Henry Hand senior (left), and Henry Hand jnr
Christened on 30 Jul 1848 in Bremhill, Wiltshire, Henry James Hand became a police constable in Brecon in 1871. He was promoted to sergeant at Cefn Coed (Vaynor) around 1890, and later a superintendent in Brymawr Division in about 1907 (a very tough area, which included Crickhowell, Gilwern, Cefn Coed, Penderyn and Hirwaun). He retired as Deputy Chief Constable of Breconshire. Retired Jan 1918, when he was awarded the King's Police Medal.
A reference in one of the newspaper articles (below) indicate that his son, also Henry James, was a superintendent in the Breconshire Police Force in 1912.
THE BRECON COUNTY TIMES, THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1918
KING'S MEDALLIST
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EX-D.-C.-C. HAND DECORATED BY
LORD GLANUSK AT BRECON
There was an interesting ceremony at the Guild Hall, Brecon, on Tuesday morning, when Col. Lord Glanusk, C.B., D.S.O., as Lord Lieutenant of Breconshire, decorated Ex-Deputy Chief Constable Hand, of Brynmawr, with the King's Police Medal, the award of which was announced earlier in the year. The High Sheriff (Mr David Powell), acting as deputy for the Mayor Brecon, presided over the gathering, and amongst those present were the Hon. C. Hore-Ruthven (acting chief constable) and Mrs Hore-Ruthven, Miss Cole-Hamilton, Major H. M. W. Bridgeman, R.A.M.C. (who came with Lord Glanusk), Deputy Chief Constable and Mrs Steven Jones, the Rev. J. Simon (formerly vicar of Brynmawr and an old friend of Mr Hand), Messrs J. E. Moore-Gwyn (acting chairman of the Standing Joint Committee), H. F. W. Harries (clerk to the Standing Joint Committee), C. W. Best (county surveyor), D. Jones (Pytindu), James Morgan, Wm. Williams, H. C. Rich, Evan Morgan, J. C. B. Morris &c. A number of police and special constables were also in attendance.
The Deputy Clerk to the Borough Justices (Mr W. Jones-Williams) read a telegram from the Mayor, stating that he much regretted his unavoidable absence, and congratulating Ex-D.C.C. Hand upon receiving the greatest honour the King had to bestow.
The High Sheriff remarked that they would all agree that their gathering that morning was a pleasing departure from the business usually transacted at that court; they did not often have such a pleasant function and the presence of ladies gracing the proceedings at the Police Court of Brecon. The occasion was a unique one in their history, and they were all very pleased to find that the services of their old friend, Mr Hand, had been appreciated by the King. Some of them remembered Mr Hand for many years, and knew the impartial and tactful way in which he had dealt with his work throughout his career. (Applause).
Lord Glanusk, who had a cordial reception, thanked the Deputy Mayor for affording him that opportunity, as His Majesty's representative in the county, of making the presentation to one of Breconshire's most loyal and devoted servants. The King was one of the hardest working men in England at the present time, and he had, through the Registrar of the King's Police Medal, written to him (Lord Glanusk) saying that he was reluctantly obliged to delegate the duty to his lieutenants, as he had not time to go round to every county and present those medals. The King's Police Medal was a very special thing. There was only a very limited number presented to the United Kingdom every year, and he was told that morning - although he could not vouch for the truth of it - that Mr Hand's medal was the only one presented in Wales during the present year. (Applause). It was a decoration which was not earned simply by long service: it was given only to those who had exhibited conspicuous devotion to duty during the time they had been in the Police Force. They had all known Ex-Deputy Chief Constable Hand for a very long time, and they had all appreciated his services to the county and it was with the very greatest pleasure that he gave him the King's recognition of his long service. He joined the Force in 1871, and when he retired this year he had 46 years and eight months' service to his credit. During his Police career he was stationed at Brecon, Talgarth, Cefn, and Brynmawr, and he was the first officer to occupy the present police station at Brecon. That was a record they would all be proud to have earned. They were very grateful for his services to the county. His fairness and devotion to duty, and the conscientious way always prepared his cases, both as applying to the Police and public, had been a by-word for a great number of years. (Applause). Addressing Mr Hand, his lordship said: I have very great pleasure in decorating you with the medal which his Majesty has thought fit - and rightly so - to award you and congratulate you most sincerely. (Applause). Having pinned the decoration to Mr Hand's breast, his lordship concluded by saying: I hope you will live very long to wear it, and set an example to younger members of the Force in Breconshire. (Renewed applause).
The High Sheriff, on behalf of all present, congratulated Lord Glanusk on looking so remarkably well, and assured him they were all very glad to see him amongst them once again. (Applause).
THE BRECON COUNTY TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1912
BRECONSHIRE POLICE INSPECTION AT CRICKHOWELL.
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Presentation of Long Service Medals.
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Gift to Departing Chief Constable
On Friday last Mr L. Dunning, Government inspector, late Chief Constable of Liverpool, held an inspection of the Breconshire Police Force at Crickhowell, when 48 officers and mean, out of a total of strength of 58, paraded.
Before going to Crickhowell Mr Dunning inspected the Brecon station and examined the books of the Constabulary Headquarters Office. He found everything in good order and expressed himself as well pleased with all he saw. He then proceeded to Crickhowell to inspect the A (Brecon) and B (Brynmawr) divisions. The two divisions paraded under Superintendent Hand, and marched to the Square in front of the Bear Hotel for the inspection. Lord Glanusk, Lord Lieutenant of the county and chairman of the Standing Joint Committee, and Mr A. S. Williams, chief constable, were present.
Immediately following the inspection Lord Glanusk, wearing his uniform as lord lieutenant of the county, presented long service medals to Deputy-chief constable Henry Hand, of Brynmawr (who has completed 41 years' service), Police sergeant Price, of Brynmawr, and ex-Police sergeant Jarratt, of Ystradgynlais (who have each completed 31 years' service).
His Lordship said it was the first time that the Coronation medal, or a medal of any sort had been awarded to any provincial police. He took that opportunity, on behalf of the county, of expressing appreciation of the good work done by the county police force. His lordship also referred to the pending departure of Mr A. S. Williams (chief constable), who is about to take up a similar office in West Sussex. He very much regretted that they were about to lose Mr Williams' valuable services.
A group photograph was then taken by Mr R. H. Stevens, of Crickhowell, and Lord Glanusk, the Chief Constable, Captain Lindsey, M.V.O. (chief constable of Glamorganshire) and the Government Inspector were included.
The Chief Constable afterwards entertained a few friends and the police to dinner at the Bear Hotel, and Superintendent Hand, on behalf of the police, presented him with a silver coffee pot as a token of their esteem for him, and to mark his promotion to the office of Chief Constable of West Sussex. The coffee pot bears a suitable inscription.