. Well, none of David Miller’s offspring were police officers so there is NO actual family connection, but the photographer clearly intended for there to be a “police family” symbolism in the photos. I am deeply indebted to Annette Matthew (David Miller's g-g-grandaughter) for providing me with so much material – which I have been able to weave into the various information sources of my own. It is also a delight to have a name – and such a wealth of background information – to put to a face. So often, old photos of police officers which emerge have no names or dates recorded against them, and for that omission we are all the poorer.POSTSCRIPT: SMALL WORLD DEPT – The whole-force group shot, which I date to 1877, is the first photo I ever received for my police history researches – way back in 1979 a lady in California, USA (sadly now passed on, as is her husband) contacted me seeking information about her great grandfather, PC George Reid who is the bald-headed officer sitting (staring into space) in front of the other Sgt! (That lady and her husband became good friends with the Conner family, coming to visit us while I was stationed at Kirkwall and again when I was based in Helmsdale, all during the 1980s. God Bless you, Tarri and Bob Whitby) |
| 撮影日 | 2015-09-24 12:20:02 |
| 撮影者 | conner395 , Inverness, Scotland |
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