A fascinating Cardiff Head Constable’s King’s Police Medal, Coronation 1911 and Order of St. John of Jerusalem group awarded to Head Constable William MacKenzie, Cardiff Police who had started his career with the Lancashire Constabulary before he moved south to Bristol in 1876. Promoted Inspector in 1879 he would undergo a rapid series of promotions, being appointed a Superintendent in 1883 and in 1887 he was raised to the position of Deputy Chief Constable, in this role he was in charge of the Bristol Force during the great floods of 1888, with the Chief Constable being absent. He would transfer to Cardiff in 1889 and served as Head Constable where he became a familiar figure in the streets of Cardiff on occasions of Royal Visits and other public ceremonies including in 1898 when the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra as the Prince and Princess of Wales opened the Cardiff Exhibition. A well known figure in improving the ‘lot’ of Cardiff’s policemen he was recognised by them on more than one occasion. He would also serve as the First Secretary of St. John Ambulance Association and as President of the Caledonian Society, and was noted for his charity work in the city of Cardiff.
Group of 3: King’s Police Medal, GVR, (WILLIAM MACKENZIE HEAD CONSTABLE CARDIFF.) Coronation Medal 1911, County & Borough Police reverse; Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother. Mounted on silver buckle ribbon bar for wear.
Condition: mounted on a silver buckle ribbon bar for wear, Nearly Extremely Fine
William McKenzie was born in the village of Oyne, Aberdeenshire in Scotland in 1853. He joined the police force in Lancashire before he moved south to Bristol in 1876 and in 1879 would be promoted to the rank of Inspector. Four years later he would be made a superintendent. And in 1887 he was raised to the position of Deputy Chief Constable. Thus it will be seen that his advancement was extremely rapid in the comparatively brief period of elven years. In the absence of the Chief Constable he was in charge of the Bristol Force during the great floods of 1888, and on that occasion received the thanks of the Watch committee. On leaving Bristol for Cardiff he was presented with a marble clock and case of silver, to which very member of the Bristol force subscribed.
He had only been at the head of the force in Cardiff two years when he was presented with a silver salver for improving the position of the men in, point of pay and otherwise. The late Marquess of Bute at the end of his mayoralty also made him a presentation.
At one time there was no more familiar figure in the streets of Cardiff on occasions of Royal visits, and other public ceremonies, than that of Mr. McKenzie mounted on his grey charger. The first Royal visit, subsequent to his appointment, was that of the late Duke of Clarence. In 1890, when the bridge named after his, Royal Highness was opened. The next was in 1898, when the late King Edward and Queen Alexandra, who were then Prince and Princess of Wales, opened the Cardiff Exhibition. These were followed by the visit of the then Prince of Wales to lay the foundation stone of the University College and that of the lake King Edward and his Consort to Open the Queen Alexandra Dock.
Princess Christian came to Cardiff to open a bazaar during the Lord Mayoralty of ex-Alderman Robert Hughes and on all these occasions the police arrangements were carried out, with such perfect precision and order as to command general admiration.
The among the eminent statemen who visited Cardiff during Mr. McKenzie’s time was the late Lord Salisbury, Lord Roseberry, Lord Lansdowne, Lord Balfour, Mr Joseph Chamberlain and Mr Lloyd George.
During Mr. McKenzie regime the Cardiff police force more than doubled in number. When he came to the city there were 140 men of all grades, and before he relinquished his post the number had increased to 291. One of his first duties was to reorganise and re-arrange the force in three divisions. The detective department was also re-organised, and has been worked ever since on up to date methods.
During the time he was Chief Constable, the conditions under which the police served were greatly improved, especially in regard to pay and time of leave.
In 1889, the year of Mr. McKenzie’s appointment, the ordinary constable received 22s, rising to 28s per week, Before he left in 1912 the minimum was raised to 26s and the maximum to 35s.
During his regime the fire brigade was completely modernised and today it is recognised as one of the smartest and most efficient brigades in the provinces. Before Mr. McKenzie took this work in hand the brigade consisted of two men only. Superintendent Green and Engineer Jenkins, who were assisted by the police when necessary. When, he resigned the brigade as composed of 21 men all told, in full equipment and with trained horses owned by the corporation.
In the old days the horses were hired, and it was found that sometimes they would pull the engine and at tother times they would not and it was no uncommon sight to see firemen pushing the fire engine.
Outside the sphere of his own duties as Chief Constable , Mr. McKenzie devoted his abilities and energies to the furtherance of numerous useful movements. Whilst holding his position he was the first secretary in Cardiff of the St. John Ambulance Association and he became an honorary associate of that association. In 1911 he had the honour of being presented by the King with the distinguished service medal.
McKenzie had always taken the keenest interest in the good work of the Caledonian Society, of which he acted for many years as president. Only, a fortnight ago, he presided at the thirty-fourth annual dinner of the society, held at the Royal Hotel and in a photograph which appeared in the Western Mail, on the following day, he was shown investing Dr. William Campbell Anderson of Newport Road (his medical attendant) as the new president.
Mc McKenzie was one of those who inaugurated the charitable work of the society by which poor Scotsmen resident in the city have been generously assisted from time to time.
