Stephen R Davies was a member of the Royal Air Force Police for 25 years. In 1975 he joined the Royal Air Force as a policeman and during his service completed tours of duty in the UK and numerous countries around the globe. He qualified as a specialist in Royal Air Force Police Special Investigation and Counter-Intelligence matters and successfully completed the Home Office Detective Training program and Drug Enforcement courses with the UK civil police and United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations. In 1991 he qualified as an instructor and lectured at the Airman’s Command School Hereford and the RAF Police School at Halton. He retired from the Royal Air Force in 2000 and now lives in Portugal.
THE PROJECT
WHO HAS DONE WHAT TO HIGHLIGHT & PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE RAF POLICE…?
The Royal Air Force Police was 108 years old on the 1 April 2026 and a great deal of its past global history during conflict and peace has been documented for those interested people in the future to learn of what this unique branch of the Royal Air Force has achieved during its existence and how it has been invaluable in supporting wider military operations at home and abroad. Research and recording the history and the events that have shaped the branch can be demanding and require dedication but who are the people who have, and continue to commit themselves to the gigantic task…? While today, my name tops the list, there were, and are others who play a big part in the adventure. Indeed every single officer, warrant officer or NCO who submitted a report, or an article in a RAF journal, or contacted me with a story, has provided important pieces of the huge jigsaw which is indeed, the Global History of the Royal Air Force Police. Amongst those who have corroborated, the following individuals, many of whom, are sadly no longer with us, are worthy of special mention.
In 1972, the Provost Marshal, Air Commodore H M Shephard wrote “An invitation from Group Captain Pat Hennessey to write the foreword to a book so dear to my heart was irresistible. I accepted with very real pleasure. 'The Story of the Royal Air Force Police' was an overview of the RAF Police since its formation and a description of some of the key characters involved. For many years I had tried to find an author to write about a remarkable [Provost] Branch of the Royal Air Force which, from the humblest beginnings had grown, in less than a lifetime, into an outstanding professional organisation. Moreover, it developed a unique family spirit which, I dare suggest, has contributed greatly to its ever-high morale. In Pat Hennessey we struck gold. Already an author of two most readable books about his service career, he fought as a tank commander with the 13/18 Royal Hussars in World War II, landing on the beaches on 'D' Day itself; then served with the Royal Military Police in Africa; joined the RAF Regiment, and finally transferred to the RAF Provost Branch in 1956. (from which he retired in 1984). Moreover, eloquent with words, fluent with his pen, an avid and dedicated researcher able to tap some excellent 'sources' and with a nice sense of humour, where else could one wish to look? He has done, I believe, full justice to the fascinating history of the Provost Branch as well as to its rich tapestry of colourful characters, and I for one, am most grateful. Readers will see for themselves how the Provost Branch evolved from primitive, heavy-handed military style policing, into a true professional body that reflected the changed requirements of a highly technical service, relying so much on good security. In fact, in the mid fifties, this was formally recognised by the adoption of a 'help out, not catch out' approach. This paid rich dividends in its relationship with the rest of the service, and by throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the life of the Royal Air Force, in sport, in socialising and, by no means least in fund-raising for charity, the RAF Police lost forever that old fashioned stigma of the 'Copper as social outcast'. Their criterion was ever, 'Do what is best for the Royal Air Force', and over the years they have stuck to that religiously. On the occasion of the Provost Branch's 25th Anniversary [1972], I wrote: 'Brief though our span of life as an independent Branch, much has been achieved on sure and firm foundations, laid by our far-seeing pre-war and wartime colleagues, a Branch fully integrated within the Royal Air Force, and wholeheartedly dedicated to its service, has been soundly built. No better evidence of its success can exist for us than the happy and trusting relationship we enjoy today with the rest of the service, and the respect in which, I know, the Provost Branch is held. Every provost officer and member of the RAF Police, past and present, can feel not a little proud in bringing us thus so far so successfully along this road, and I am certain the Royal Air Force can confidently look forward to enjoying ever stronger and more professional support from us in the next twenty-five years. This must be our primary aim.' The Provost Branch is already nearing that next milestone and I feel sure that those, having read this book, will better understand why such confidence is so well placed.'
Tracking back much earlier, Squadron Leader Frank Instone, a member of the Provost Marshal’s staff during WWII, and the author of ‘Deputy Provost Marshal – I Slew My Dragon’, provided an incredible insight into the rapid expansion of the Provost Branch to support the RAF mission in conflict. Likewise former RAF Police Sergeant Bernard Hart-Hallam allowed me to use material from his book, ‘Nobody’s Hero’, regarding his role in the D-Day invasion and the push through into Germany with No 6 RAF Security Section. Former Flight Sergeant Frank Authers BEM, also gave his blessing for me to use information from his book, ‘A Birds Eye View from the Ground’, regarding his thirty year career in the RAF beginning during the early days of World War II. When it came to research the RAF Police presence in Japan at the end of World War II, former Flight Lieutenant and British Ambassador, Sir Hugh Cortazzi GCMG, who commanded one of 3 RAF Police Flights, supplied papers on the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan and allowed me to use the contents and anything of use from his autobiography ‘Japan and Back’. I was indebted to the family of the late Professor Richard A Preston of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, for allowing me to use material from his research into the RAF Security Services between 1939 – 1945, and to former Sergeant Anne Mugridge for allowing me to use material relating to her late husband, Flight Sergeant Frank Mugridge, who served with the RAF Special Investigation Branch (SIB) in India and Ceylon between 1944 – 1947. Similarly, the family of the late Corporal Norman Wortley, allowed me to use memories from the diaries he kept of his time in Kenya and Somalia in 1943, and former Corporal Tony Paley, gave permission to use extracts from his book ‘The Sparrows’.
When it came to researching the incredible story of how the RAF Police became involved in the training and deployment of military working dogs, the following people were amazing in educating me on such a complicated subject; Squadron Leader Peter C Somerville, Squadron Leader H Hawkhead, Flight Lieutenant Denis Read, Flight Lieutenant Stephen Atkins, former Warrant Officer Bevan Stapleton, former Flight Sergeant Kenneth C Hart, former Corporal and Civilian trainer Clive Gilmore, former Flight Sergeant Stewart McArdle and others.
It had long been felt, by a number of like minded individuals who had served with the RAF Police, that having completed their time, it would be ideal if there was some form of social contact to foster the fellowship and camaraderie practised during their service within the branch. In 1995, the RAF Police Association Committee comprising; Chairman; John Wood, Secretary; David Boxall, Treasurer; Neil Rusling, Colin Bew and Stephen Cattell had been working hard to increase membership and spruce up the overall image of the association. Up until that point, there were only two major re-unions held each year; one on the evening prior to the annual general meeting at the police school and the other at the Victory Services Club in London. Accordingly, many senior association members found it difficult to travel the long distances to get to the venues and therefore stayed away and their memories remained unshared. To overcome the problem and to increase contact with other members, the association voted to establish a number of regional branches around the country; the first being the North-west Branch based at Blackpool which was organised by Alan Rusling, a veteran of the Normandy Campaign, who had served in the RAF Police between 1940 and 1949. In November 1995, the Midlands Branch based at Wolverhampton was formed by John Whatmore and Neil Rusling. As membership gradually increased, an Association Handbook was collated and produced by Colin Bew which listed each member by name, address, telephone number and the dates they had served. Accordingly, lots of long lost colleagues and friends were re-united and memories relived. Stephen Cattell and Neil Rusling later designed and launched the popular RAF Police Association webpage and on-line Guest Book. In June 2007, a memorial to the RAF Police and its Veterans was inaugurated at the National Arboretum in Stafford and each anniversary is the focus of a ceremony and parade of both serving and veteran RAF Police.
In early 2000, former Flight Sergeant and RAF Police Association member, John Curtis, took on the massive task as RAF Provost Parade Archivist, which saw him create a searchable data base of every story, image and identity published in the journal since 1947. Frustratingly, by the end of 2015, hard copies of the twice annual journal, Provost Parade, which first appeared in 1947, had stopped being published in favour of an electronic version that could be read and downloaded from the internet. However, the following year, anything resembling Provost Parade had only been published on the private RAF Police network which was not accessible to the public.
In 2012, Wing Commander Kevin Bailey, took on the job of modernising the RAF Police Museum at Southwick Park Defence Police College. Frustratingly, the museum is only accessible by prior appointment but is, all the same, a fountain of knowledge. Likewise, former Sergeant Nigel Bean became a volunteer at the Newark Air Museum and created a small but dynamic RAF Police display there. When RAF Laarbruch in Germany closed, a Cold War Museum was established and a similar RAF Police display was created, telling the story of the RAF Police role at the base. In addition, a similar museum was formed at RAF Gatow when it closed and it too has a section dedicated to the RAF Police.
In 1993, while serving as an instructor with the Airman’s Command School at Hereford, I came to a sobering realisation that the RAF Police, despite its storied existence and possessing a museum of artefacts, lacked a comprehensive, chronological global history of its achievements during its first 75 years. This was more than just a gap on a bookshelf; it was a silence where the voices and deeds of thousands of RAF Police personnel should have been. Indeed, history has a way of retreating into the shadows if it isn’t actively pulled into the light. Realising that the unique legacy of our branch, in peace and combat, was at risk of being forgotten, I embarked on a mission to redress this failure and many at the time doubted if I could achieve the challenge I had set myself. What began as a research project evolved into a 25-year journey. It involved navigating archives, verifying accounts, and piecing together a global narrative that spanned decades of RAF Police service supporting RAF operations at home and abroad. The result of this labour was the publication of 10 books designed to serve as a definitive record of the RAF Police. Of course, the task involved a great many pieces of a gigantic jigsaw puzzle and I am fully aware that a great many important pieces remain loss or undiscovered. However, in documenting these years, I was privileged to uncover a vast number of events, moments of courage, duty above and beyond, and innovation, that would likely have been lost forever.
The true reward of this work, however, hasn't just been seeing the impressive story of our unique branch of the RAF laid down in print. It has been watching that history come to life through the community. By providing a factual foundation for our past, I am proud to have seen: The formation of history and heritage groups dedicated to the RAF Police: The establishment of memorials that honour those who served and those who paid the ultimate price during their service, and: The creation of historic displays that educate the public and the next generation of RAF Police.
History is a living thing and the creation of social media has been an important tool in bringing together and connecting veterans, serving personnel and their families. It provides the ‘why’ behind our traditions and the ‘who’ behind our immense pride. I am honoured to have played my part in ensuring that the men and women of the RAF Police, and the part they have played in the bigger picture, are remembered not just as a footnote, but as a vital, documented chapter of British military history.
Thank you to everyone who has supported this research over the decades, albeit that many who shared their stories with me are no longer with us, and to those who continue to keep this history alive today in various ways.
Per Ardua ad Astra & Fiat Justitia
Stephen R Davies
