Superintendents/Chief Constables (CC)
1840 – 1846 John Scott
1846 – 1854 Charles C. Rudd
1854 – 1862 James Thom
1862 – 1866 Daniel Munro
1866 – 1868 No Superintendent
1868 – 1878 William Morrison
1878 – 1902 John McDonald
1902 – 1909 John Morren
1909 – 1930 David Thom
John Morren KPM was the CC of Hawick from 1902 – 1909, and CC of Berwick and Selkirk Counties from 1909 – 1933.
David Thom, who replaced him as Chief Constable in 1909, was a former Leith Burgh Police Inspector.
Hawick Burgh Police amalgamated with the County of Roxburgh Constabulary on 16 May 1930, David W. S. Brown, being the new Chief Constable of the new police force.
Hawick Burgh Police
Chief Constable John Morren's
miniature OBE, KPM and
Coronation 1911 Medals
Chief Constable John Morren driving, with his wife beside him, and his son Lt William Booth Rennie Morren of the Royal Scots 9th Battalion standing.
Aberdeen City Police 1883 - 1902
Hawick Burgh Police 1902 -1909
Berwick Roxburgh & Selkirk Constabularies From 1909 - 1933
Order of the British Empire (1924)
King’s Police Medal (1924)
King George V Coronation (Scottish Police) Medal 1911
The Early Years
John Morren was born at Auchindoir in the County of Aberdeen on 10 May 1863. His father was David Morren, a Farmer and his mother, Margaret Booth or Morren. His parents were married at Clatt in Aberdeenshire on 7 June 1860.
The couple’s first child was William Morren who in the Census of 1861, was 10 months old. His father was 32 and his mother, 31.
By the Census of 1871, the family were still living at Cairnmore in the Parish of Auchindoir and consisted of David, (42), Margaret, (41), William, (10), John, (7), Jane M, (3) and David, (1). Also listed was a ‘General Servant’ called Jane McIntosh, (15).
On 10 December 1881 at Cairnanhill School near Fyvie in Aberdeenshire, John Morren, a Farm Servant, (19), married Agnes Smith, a Domestic Servant, (23) after “Banns and Certification according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland”.
On 14 December 1882, at Hatton of Millden, Belhelvie in Aberdeenshire, Bella Allan Morren was born. Her father, John Morren, a Farm Servant, registered her birth.
Aberdeen City Police
John Morren, (20), a ‘Farm Overseer’ joined Aberdeen City Police on 3 April 1883.
Register of Births in the District of St Nicholas in the Burgh of Aberdeen, 1883
John Morren was born on 6 October 1883 at 31 King’s Crescent, Aberdeen. His father was John Morren, a Constable in ‘(Aberdeen) City Police’ and his mother, Agnes Smith or Morren. His father registered his birth.
Promotion to Sergeant
John Morren was promoted to the rank of 2ndClass Police Sergeant on 2 January 1890.
Register of Births in the District of St Nicholas in the Burgh of Aberdeen, 1890
William Booth Rennie Morren was born on 3 July 1890 at 53 Jasmine Terrace, Aberdeen. His father was John Morren, a Sergeant in ‘(Aberdeen) City Police’ and his mother, Agnes Smith or Morren. His father registered his birth.
His paternal grandmother’s maiden surname was Booth and his maternal grandmother’s surname was Rennie.
Register of Deaths in the District of St Nicholas in the Burgh of Aberdeen, 1890
John Morren, (7) died on 1 November 1890 in the Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen ten days after he was involved in a Tram Car accident in the City. His father, John Morren, a Sergeant in ‘City Police’ registered his death.
Promotion to Inspector
On 29 January 1891, John Morren was promoted to ‘2nd Class Detective Officer’.
Promotion to Lieutenant
On 27 May 1891, he was promoted to ‘2nd Class Lieutenant’.
Valuation Roll Aberdeen 1895 - 96
On the Valuation Roll for Aberdeen for 1895, John Morren was a Lieutenant of Police and the Proprietor of two houses in Clifton Road, ‘Hazelbank’ at number 79 and number 81 which was let to a tenant.
Register of Births in the District of Woodside in the County of Aberdeen, 1898
David Arthur Morren was born on 8 March 1899 at 79 Clifton Road, Woodside, Aberdeenshire. His father was John Morren, Lieutenant Police and he also registered the Death.
Register of Deaths in the District of Woodside in the County of Aberdeen, 1898
David Arthur Morren died on 21 June 1898 at 79 Clifton Road, Woodside, Aberdeenshire. His father was John Morren, Lieutenant Police and he also registered the birth.
Promotion to Superintendent
Between June 1898 and April, 1901, John Morren was promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police.
Appointment as Chief Constable of the Burgh of Hawick
Superintendent John Morren was appointed Chief Constable of Hawick Burgh Police on 9 August 1902.
Register of Marriages in the District of St Nicholas in the Burgh of Aberdeen, 1904
On 24 September 1904, at the Palace Hotel in Union Street, Aberdeen, Alexander Dow, (30), a Police Sergeant, married Bella Allan Morren, (22), a Spinster, after Banns according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland.
Valuation Roll Aberdeen 1905 - 06
In the Valuation Roll for the Burgh of Hawick in 1905, Chief Constable John Morren is shown living at Glenview, 2 Orchard Terrace in Hawick.
Register of Births in the District of St Nicholas in the Burgh of Aberdeen, 1905
On 9 July 1905, Alexander John Dow was born at 67 Albury Road in Aberdeen. His mother was Bella Allan Morren or Dow and his father, Police Sergeant Alexander Dow registered his birth.
Register of Births in the District of St Nicholas in the Burgh of Aberdeen, 1908
On 9 September 1908, John Morren Dow was born at 67 Albury Road in Aberdeen. His father registered his birth.
Appointment as Chief Constable of the Counties of Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk
On 16 November 1909, John Morren was appointed Chief Constable of the separate forces of Berwickshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire Constabularies.
The Aberdeen Journal of Monday 4 October 1909 reported under the heading: “Chief Constableship of Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk - Aberdeenshire Man Appointed;"
“Many in Aberdeen and throughout the county will be pleased to hear the Mr John Morren, Chief Constable of Hawick has been selected to fill the important office of Chief Constable of the counties of Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk.
Mr Morren who is a native of Auchindoir, Aberdeenshire was Superintendent of the Aberdeen City Police previous to securing his appointment in Hawick”.
Having joined the Aberdeen City force in 1883, Mr Morren, by his good conduct, perseverance and diligence, passed rapidly through the various grades of the service, discharging the respective duties with commendable discretion and ability.
When in Aberdeen, he acted as Licensing Officer under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts for both the city and the county; he carried out with conspicuous success the duties of Honorary Secretary of the Police Athletic Club and devoted a considerable amount of his spare time to the training and physical development of the men.
In ambulance work, Mr Morren took a keen interest, and was awarded the association’s bronze medallion…
In June 1902, Mr Morren was appointed Chief Constable of Hawick and was subsequently given the positions of Depute Burgh Prosecutor, Fire Master and Billet Master. He also holds the office of Inspector for the Burgh under the Weights and Measures Acts, Food and Drugs Act, Explosives and Petroleum Acts, Poison and Pharmacy Act, Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts and Sheep Dipping Orders.
Since going to Hawick, Mr Morren started the Police Benevolent Fund, which has proved of great assistance to the deserving poor.
He has been successful in closing all bogus drinking clubs in the town and abolishing street betting.
Mr Morren has proved himself a zealous, capable and conscientious official, and his promotion is recognised as being exceedingly well deserved.”
Award of King George V Coronation (Scottish Police) Medal, 1911
As Chief Constable of Roxburghshire, he was awarded the King George V Coronation (Scottish Police) Medal, 1911. His miniature medals can be seen below.
Award of King’s Police Medal (KPM) for Distinguished Service, 1924
John Morren, Chief Constable of the Counties of Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk was awarded the King’s Police Medal in the supplement to the London Gazette published on 1 January 1924.
Award of Order of the British Empire (OBE), 1924
Later that year, the Berwickshire Advertiser of 5 June 1924 reported (Underneath a picture of John Morren):
“John Morren, Chief Constable of Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk who becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, holds the most important police appointment in the South of Scotland.
He has a long record of constabulary service and is a prominent personality in Scottish police circles.
During Their Majesties’ informal visits to the Borders last year, Mr Morren was responsible for the arrangements of the tour which was carried through in a highly satisfactory manner. For his services then, he was awarded the King’s Police Medal.”
Retirement as Chief Constable of Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk Counties, 1933
John Morren retired as Chief Constable of the three forces on 16 May 1933.
Register of Deaths in the Burgh of Aberdeen, 1942
Agnes Smith or Morren, (86), died in 35 Rubislaw Park Crescent in Aberdeen on 10 April 1942. Her son-in-law, Alexander Dow, registered her death.
Register of Deaths in the Burgh of Aberdeen, 1950
John Morren OBE KPM died in Aberdeen on 4 August 1950.
Chief Constable John Morren OBE KPM
Gunner Robert Whitelaw
Royal Garrison Artillery
(Standing right)
Robert Whitelaw’s Medals
British War Medal
Victory Medal
King George V Jubilee Medal 1935
Robert Whitelaw was born in Ednam in the County of Roxburgh on 21 July 1885. He was the second youngest of three boys and three girls.
His family moved around the farms of Roxburgh when his father, a Ploughman, obtained new employment. By 1902, the family were living at Smailholm, Roxburghshire and Robert (Senior) was still a Ploughman while his son, now 15, was a Carter.
Robert Whitelaw joined Hawick Burgh Police on 14 August 1906.
In the Census of 1911, he was living with his mother and father at 15 Mansefield Crescent, Hawick. He was 25 and a Police Constable. Living with her parents and family at 17 Mansefield Crescent is Sarah Hodgson, (24), a Woollen Hosiery Sewer.
Robert Whitelaw was a PC in Hawick Burgh Police when he joined the Army in WW1 and served in the Royal Garrison Artillery as Gunner 63643.. He served in France in the 14th (Z) Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Garrison artillery.
He survived the war and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. This is confirmed in his Medal Index Card (MIC). I have not found any other Army record for him but this is not unusual since so many were destroyed in enemy bombing of London in World War 2.
On 28 March 1919, Robert Whitelaw, (33), a Police Constable of 5 Mansefield Square, Hawick married Sarah Hodgson, (32) a Hosiery Seamer of 17 Mansefield Crescent, Hawick. They were married at 41 High Street, Hawick after Banns according to the Forms of the United Free Church of Scotland.
Robina McBurnie Whitelaw and her sister Margaret Stewart Whitelaw were born on 3 January 1920 at 5 Mansefield Square, Hawick.
Robert Whitelaw was promoted to Sergeant in Hawick Burgh Police on 13 June 1924.
In 1930, Hawick Burgh Police amalgamated into Roxburghshire Constabulary.
PS Whitelaw was awarded the King George V Jubilee Medal in 1935 and this is confirmed in the Medal Roll (under Section 6. Scot.Cy. Rox).
Robert Whitelaw retired from Roxburghshire Constabulary on 26 October 1936 on an annual pension of £196.00.
On 11 January 1967, Robert Whitelaw, (81), a Police Sergeant (Retired), died at 8 Rosevale Street, Hawick. His son-in-law registered the death the next day.
Sarah Hodgson or Whitelaw died in Hawick in 1975 aged 88.
Police Sergeant Robert Whitelaw
Memory Lane
From left to right,
The Burgh of Hawick Special Constable’s lapel badge,
the Hawick Burgh Police kepi badge,
a Hawick Burgh Police whistle, (1888 – 1909),
and a Victorian Hawick Burgh Police tunic button.