By Dennis Beyer
I am always Collecting Memories, however this one is a little different. I originally posted it in 2012 following my trip in May (2012) to London to have this experience. I was motivated by the wife’s need to see the U.K. and the Baltic Capitals.
Prior to arriving I checked a few things out. I quickly learned that the Metro Police and the London City Police are two separate departments. Metro seems to be everywhere, while the London City Police cover a small area of London. Their jurisdiction is nicknamed the “Square Mile.”
Size is not always important, especially when the subject is History. The City Police go back to 1839. At the time the Metro Police Force was in its’ infancy. While Metro’s jurisdiction grew, the London City Police elected to maintain their own identity.
Their Headquarters is located at 37 Wood Street. It is also the home of the London City Police Museum. It is a small facility. An appointment is required to view the exhibits.
Werner Roper, a former New Jersey Transit Police Chief, accompanied me on this adventure. We brought our wives for protection, and to remind us of the time. The first thing we did was get lost, but the Metro Police were there to help. They pointed out the way, and called ahead so our guide would be expecting us.
Our escort was Bob Cottvill . He also served as guardian of those famous Helmets and Badges. He is retired from Her Majesty’s Defense Service. Bob has studied the London City Police for several years. The Gentleman was most happy to see a couple of guys from New Jersey, and even happier to share his knowledge of this great little museum. He made it huge!
Bob started our tour by discussing communication equipment. I enjoyed seeing an old Police Public Call Post. All one had to do was open the bright blue door and pick up the phone. I remembered, as a boy, seeing “Police Call Boxes” mounted on telephone poles in Newark, N.J. . Ours were smaller – by a ton. They are also very collectible.
From the bright blue phone system Bob showed us an old wood communications tool. He said: “I bet you never saw one of these before.” My wife said: “Yes I have! There are two hanging in my house.” I am sure she was thrilled to show her expertise. I know I was quite proud of her.
The wooden device was a Police Rattle. It was a means of signaling each other while working the street. They were used in the 1800’s. In London they were replaced by Police Whistles.
A short distance from the rattle was, appropriately enough, a nice collection of old whistles. They were in a nice display under glass. My wife had nothing to say about them, but I know she has observed a few on “my” wall back home. At least she wasn’t looking at her watch.
Communications in old London was unique. Click’s and Clacks was the only tune in town until tiny whistles came into existence. Tweets was a major leap forward, then in 1886 Guglielmo Marconi gave us the wireless radio. A few years later Wi-Fi arrived on the scene.
The museum has a couple of items that link communications and tragedy. The radio in the museum’s Moorgate Exhibit was used by police in response to the greatest rail transportation tragedy (at the time) in peacetime London.
In terms of physical size this was a small exhibit, yet it signals just how vulnerable we all are. Clicks and Clacks wouldn’t work in this situation, but looking back, thirty-seven years, the data suggests that the modern twentieth century radio also could have worked better. That's history, and we learn from it.
The event took place on the morning of February 28, 1975. A train arriving at Moorgate Station failed to stop. It continued through the station towards a dead end stop. It hit the wall at 40+ mph.
Over forty people were killed. City Police Officer Margret Liles, was trapped for twelve hours in the tunnel. She was freed only after her foot was amputated. Moorgate Rescue Operations lasted for four days.
The last man out was the Engineer – Leslie Newson. His failure to stop the train caused the accident. Why this happened was not established.
Since this incident we have built radios with transmission systems that work better underground. On the tracks we have developed a switch that automatically stops runaway trains. Ironically this is called the “Mooregate Switch.” History has taught us well.
A short distance from the Mooregate exhibit was a display featuring a wooden scale model of some old buildings. Our Guide explained that this was a model of the Exchange Buildings where thieves attempted to rob a jewelry store. The “bad guys” were foreign nationals looking for a way to fund their cause. This sounds familiar, but this attempted robbery took place in December of 1910.
The gang led by Jacob Gardstein and Peter Piatkow tunneled from one building to another. The target was the safe in a jewelry store located on Houndsditch Rd. When the sound of their digging was heard the local police were summoned to the scene. The police surrounded the building, entered it, and attempted to secure it.
Things did not go well.
Three Officers died at the scene of what has been remembered as the Houndsditch Murders. Dead were: Sergeant Charles Tucker, Sergeant Robert Bentley, and Constable Walter Choate.
The bad guys initially made it out of the area, however Gardstein was wounded. His partners carried him a short distance, and then left him in an alley to die. The others found safety in a nearby apartment; however days later (now Jan 1911) someone gave the police a tip as to their whereabouts.
What happened next has gone down in history as the Siege of Sidney Street. A combined force of City Police and Metro Officers could not get control of the area. The needed assistance and, in particular, better guns. Help came from the “Scots Guard” stationed in London Tower.
Also arriving at the scene was a curious Sir Winston Churchill. He and Police discussed bringing in a cannon to knock the building down. As they talked a fire erupted in the buildings.
Churchill taking charge ended a quick confrontation between Police and Fire Officials by ordering the Fire Department to “Stand Down.”
The building continued to burn and ultimately ended the siege.
Today “Sidney Street” is under control. A hundred years have passed, and “Yes” my wife finally noticed the time. Enjoy the pictures below.
The bright blue box is a Police Public Call Post installed in the city By London police.
An early communications device known as a Police Rattle. It was used up to 1886.
A Radio used in the 1975 Moorgate Disaster.
London City Police Officer Margret Liles who trapped for twelve hours in the Moorgate Tube Disaster.
1910 Paper with pictures of Constables: Tucker, Bentley and Choate who were killed in what has become known as the "Houndsditch Murders." They were responding to a robbery attempt of a jewelry store.
Dennis and Lois Beyer (L and Werner and Carolyn Roper (R).
Dennis Beyer with Display of London Badges
The last order of business on this visit was for me to have my picture taken in one of those Famous Helmets, visit and London Tower, and thank Bob Cottvill for sharing his memories of the
“Square Mile Bobbies” and this fabulous museum.
Dennis Beyer and Bob Cottvill
