Frederick Wodehouse
Encyclopedia
Major Sir Edwin Frederick Wodehouse KCB
KCVO
(20 February 1851 – 1 April 1934), known as Sir Frederick Wodehouse, was a senior British police officer, serving as Assistant Commissioner of both the City of London Police
and the Metropolitan Police
.
Wodehouse was the son of Colonel Edwin Wodehouse of the Royal Artillery
. He also joined the Royal Artillery, passing out from the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich as a Lieutenant
on 8 January 1870. He served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War
in 1878–1880, fighting at the Battle of Ali Musjid. He was promoted Captain
on 29 May 1880,, and on 9 June 1881 he was appointed Adjutant
of the Suffolk Artillery Militia (later the 3rd Brigade, Eastern Division, Royal Artillery Militia), holding the position until he was promoted Major
on 24 November 1885.
In 1890 Wodehouse joined the City of London Police
as Assistant Commissioner. In March 1902 he narrowly lost the election (by 95 votes to 100) of the Court of Common Council to replace Sir Henry Smith as Commissioner, although he had been Acting Commissioner since Smith's retirement at Christmas 1901. He initially agreed to stay as deputy to the new Commissioner, Captain William Nott-Bower, but on 1 October 1902 he transferred to the Metropolitan Police
as Assistant Commissioner (Executive)
, responsible for executive business, supplies and buildings. This post became known as Assistant Commissioner "B" after a fourth Assistant Commissioner was appointed in 1909. Wodehouse retired on 31 October 1918.
Wodehouse was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath
(CB) in the 1909 Birthday Honours, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
(KCVO) in the Coronation Honours of June 1911, and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1917 King's Birthday Honours.
Wodehouse married Margaret Repington in 1881. She died in 1927. They had two daughters.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(20 February 1851 – 1 April 1934), known as Sir Frederick Wodehouse, was a senior British police officer, serving as Assistant Commissioner of both the City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
and the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
.
Wodehouse was the son of Colonel Edwin Wodehouse of the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. He also joined the Royal Artillery, passing out from the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 8 January 1870. He served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
in 1878–1880, fighting at the Battle of Ali Musjid. He was promoted Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 29 May 1880,, and on 9 June 1881 he was appointed Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the Suffolk Artillery Militia (later the 3rd Brigade, Eastern Division, Royal Artillery Militia), holding the position until he was promoted Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
on 24 November 1885.
In 1890 Wodehouse joined the City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
as Assistant Commissioner. In March 1902 he narrowly lost the election (by 95 votes to 100) of the Court of Common Council to replace Sir Henry Smith as Commissioner, although he had been Acting Commissioner since Smith's retirement at Christmas 1901. He initially agreed to stay as deputy to the new Commissioner, Captain William Nott-Bower, but on 1 October 1902 he transferred to the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
as Assistant Commissioner (Executive)
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, usually just Assistant Commissioner , is the third highest rank in London's Metropolitan Police, ranking below Deputy Commissioner and above Deputy Assistant Commissioner. There are usually four officers in the rank...
, responsible for executive business, supplies and buildings. This post became known as Assistant Commissioner "B" after a fourth Assistant Commissioner was appointed in 1909. Wodehouse retired on 31 October 1918.
Wodehouse was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(CB) in the 1909 Birthday Honours, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(KCVO) in the Coronation Honours of June 1911, and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1917 King's Birthday Honours.
Wodehouse married Margaret Repington in 1881. She died in 1927. They had two daughters.