jarndice wrote:I am puzzled as to why your Gr-Gr- Grandfather was dismissed, surely the reasons given were in fact the prerequisites for the employment of a Police officer in any British inner city of that time
Shaun,

Indeed, Shaun. Workhouses of that period also supplied (very strong) beer for breakfast, lunch and supper too- for those not already horizontal. Modern day Methies ('Tennents
Super' slurpers)must regret their passing. In fact, he'd been up and down the ranks in 'dram'- atic style for decades. It was a slurp too far, and too often..
Interestingly, in those days, there were four grades of Constable and four of Sergeant too. He'd been all of them..several times

"Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please"- Mark Twain.