April 2017

PC ‘A’ 32 / PC ‘R’ 41 Edwin STATTER

Birmingham City Police

Sgt 291982 Edwin STATTER

Royal Garrison Artillery (HATC)

Wounded in Action 20th November 1916

Police Service History

4th January 1905 Edwin STATTER joined Birmingham City Police and was issued with warrant number 9073. He served on the ‘A’ Division. He was a native of Nuneaton Warwickshire and on joining he resided at Spring Cottage, Overseal, Ashby. His occupation was a colliery shunterat Moira Colliery Ashby de la Zouch.

Edwin was 6 feet tall, he had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair, and he had a scar on his upper eyelid.

An original photograph was taken at old Moor Street Police Station which closed in 1911 whichshows Edwin Statter standing next to Inspector Cecil Mitchinson who also appears on the Roll of Honour

Edwin Statter Cecil Mitchinson

July 1912, Edwin was awarded a guinea for vigilance and prompt action at a fire.

25th May 1914, PC Edwin Statter was reported and cautioned for finding a sixpence dropped by a bus conductor who claimed Edwin kept it.

20th May 1915, Edwin resigned to join HM Forces Royal Garrison Artillery

12th July 1917 Edwin was married to Jessie nee Edwards. She later resided as a widow at Victoria Cottage, Legbourne, Louth, Lincolnshire. They had a daughter Edwina who was born 22 September 1921

10th April 1918 Edwin rejoined Birmingham City Police from HM Forces after being wounded in the war and again served on the ‘A’ Division

2nd May 1918 he was discharged from RGA with burn injuries to his face, arms and hands

On 18th November 1919 Edwin was granted a disability in respect of which a pension was granted due to his injuries he received in WW1

15th April 1920 he transferred to the ‘R’ Division as PC R 41 to perform duty in the Public Carriage Department.

On 1st June 1925 he was promoted to Sergeant.

25th March 1934 Edwin resigned on superannuation of £195 per annumBirmingham City Police records show a handwritten letter from Edwin whilst based at R Division Public Carriage Department

“Sir,

On the 5th October 1934 I tendered my resignation and respectfully ask to be allowed to retire on Sunday 25th March 1934. I also ask that I may be allowed the portion of annual leave accruing for the three months of 1934 in accordance with Police Orders of 15th November 1932.

I am Sir, your obedient servant Edwin Statter PS R 41 Warrant number 9073”

This was approved by his superintendent

On 14th January 1942 Wright’s Ropes Ltd of Birmingham wrote to Birmingham City police for a reference as Edwin had applied for a job, and as the work was associated with a confidential Admiralty contract they requested confirmation of his police service. This was confirmed the following day and included his character was exemplary.

Edwin suddenly died on 21st October 1946. There is Birmingham City Police memorandum dated 31st October 1946 from Inspector Leonard Young to Superintendent Walmsley stating

“At 1115 am on Thursday 31st October 1946 Mrs Jessie STATTER of Victoria Cottage Legbourne Louth, Licolnshire, called at the Chief Constable’s Office to report the death of her husband ex-sergeant R41 Edwin Statter which took place suddenly in Manchester on the 21st on the 21st inst. She produced the death certificate and informed me that her late husband had been cremated. Mrs Statter did not produce her marriage certificate, but she promised to send it by registered post within the next few days together with the letters of Administration the production of which will be necessary as a sum of money is due to her on account of rebate of income Tax from her late husband’s pension. Ex Sgt Stattter retired from this police force on 25th March 1934”

There is correspondence dated November 1946 from his solicitors asking Birmingham City Police for details of one of the witnesses to the will as Edwin died suddenly and were finding it difficult to prove his will owing to an alteration on the date. It would appear the witness may have been Ex PC R 106 Thomas WALL who worked on the same department and was a friend of Edwin’s.

As Edwin’s wife was a widow under the age of 60 and was not in receipt of a Government pension the local councillor requested a rise which was agreed to at £30 per annum.

War Service History

Edwin Statter enlisted on 20th May 1915 in Birmingham into the Royal Garrison Artillery (HATC) as a police constable.Edwin was 34 years of age and stated his next of kin was his brother William Statter of 12 Kings Road, Lincolnshire

He served 2yrs 11 months and rose to the rank of Sergeant

25thMay 1915 Edwin was posted as a gunner RGA

4th August 1915 Edwin was promoted to bombardier

9th August 1915 Edwin was promoted to Corporal

8th September 1915 Edwin was promoted to Sergeant

20th March 1916 Edwin was posted overseas

On November 20th 1916, Edwin was in Pozois, whilst in action with his battery he was burnt by fire caused by an enemy shell. He was in hospital in France until 29th January 1917 and he was invalided back to England and remained in hospitals and Command Depot until June 1st 1917 when he was discharged as A111.

His medical discharge report shows

Boarded 26/6/17 categorised C 11

Boarded 30/7/17 categorised C11

Boarded 20/8/17 categorised C11

Boarded 15/3/18 categorised B11

Edwin was unable to grip with his right hand, he suffered burns to his face, both hands, his right forearm, and he had suffered a large scar along the right ulna surface. He had scarring on the back of all right fingers and some restraint of flexion of right fingers and a diminished grip. He had a scar over the left upper eyelid and over his left cheek but there was no interference with facial muscles.

Antecedents of Edwin Statter

  • Edwin was born 2nd May 1881 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire
  • In 1891 Edwin was residing in St Werburgh, Derbyshire
  • His father was James (1852) and his mother was Emma Butler (1853)
  • Edwin had one brother William born 1880 in Manchester and who died 1944 in Manchester) and a sister Kate (1888-1949)
  • Edwin was married to Jessie Edwards who was born in 1887 in Water Orton Warwickshire and who died in March 1969 in Legbourne, Leicestershire. They had a daughter Edwinawho was born 21st September 1921 in Warwickshire and who died in 1965 in Newcastle, New Brunswick, Canada.
  • Edwin of Victoria Cottages Legbourne neat Louth Lincolnshire died 21st October 1946 at Denton Manchester and left an estate of £1095 14s 7d to his widow Jessie Statter