SOMETIMES it took many years for stories of First World War service to emerge in Furness.

The Barrow News on Saturday May 30 in 1936 carried details of the retirement of Syd Wilson from the police force after 26 years.

The article noted: “Born at Forest Gate, London, in 1887, one of a family of 10, ex-PC Wilson commenced work as an errand boy to a butcher at the age of 11 years.

“As a boy he always had a desire to become a soldier, and on reaching the eligible age he joined the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards.

“The young recruit soon displayed soldierly qualities and before he had been in the ranks 12 months he was a non-commissioned officer.

“He left the army on May 26 in 1910 and started duty in Barrow Police Force on the following day under the present Chief Constanble, Mr John Berry.

“On the outbreak of war in 1914 he rejoined the colours and proceeded to France with the Expeditionary Force, being attached to the 1st Battalion of the Grenadiers.

“In October, 1914, he was wounded in the chest by shrapnel, came home and went out again in 1916.

“Wounded again in 1917, he was transferred to blighty and acted as instructor-sergeant in London, finishing up at Aldershot with the rank of company sergeant major.

“He finally left the army in 1919 and resumed his police duties at Barrow.

“For several years ex-PC Wilson acted as drill instructor to the local police.

“As a young man he was keenly interested in boxing.

“He was a member of a boxing school as a boy and developed the fistic art after joining the army.

“He won the middle-weight championship of the Brigade of Guards in 1909.

“He took part in 11 contests at the National Sporting Club as a professional and won eight of them.

“But Syd did nor make much money out of the game as many modern boxers do.

“Yet he would give, and probably receive much more punishment in the ring than some of the pugilists who now fight, in some cases for a few seconds, for what were undreamt-of purses when he was engaged in the game.

“Mr Wilson said: ‘Sometimes we got £1 a round and sometimes I have got as little as 50 shillings (£2.50) for a 10-round contest’.

“But he enjoyed a bout and probably would have found his way into the ring if the reward had been nothing more than the satisfaction of beating the other chap.

“Ex-PC Wilson is a member of Barrow British Legion, the Working Men’s Club and an official of the ex-Service Men’s Association attached to that club.”