PS George Benbow

 Just ordinary people – far from it!

PS George Benbow

PS George Benbow died suddenly in January 1930, after collapsing whilst on duty with Swansea Borough Police Force.

George was born in 1885, the son of George and Emla Benbow.

George married Emily Brooks, at Christ Church, Swansea on May 16^th,1875

George Benbow and Emily Brooks
marriage certificate
St. James Church

At the time of the 1881 Census, the couple were living at 270 Carmarthen Road, with their two daughters, Emily J., 5, and Mary E., 1

1881 Census

George’s occupation was recorded as Tailor.  George's place of birth was recorded as Birmingham, whilst Emla’s as Bidford, Devon.

A decade later at the 1891 Census, the family moved to 9 Baptist Well Street.

1891 Census

George, 34, is still recorded as a Tailor. Emla is 37. This is the first census that George is recorded on. Their daughters, Emily J., 15, is recorded as a School Teacher, whilst Mary E. is 11, and George is 6.

The family is still living at 9 Baptist Well Street at the time of the 1901 Census.

1901 Census

George, 44, is still recorded as a Tailor, and Emla, 47. Their children are still present at the address. Emily J., 25, is still a School Teacher, Mary E., 21, is a Tailoress, and George, 16, is a Cabinet Maker.

Two of the children are present at the 1911 Census, where the family are still living at 9 Baptist Wells Street.

1911 Census

George, 54, is still recorded as a Tailor, Emla, is 57.  Emily, 35, is now an Assistant Teacher, and George, 26, is recorded as a Police Constable.

According to the article “Sudden Death Of Police Officer” published in The Herald of Wales, on 18^th January 1930, George joined the police force in April 1907.

The Cambrian Daily Leader

George was first reported in The Cambrian Daily Leader, on 8^th June 1907, in the Swansea Police Court section “Smart Arrest by Recently Appointed Constable……Exciting Times at The Loughor Inn”

The Herald of Wales 

The following year, in February 1908, George is mentioned in The Herald of Wales in the article “Attempted Suicide…..Man Jumps Into the Canal at Morriston”

The Cambrian Daily Leader

Then again, in September 1910, George is mentioned in The Cambrian Daily Leader, in an article in the Swansea Police Court “Pontardulais Man’s Story of Assault”

In May 1913, George married Ruth Guy, at St. James Church.

George Benbow and Ruth Guy
marriage certificate
St. James Church

The certificate records that George’s address at the time of the wedding was Central Police Station.

The Herald of Wales

The Herald of Wales

Following his marriage George would feature in several articles. The first one, was in The Herald of Wales, on November 27^th, 1915, in the Local Police Courts columns and then in the same paper on December 16^th, 1916.

Herald of Wales

The South Wales Daily Post

A month before the 1921 Census, two articles were published the first on the 7^th of May, in the Herald of Wales, “Sunday Evening Trap……Llansamlet Policeman Waits in House”, then on the 17^th of May, an article was published in The South Wales Daily Post regarding the death of Emily.

By the time of the 1921 Census, the couple, George, 36, and Ruth, 35 are residing at Lon-Las, Swansea.

1921 Census

Present at the address, are their four sons, Philip George, 7; Frederick Wilson, 6; Henry Howell, 3, and 2-year-old Ernest John.

George’s father, George, 64, is also living at the property.  He is widowed and still employed as a Tailor.

Herald of Wales

The South Wales Daily Post

Sadly, on 18^th January 1930, George died, and he was buried at Bethel.