Epsom, B Division, Woodcote Park 1917

Photo ref: 68009

More about this scene

Rifleman in East Street, a Canadian soldier was arrested and taken to the police station in Ashley Road, despite the complaints of his friends. They returned to Woodcote, and stirred up the camp. By 11.30 a group of them, several hundred strong and in something like military formation, were marching on the police station. They arrived to the sound of bugles, then tore out wooden and iron railings to arm themselves. Inspector Pawley called together all his men - three sergeants and seven constables - and they began to defend the station. When the police made a charge to clear the mob away, Sergeant Thomas Green was felled by a blow. Soon after that the prisoners were released, and the soldiers marched back to camp. Sergeant Green was taken to the infirmary where he died the next day. His funeral procession, in which over 1,000 men took part, was the largest London Police funeral. Every shop on the route was closed, and almost all houses had their blinds drawn.