Philip Margetson

Major Sir Philip Reginald Margetson KCVO MC QPM (2 January 1894–5 December 1985) was an Assistant Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police.

Military service

Margetson was educated at Marlborough College and then went on to Sandhurst. In 1915 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He was promoted Lieutenant on 25 December 1915, and temporary Captain on 20 February 1916. [LondonGazette|issue=29568|startpage=4455|date=5 May 1916|accessdate=2008-01-04] He reverted to Lieutenant on 27 April 1916. [LondonGazette|issue=29814|supp=yes|startpage=10730|date=3 November 1916|accessdate=2008-01-04] In the 1916 King's Birthday Honours he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in action. [LondonGazette|issue=29608|supp=yes|startpage=5570|endpage=5575|date=2 June 1916|accessdate=2008-01-04] In January 1918 he became an instructor with an officer cadet unit as an Acting Captain. In 1919 he became Second-in-Command of the 1/4th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers (Territorial Force) (which was then part of the Army of Occupation) in the rank of Acting Major. [LondonGazette|issue=31964|supp=yes|startpage=7216|date=2 July 1920|accessdate=2008-01-04] On 1 January 1923 he was finally promoted to the substantive rank of Captain, [LondonGazette|issue=32818|startpage=3050|date=27 April 1923|accessdate=2008-01-04] [LondonGazette|issue=32838|supp=yes|startpage=4519|date=29 June 1923|accessdate=2008-01-04] while serving as adjutant of the 1st Battalion. On 1 October 1928 he became Staff Captain of the 54th (East Anglian) Division, [LondonGazette|issue=33427|startpage=6415|date=5 October 1928|accessdate=2008-01-04] [LondonGazette|issue=33431|startpage=6702|date=19 October 1928|accessdate=2008-01-04] an appointment he held until 1 October 1932. [LondonGazette|issue=33871|startpage=6336|date=7 October 1932|accessdate=2008-01-04] On 1 January 1933 he became a Brevet Major. [LondonGazette|issue=33899|startpage=51|date=3 January 1933|accessdate=2008-01-04]

Police career

On 31 December 1933, Margetson retired from the Army, transferring to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers. [LondonGazette|issue=34011|startpage=54|endpage=140|supp=yes|date=29 December 1944|accessdate=2008-01-04] [LondonGazette|issue=36870|startpage=56|date=2 January 1934|accessdate=2008-01-04] He joined the Metropolitan Police, entering directly as a Chief Inspector and taking the position of senior administrative officer at No.4 District (South London) headquarters on 1 December 1933. He was later promoted to Superintendent and took command of "R" Division (Blackheath). In August 1936 he was promoted to Chief Constable and became deputy commander of No.2 District (North London). In February 1938 he was transferred to the same post in No.1 District (West Central London), and in October 1938 to the same post in No.3 District (East London). In February 1940 he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner at "A" Department (Operations and Administration) of Scotland Yard and in August 1940 he was given command of No.1 District. In March 1946 he received the new rank of Commander.

In June 1946, he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner "D" (Personnel and Training) and in October he transferred to become Assistant Commissioner "A" (Operations and Administration). In 1947 he was made an Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John. [LondonGazette|issue=37842|startpage=122|date=3 January 1947|accessdate=2008-01-04] He was created a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 1948 New Year Honours [LondonGazette|issue=38161|supp=yes|startpage=9|date=30 December 1947|accessdate=2008-01-04] and raised to Knight Commander (KCVO) in the 1953 Coronation Honours. [LondonGazette|issue=39863|supp=yes|startpage=2946|date=26 May 1953|accessdate=2008-01-04] In 1955 he was promoted to Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John. [LondonGazette|issue=40378|supp=yes|startpage=158|date=7 January 1955|accessdate=2008-01-04] He received the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) for Distinguished Service in the 1956 Queen's Birthday Honours. [LondonGazette|issue=40787|supp=yes|startpage=3136|date=25 May 1956|accessdate=2008-01-04]

Later life

He retired on 2 January 1957 (his 63rd birthday) and joined the board of Securicor, serving as chairman from 1960 to 1973, when he became honorary president. He was instrumental in the disarming of cash in transit security guards in 1964, having always disliked the idea of private guards carrying firearms.

In 1918, Margetson married Diana Thorneycroft, elder daughter of Sir John Thorneycroft. They had two sons; the elder was killed in action in 1943.

Notes

References

*"The Times" Digital Archive