Ranulph Bacon
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Ranulph Robert Maunsell Bacon QPM
(6 August 1906 – 30 March 1988) was a British
police
officer.
Bacon was born in Westgate-on-Sea
, Kent
, and educated at Tonbridge School
and Queens' College, Cambridge
. He joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable
in 1928 and was selected for Hendon Police College
in 1934, passing out with the Baton of Honour. In May 1940 he was commissioned into the British Army
as a Provost Marshal
on the General List. By December 1941, when he was mentioned in despatches for his service in the Western Desert
, he held the local rank of Major
, although his substantive rank was Lieutenant
. He was later promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and in 1942 was appointed Deputy Provost Marshal of the Ninth Army.
In November 1943 he was seconded to the Colonial Police Service as Deputy Inspector-General of the Ceylon Police, and was promoted Inspector-General in 1944. His Deputy Inspector-General was John Waldron
, another Hendon graduate who was later to succeed him as both Assistant Commissioner "A" and Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
In 1947 he returned to Britain as Chief Constable
of the Devon County Constabulary
, and held the post until his appointment as Assistant Commissioner "A"
(Operations and Administration) of the Metropolitan Police on 1 November 1961. He was awarded the King's Police and Fire Services Medal in the 1953 New Year Honours. In 1963, he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "C" (Crime), in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department
. At a press conference on 31 December 1964, he urged the public to "have a go" if they saw an armed robbery taking place, which was criticised as irresponsible by many. He was knighted
in the 1966 New Year Honours.
In 1966 he briefly served as Deputy Commissioner
, from 8 April to his retirement in October.
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
(6 August 1906 – 30 March 1988) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officer.
Bacon was born in Westgate-on-Sea
Westgate-on-Sea
Westgate-on-Sea is a seaside town in northeast Kent, England, with a population of 6,600. It is within the Thanet local government district and borders the larger seaside resort of Margate...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, and educated at Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
and Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
. 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 1928 and was selected for Hendon Police College
Hendon Police College
Hendon Police College is the principal training centre for London's Metropolitan Police Service. Founded with the official name of the Metropolitan Police College, the college is today officially called the Peel Centre, although its original name is still used frequently...
in 1934, passing out with the Baton of Honour. In May 1940 he was commissioned into the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
as a Provost Marshal
Provost Marshal
The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police .There may be a Provost Marshal serving at many levels of the hierarchy and he may also be the public safety officer of a military installation, responsible for the provision of fire, gate security, and...
on the General List. By December 1941, when he was mentioned in despatches for his service in the Western Desert
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
, he held the local rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, although his substantive rank was Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. He was later promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and in 1942 was appointed Deputy Provost Marshal of the Ninth Army.
In November 1943 he was seconded to the Colonial Police Service as Deputy Inspector-General of the Ceylon Police, and was promoted Inspector-General in 1944. His Deputy Inspector-General was John Waldron
John Waldron (police officer)
Sir John Lovegrove Waldron, KCVO was a British police officer who served as Chief Constable of Berkshire Constabulary from 1954 to 1958 and Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police from 1968 to 1972....
, another Hendon graduate who was later to succeed him as both Assistant Commissioner "A" and Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
In 1947 he returned to Britain as 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...
of the Devon County Constabulary
Devon County Constabulary
Devon County Constabulary was the Home Office police force for the county of Devon, England, until 1966.The force was formed in 1856. It absorbed Tavistock Borough Police in 1856, Wolborough Borough Police in 1859, Okehampton Borough Police in 1860, Bradninch Borough Police in 1865, Torquay Borough...
, and held the post until his appointment as Assistant Commissioner "A"
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...
(Operations and Administration) of the Metropolitan Police on 1 November 1961. He was awarded the King's Police and Fire Services Medal in the 1953 New Year Honours. In 1963, he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "C" (Crime), in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
. At a press conference on 31 December 1964, he urged the public to "have a go" if they saw an armed robbery taking place, which was criticised as irresponsible by many. He 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 1966 New Year Honours.
In 1966 he briefly served as Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, commonly referred to simply as the Deputy Commissioner, is the second-in-command of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The rank is senior to Assistant Commissioner, but junior by one rank to Commissioner...
, from 8 April to his retirement in October.