OBITUARY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 14

OBITUARY

CONSTABLE W. D. THOM

Constable William Dunlop Thom, well known from North Auckland to Dunedin, died in Hamilton yesterday morning. Constable Thom, who was aged 63, was on retiring leave from the Police Force, having handed in his resignation last July after 40 years’ Constable Thom was born in Coylton, Scotland, in 1801, and joined the Police Force at Wellington in 1913. From Wellington, he was posted to Palmerston North, and from there to Feilding, Te Araroa on the East Coast of the North Island, Dunedin, Ross, Islington, and finally Lower Riccarton, from which station he retired after serving there for 10 years. At Ross he was president of the Returned Services’ Association, and at Islington he was a keen social worker and was one of the prime movers in opening a fund to build the community hair He served overseas during the First World War. and during the Second World War, while still at Islington, he was very active in raising money for patriotic purposes. While a member of the executive committee of the Riccarton Returned Services’ Association he was among those responsible for the erection of the branch’s hall- . In Police circles. Constable Thom was best known as a founder of the New Zealand Police Association, and as an enthusiastic member of the Christchurch Police Social Club, of which he was chairman for six years. Throughout the years Constable Thom was devoted to the cause of improving the lot of the rank and file of members in the force. .. . Constable Thom’s wife died six years •go. __________