Henry Dalton (police officer)
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Dalton CBE
(27 February 1891–10 November 1966) was a senior officer in the London
Metropolitan Police
. He served as Assistant Commissioner "B"
, in charge of traffic policing, from 1947 to 1956.
Dalton was born in Watton, East Riding of Yorkshire
. He joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable
in 1911 and in the late 1920s became Chief Inspector
in command of Thames Division
. In December 1933 he was promoted to Superintendent
in command of "M" Division
(Southwark
) and in August 1936 he was transferred to "C" Division (Vine Street
).
On 13 February 1938 he became Chief Constable
(deputy commander) of No.2 District (North London), but later that year he was seconded to the Home Office
as police adviser on Air Raid Precautions
. He was in charge of ARP at the Metropolitan Police until the outbreak of war. In February 1940 he was promoted to Acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner
and put in charge of a district.
He later became Deputy Assistant Commissioner in charge of No.3 District (East London), but in March 1946 was regraded as a Commander
on the creation of that rank. Later that year he led a police recruiting mission to the British Armed Forces
stationed in the Middle East
.
On 6 October 1946 he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner and held the rank until he retired to Eastbourne
, Sussex
in 1956. He was in charge of the huge traffic arrangements for the coronation
of Queen Elizabeth II
in 1953.
Interested in road safety, he was involved in implementing cat's eyes
and was vice-chairman of the London Council of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
.
Dalton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire
(MBE) in January 1937, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1942, and was knighted
in the 1956 New Year Honours
, shortly before his retirement. He died in Bexhill-on-Sea
, Sussex
in 1966.
Dalton married Susan in 1915. They had a son, Donald, and a daughter, Dorothy.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(27 February 1891–10 November 1966) was a senior officer in the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
. He served as Assistant Commissioner "B"
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, usually just Assistant Commissioner , is the third highest rank in London's Metropolitan Police, ranking below Deputy Commissioner and above Deputy Assistant Commissioner. There are usually four officers in the rank...
, in charge of traffic policing, from 1947 to 1956.
Dalton was born in Watton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Watton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Watton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The village is situated on the A164 road, about north of Beverley and south of Driffield. According to the 2001 UK census the civil parish of Watton had a population of 238....
. He joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
in 1911 and in the late 1920s became Chief Inspector
Chief inspector
Chief inspector is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police .-Australia:...
in command of Thames Division
Thames Division
The Marine Policing Unit is a Central Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service.-Role:...
. In December 1933 he was promoted to Superintendent
Superintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
in command of "M" Division
Police division
A division was the usual term for the largest territorial subdivision of most British police forces. In major reforms of police organisation in the 1990s divisions of many forces were restructured and retitled Basic Command Units , although some forces continue to refer to them as divisions.The...
(Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
) and in August 1936 he was transferred to "C" Division (Vine Street
Vine Street, Westminster
Vine Street is a thoroughfare in Westminster, London, England. Its main claim to notability is as one of the streets on the standard London Monopoly board....
).
On 13 February 1938 he became Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
(deputy commander) of No.2 District (North London), but later that year he was seconded to the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
as police adviser on Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions was an organisation in the United Kingdom set up as an aid in the prelude to the Second World War dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids. It was created in 1924 as a response to the fears about the growing threat from the development of bomber...
. He was in charge of ARP at the Metropolitan Police until the outbreak of war. In February 1940 he was promoted to Acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Deputy assistant commissioner is a rank in London's Metropolitan Police Service between assistant commissioner and commander. It is equivalent to deputy chief constable in other British police forces and wears the same insignia: a pip above crossed tipstaves within a wreath.The rank was introduced...
and put in charge of a district.
He later became Deputy Assistant Commissioner in charge of No.3 District (East London), but in March 1946 was regraded as a Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
on the creation of that rank. Later that year he led a police recruiting mission to the British Armed Forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
stationed in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
On 6 October 1946 he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner and held the rank until he retired to Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
in 1956. He was in charge of the huge traffic arrangements for the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 1953.
Interested in road safety, he was involved in implementing cat's eyes
Cat's eye (road)
The cat's eye is a retroreflective safety device used in road marking and was the first of a range of raised pavement markers. It originated in the UK in 1933 and is today used all over the world....
and was vice-chairman of the London Council of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is a British charity which aims to promote safety. It is particularly known for its vocal campaigns on issues of road safety, including Tufty the road crossing squirrel, the Cycling Proficiency Test and the Green Cross Code, as well as on issues of...
.
Dalton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE) in January 1937, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1942, and was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 1956 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
, shortly before his retirement. He died in Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea is a town and seaside resort in the county of East Sussex, in the south of England, within the District of Rother. It has a population of approximately 40,000...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
in 1966.
Dalton married Susan in 1915. They had a son, Donald, and a daughter, Dorothy.