Roger Brereton

Died

19 August 1987

Age

Rank

Police Constable

Force

Thames Valley Police

Cause

Homicide - Shot

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Died after being shot while responding to reports of a gunman in Hungerford. Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Roll of Honour Citation

Died after being shot while responding to reports of a gunman in Hungerford. Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Circumstances

Rushing to the scene of berserk gunman in Hungerford his police car was fired upon 23 times by the gunman. Four of the rounds hit and killed Roger who had freely gone towards a gunman who had already killed a number of others.

Posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

The Hungerford Massacre, as it became known, began when a 27-year-old man embarked on an armed rampage.

Following a 999 call to Newbury Police Station at 12.40pm, reporting a shooting incident, PC Roger Brereton was one of four police officers to respond. The officers planned their approach and, as agreed, Roger drove into South View, a narrow lane leading to Hungerford Common.

The armed man suddenly emerged and repeatedly fired at PC Brereton, hitting him and causing his police car to crash. Despite this, Roger used his VHF radio to warn the Force Control Room. Using an automatic weapon, the man again opened fire on the officer. A total of twenty-four bullets struck the police car.

PC Brereton was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Image from the funeral of PC Brereton.