John Rymer-Jones

Brigadier John Murray Rymer-Jones CBE MC & Bar QPM (12 July 1897 – 17 December 1993) was a British Army and police officer.

John Rymer-Jones
John Rymer-Jones, 1943
Born(1897-07-12)12 July 1897
Blackheath, London
Died17 December 1993(1993-12-17) (aged 96)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1916–34
RankBrigadier
Battles/warsFirst World War
  • Western Front
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Military Cross & bar
Queen's Police Medal
Other workPolice officer and administrator

Early life

Rymer-Jones was born in Blackheath, London,[1] and educated at Felsted School and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.

Military career

Commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in 1916, Rymer-Jones served in France and Flanders during the First World War, winning the Military Cross (MC) in 1917 and a bar in 1918, while serving with the 74th Field Brigade.[2] The citation for his first MC reads:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward with the first wave of the infantry in an attack to the final objective, establishing signal stations at each objective as he went forward. He sent in early information as to the capture of the objectives and other valuable reports. He kept his lines working, continually going about repairing them under heavy fire, and sent in timely information of an enemy concentration for a counter-attack. He showed ceaseless energy and determination."[3]

Rymer-Jones was promoted lieutenant in August 1917[4] and became an acting captain while serving as brigade adjutant from September 1918[5] until July 1919.[6] In 1919 he served with the British Army of the Rhine and in 1920–1921 was in Ireland attached to the King's Own Royal Regiment. In 1921 he briefly served in Upper Silesia during the plebiscite and then went to Egypt as a staff officer until 1925. From 1927 to 1928 he served as a staff officer with the Shanghai Defence Force and his last years in the Army, from 1929 to 1933, were spent as a company commander at the Royal Military Academy. He was promoted captain in February 1929.[7]

Police career

Following his retirement in February 1934[8] he joined the Metropolitan Police as a chief inspector and was posted to the headquarters of No.3 District in Hackney.[9] He was promoted superintendent in May 1935 and took over the Croydon Division.[9] In August 1936, he was transferred to the Organisation Department of the Commissioner's Office at Scotland Yard[10] and in October 1936 was promoted chief constable.[11][12] He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1943 New Year Honours.[13]

In 1943, Rymer-Jones was posted to Palestine as Inspector-General of the Palestine Police, with the Army rank of brigadier. In 1946, he returned to the Metropolitan Police with the new rank of commander, taking over No.1 District (West End). He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1950 New Year Honours.[14] In April 1950, he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "D" (Personnel and Training).[15][16] He held this position until his retirement in August 1959. During this time he was a vocal advocate of police dogs and increased their use within the Metropolitan Police.[17] He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in the 1959 Birthday Honours, two months before his retirement.[18]

Later life

Rymer-Jones was also North Kent area commissioner of St John Ambulance from 1963 to 1966, secretary of the Drinking Fountain Association from 1959 to 1976, and on the committee of the Royal Humane Society from 1957 to 1977.

Footnotes
  1. Imperial War Museum interview
  2. "No. 31266". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 April 1919. p. 4322.
  3. "No. 30590". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 March 1918. p. 3608.
  4. "No. 30503". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 January 1918. p. 1507.
  5. "No. 30993". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 November 1918. p. 13089.
  6. "No. 31599". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 October 1919. p. 12723.
  7. "No. 33468". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 February 1929. p. 1193.
  8. "No. 34025". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February 1934. p. 1155.
  9. "Metropolitan Police Appointments", The Times, 17 May 1935
  10. "Metropolitan Police Appointments", The Times, 10 August 1936
  11. "Metropolitan Police Promotions: Two New Chief Constables", The Times, 13 October 1936
  12. "Metropolitan Police Promotions", The Times, 16 August 1938
  13. "No. 35843". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1942. p. 63.
  14. "No. 38797". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1949. p. 11.
  15. "Assistant Commissioner Of Police", The Times, 18 April 1950
  16. "No. 38894". The London Gazette. 25 April 1950. p. 2031.
  17. "Scotland Yard Post: Mr. T. Mahir Assistant Commissioner", The Times, 24 June 1959
  18. "No. 41727". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 June 1959. p. 3732.
gollark: The rule mentions people and not beliefs anyway.
gollark: I do not, in general, think that being obligated to "respect" people's beliefs because they're, well, strongly hold beliefs, is very good.
gollark: Ah.
gollark: "Don't be an idiot"?
gollark: Yes. Liquid crystal displays.

References
  • Biography, Who Was Who
Police appointments
Preceded by
First incumbent		 Chief Constable (Organisation), Metropolitan Police
1936–1943		 Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
Alan Saunders		 Inspector-General of the Palestine Police
1943–1946		 Succeeded by
Nicol Gray
Preceded by
Unknown		 Commander, No.1 District, Metropolitan Police
1946–1950		 Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
Arthur Young		 Assistant Commissioner "D", Metropolitan Police
1950–1959		 Succeeded by
Tom Mahir
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