82mm x 57mm.
A presentation badge awarded to Inspector Walter Hebborn upon his retirement. Engraved 'Presented - By The Officers And Men - Brixton And Streatham Stations W.Division - Metropolitan Police - To - Inspector Walter Hebborn - As a mark of Esteem and Regard on his Retirement - The 29th October 1900'.
A most intersting association piece to an officer who had a remarkably long career in the police force.
Walter Hebborn was born in Cowley, Oxfordshire in 1854, the son of William and Sarah Hebborn. The 1871 Census shows that at 17 years, Walter was still living at home and was occupied as a labourer.
He joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable on 25th October 1875 (Warrant Number 92764) He was 21 years old and his initial posting was to ‘G’ Division (Finsbury). Six years later he is shown in the Census as being a single man living at the Police Station in Mornington Road, Woodford, Essex. His collar number was 436N.
Hebborn retired from the Metropolitan Police in 1900 and on 16th February 1901 became a Detective Inspector on the London Brighton and South Coast Railway based at the Goods Yard at Brighton Railway Station. It appears that initially he was working with eight Constables, the majority having joined the Railway Police from the Army.
Walter Hebborn died in Brighton on 15th November 1938 aged 84 having spent his entire working life as a police officer; 25 years in the Metropolitan Police and 35 in the Railway Police. In his will, he left his effects to the value of £1,021 to his wife.