Name/Title
Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct certificate awarded to PC A.G Thomas 1970Entry/Object ID
1823Description
Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct certificate in frame presented to Constable Anthony Gordon Thomas, Sussex Constabulary, 12th May 1970Use
To certify the award of a Queen's Commendation for Brave ConductContext
A Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct was a bravery award given between 1952 and 1994, and was first established as the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct in1939. It was awarded to both civilians and members of the military in times of both war and peace, for acts of gallantry not in the presence of the enemy. Recipients are entitled to wear a metal leaf badge in the same way as a medal ribbon, a silver laurel leaf badge for civilians and a bronze oak leaf badge for military personnel. If the award was made during the course of a military campaign the leaf emblem is worn on the appropriate medal ribbon.
In 1994 the award was replaced by the similar Queen's Commendation for Bravery.
PC A.G. Thomas was originally a constable with Brighton Borough Police number 151, who went on to serve in Sussex Constabulary and is believed to have retired as a sergeant at Brighton.
The London Gazette entry for this award is in the Supplement for the 8th May 1970 and records that it was awarded, "For services in connection with rescues from a rough sea". There are no further details but a number of other Sussex Constabulary recipients are also listed for the same incident:
Constable John Edward Funnell
Constable Kenneth Norton Humphrys
Constable John George Edward Lipsham
Cadet Peter Graham Walker
Constable Michael John Woodhams
Given that all of the officers mentioned were ex Brighton Borough constables as listed in the 1967 history of the force, it is reasonable to conclude that the rescue(s) for which the awards were given occurred in the Brighton area, though at this time the details are not known.