Harry Leslie Stanton

Died

28 January 1929

Age

Rank

Police Constable

Force

Dudley Borough Police

Cause

Not Known

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Found dead on the railway line at the edge of his beat in undetermined circumstances.

Roll of Honour Citation

Found dead on the railway line at the edge of his beat in undetermined circumstances.

Circumstances

Found dead on a railway line on his beat in suspicious circumstances.

PC Stanton was last seen alive about 6:20pm on the evening of 28th January 1929 but after failing to meet another police officer at 7:00pm as planned, a search was established to locate him.

Shortly after midnight his body was found on the railway line at the foot of a steep embankment near the entrance to Netherton tunnel, though his beat would not have normally have given him reason to enter the railway system.

He was found lying on his back having sustained a serious head injury but still had hold of his truncheon across his chest. His trousers were ripped, his coat collar had been torn and a button was missing.

With conflicting medical opinions regarding whether PC Stanton had been the victim of foul play or had been struck by a train, the inquest into his death recorded an open verdict.

Having joined the police in May 1926 Harry had been an officer for more than two-and-a-half years. He was due to be married in March.