Written by Sophie Wheeler
A MEMORIAL is to be laid by local officers on the grave of a policeman brutally murdered over a century ago.
Alvechurch and Wythall police have been cleaning up a roadside memorial stone for the last decade in an effort to remember James Davies who met a tragic death in 1885.
Officers will be laying a wreath in memory of James at his grave in Beoley Church grounds, Icknield Street, at 1pm on Thursday, February 28 – the anniversary of his death.
Father-of-three James Davies was brutally murdered by Moses Shrimpton on February 28, 1885 on Eagle Street Lane near Kings Norton.
He was an officer for the Worcestershire Constabulary and was on his way to meet the Alverchurch constable but never made it after being killed in the early hours of Saturday morning.
After his body was found an investigation was launched and Shrimpton was arrested and later hanged for the crime.
Officers from Bromsgrove, Alverchurch and Wythall Police will commemorate the death of one of their own at the memorial event.
Visit www.redditchstandard.co.uk for more on the events 134 years ago.