Photo : Illustrated Chronicle 1915
Police Review and Parade Gossip page 311
Photo: Police Roll Of Honour
In 1881 they were residing at Bell House Cottage.
On the 22nd May 1909, Robert attested for service with the 4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (Territorial Force) as a Private, service number 555 and served for 2 years 199 days before resigning at his own request on the 6th December 1911.
He was 5 feet 10 inches tall and was a farm labourer, in 1901 he resided at Wheat Farm at Chollerton and in 1911 his nephew John William Telford, baptised 29th March 1905 was residing with him along with his widowed mother. [John eventually enlisted into the Royal Artillery in 1928, service number 779596].
Robert was appointed to the Northumberland County Constabulary on the 23rd March 1914 as a Police Constable no. 73. After completing his training at the Morpeth Headquarters he was posted to Willington Quay, Wallsend Division on the 1st May 1914. On the 25th December 1914 he submitted his resignation stating he 'did not like the job' and requested that it take effect from the 25th January 1915. This was accepted, but he then withdrew his resignation and was allowed to continue to serve remaining at his current station.
On the 31st May 1915 he applied to resign to enlist with the Northumberland Fusiliers, this was accepted and he was awaiting his mobilisation to the army.
On the 15th June 1915, Police Constable Telford was on duty outside the Co-operative Store at Howden, Willington Quay when he was killed by a bomb dropped from a hostile airship. He was killed just before midnight when the enemy aircraft made the second raid on the county and dropped bombs over Tyneside.
A Zeppelin LZ40 under the command of Kapitan Leutnent Hirsch crossed the north east coat at Blyth and headed directly for Wallsend where, about 11.40 pm., 7 Heavy Explosive and 5 Incendiary bombs were dropped on Palmer’s Marine Engineering Works. 17 men died and 72 were injured.
Later, bombs fell at Willington (Quay) where they damaged Cookson’s Antimony Works and Pochin’s Chemical Works and several houses. A policeman [P. C. Telford], died at Willington Quay. The L10 then headed for the sea dropping bombs on Haxton Green and South Shields on the way.
Summary of Shields Gazette 17/06/1915.
The Zeppelin airship involved in the raid was L10 commanded by Kapitanleutnant Hirsch who took off from Nordholz on the afternoon of the 15th June together with L11. Over the North Sea L11 turned back and L10 continued on its mission. The airship crossed the coast near Whitley Bay and dropped about 60 explosive and incendiary bombs on Wallsend, Jarrow, Hebburn and South Shields. In September 1915 the L10 commanded by Klaus Hirsch was struck by lightning while over the North Sea and the airship was lost together with Hirsch and his crew of 19.
A local Superintendent gave evidence at an inquest in relation to the 16 persons killed in the raid; PC Telford’s inquest was to be held later.
The Superintendent stated that he saw the Zeppelin at 11.40pm on the Tuesday night, and shortly after he saw it discharging missiles which were followed by flashes and reports. The Zeppelin was only over the area for 8 to 9 minutes. The officer produced a discharged bomb which had been picked up after the raid.
On the 18th June the inquest was held on PC Telford. Evidence was given relating to a bomb being dropped at the point where the Constable was on duty, and the wounds inflicted.
Jarrow Express 18/06/1915
Inquest on a Policeman
An inquest was held last night on P.C. Robert Telfer, [sic], 22, who was killed on Tuesday night.
The Coroner expressed sympathy with the relatives of P.C. Telfer and with his colleagues in the police force. The Chief Constable, speaking on behalf of the police, said that he much appreciated the Coroner's remarks. Telfer, who was a Northumbrian, possessed qualities which indicated that he would have made an excellent officer in the course of a few years. In meeting his death while on duty he was deserving of great commendation, as his death was comparable with the deaths of other Brave Northumbirians who who recently died on the distant battlefield.
Evidence was then given. It showed that P.C. Telfer was found killed in the street. A verdict was returned that he died fro wounds received by the explosion of a bomb from a hostile airship.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle 17/06/1915.
The death was notified to the coroner at Blyth, yesterday, of P.C. Robert Telford, of the Northumberlnd Constabulary, who was stationed on Tyneside. It was stated that the deceased constable had been killed late on Tuesday night.
St Peter's Parish Magazine August 1922:
'War Memorial
The wreath recently placed on the War Memorial Window by Provisional Superintendent Aitken and Lady Divisional Superintendent Snowden of the Wallsend Borough Ambulance Division and the Wallsend Nursing Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade was a tribute to the memory of all those who gave their lives in the war, but with particular reference to M. Sylvia Stephenson, who died Nov. 9th, 1915, in Cairo, whilst on active service in a hospital as a St John Ambulance V.A.D. nurse, and Police Constable Robert Telfer, who was killed on duty at Coach Open? by an enemy bomb during the air raid in June 1915.'
In 1927, the police made contact with his 78-year-old widowed mother, who lived with one of her two married daughters. They agreed to a memorial stone, C35.02 which was paid for by police donations and erected at Chollerton Churchyard, Northumberland where the officer was buried.
Acknowledgments : The Police Roll of Honour
Robert Telford is remembered at Chollerton on C35.01 and C35.02 at Wallsend on W07.04, and was at Ponteland on P12.01, but has the name transferred onto the New Police Memorial relocated to Middle Engine Lane at Wallsend.