David Fleming Ford

Died

14 March 1929

Age

Rank

Police Constable

Force

Metropolitan Police

Cause

Accident

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Died in hospital after sustaining a fractured skull when he fell through a glass skylight while pursuing a man across rooftops.

Roll of Honour Citation

Died in hospital after sustaining a fractured skull when he fell through a glass skylight while pursuing a man across rooftops.

Circumstances

About 6am the burglar alarm outside the shop of Mr G Nyman, Westminster Bridge Road, London, the premises were quickly surrounded by police and a search of the premises found a man on the roof. Police Constable Ford went in pursuit and had crossed the roofs of four adjacent shops when he accidentally stepped on a glass skylight and fell about 40ft into the yard of the London Necropolis. He was taken to St Thomas's Hospital suffering from a fracture at the base of the skull, he died shortly after arriving.

Died shortly after arriving at St. Thomas’ Hospital having sustained a fracture at the base of his skull after falling about forty feet.

Earlier, about 6:00am, the burglar alarm outside a shop on Westminster Bridge Road, London, was activated. The shop was quickly surrounded by police and a search of the premises found a man on the roof. PC Ford went in pursuit and had crossed the roofs of four adjacent shops when he accidentally stepped on a glass skylight and fell into the yard of the London Necropolis.