24/03/2026
How interesting. Never knew that about the stripes.
Sergeant First Class Walter Chappell of the Gloucestershire Constabulary. Sergeant 275 Chappell wears his silver Sergeant stripes inverted on the right forearm as was the practice in the Gloucestershire Constabulary until 1912.
General Orders issued in February of 1912 introduced changes to the wearing of rank insignia by Sergeants of the Gloucestershire Constabulary. By these Orders, on or after 1st April, Sergeants were no longer to wear their chevrons below the elbow and pointed up but now above the elbow and pointed down. Additionally, Constables in charge of Stations were to wear two stripes and all others having completed eight years in the First Class were to wear one stripe in the current configuration — below the elbow on the forearm and pointed up. The Merit star as issued by the Force was to be worn above the chevrons in all cases.
Further amendments with respect to the wearing of stripes came in General Orders from March of 1912. The Senior Constable at either a Superintendent's or an Inspector's Station or the Constable employed as a Drill Instructor were decreed to wear two stripes, provided they had completed eight years in the First Class.
Walter William Chappell was without any stripes when he joined the Gloucestershire Constabulary as a Constable on 18th September 1877. Born in Hawkesbury Upton, Gloucester, he left his work as a labourer to join the County Constabulary at the age of eighteen. The strength of the Gloucestershire Constabulary then stood at 305 Officers. During the quarter ending 30th September these Officers dealt with the 367 indictable offences that were reported, apprehending 369 persons and committing 283 for trial. In total, 5,635 were proceeded against during the quarter.
The 5ft 8 3/4 Constable Chappell was issued Warrant Number 2606 and served for a short time in Cheltenham followed by about three years at neighbouring Charlton Kings where he lived in the Police Station in Church Street in 1881. He was next removed south to Stroud in 1882 and was stationed there during the trial of one Edward Pritchard for the murder of Harry James Allen on 31st December 1886. Along with Sergeant Cooke, PC Chappell escorted Pritchard and another prisoner in the case from Stroud in a fly to trial in Gloucester where Pritchard was found guilty and sentenced to death.
In 1887 Constable Chappell was promoted to the First Class and to Sergeant on 1st November of 1891. By this time pay had been the same for the members of the Force since before Mr Chappell joined — the previous seventeen years. This was resulting in considerably difficulty in getting recruits and keeping them as the pay was more attractive in other forces. Twenty-four men had resigned during the previous year. The Police Act, 1890, also meant the men no longer lost their pension if they left the county for another force which resulted in one less aspect to tie them to their current position with the County Constabulary. To remedy the problem, the Chief Constable, Admiral Henry Christian, recommended increasing the pay of Sergeants after each five years of service in the rank. Among the increases agreed the following January was for the pay of Sergeants to be raised to 30s per week on appointment and 32s after five years' service.
Sergeant Chappell continued to move around the County as he extended his years of service over the years. From Stroud he went north to Painswick where he remained for three and a half years and then to Fishponds, near Bristol, before being sent to Chipping Campden in 1893 where he was stationed until his retirement.
Upon applying to be pensioned, Sergeant Chappell earned £83 4s per year having served thirty-three years with approved service of twenty-nine years and forty-five days. This qualified him for a pension of two thirds that amount or £55 9s 4d. Sergeant Chappell retired from the Gloucestershire Constabulary on 7th April 1910.
Many thanks to the Gloucestershire Police Archives for the photograph and General Orders details.
