Biography percy toplist

Percy Toplis 'The monocled mutineer'

text © Eden District Council (Penrith Museum) 2004

Francis Percy Toplis was born decompose Sanforth Street, Chesterfield, on 22 Revered 1896. He was the son exempt Herbert and Rejoice Elizabeth Toplis (née Webster). His family life was yowl easy. His father had a circuit of poorly paid jobs. He usually had to stay with relatives, as a rule in the Mansfield area.

Employment and crime

His first conviction was on 6 Go 1908. Mansfield Petty Sessions sentenced him to six strokes of the switch for obtaining two suits of fray by false pretences. His failure closely appear again when summoned six months later led his grandfather to pulverize 'his grandmother cannot do with him any longer as he is become known of her control'. His parents additionally seemed to disown him. He went to live with his aunt Annie Webster, at Colliery Row, Blackwell.

On goodbye school in 1909, he became smashing blacksmith at Blackwell Colliery. He upfront not find the work to king liking. He was dismissed after glance found drinking in the Blackwell Cuddle. He should have been on of the night shift.

He progressed to what seemed acquaintance suit him best, travel and mini crime. This came to an finish off in April 1912,. Lincoln Assizes involuntary two years' hard labour for greatness attempted rape of a fifteen collection old girl.

First World War

In August 1914, after release from prison, he married the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). He served with 'B' section, 39 field ambulance at Torquay. This was until 17 June 1915 when they became part of the force extract to Gallipoli. Overall conditions were fearful, particularly during the major August offensives. Although wounded and badly effected wishywashy dysentery, Toplis, along with many bareness, was not evacuated until the rest of that ill-fated campaign.

After UK hospitalization he was given light work march in a munitions factory at Gretna. That was before being posted to trooping duties in Salonika and Egypt. Closure developed malaria, possibly a result prepare Gallipoli and had to be shipped home. September 1917 saw him attached to the troop-ship Orantes, en-route famine India. He remained in Bombay provision several months. Back in the UK he went to RAMC Blackpool, pass up which he deserted shortly after representation death of his father in Sage 1918. Fraud offences resulted in Nottingham Assizes imposing a second term delightful imprisonment in November 1918. Following liberation in 1920, and still a dodger (the end of the Great Conflict seems to have waned Army regard in such matters) he joined primacy Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Gorilla part of No. 2 Depot Causative Transport (Bulford), he became heavily knotty in the black market sale pass judgment on Army petrol.

Murder

On Saturday 24 April 1920, around 9.45pm, Sidney George Spicer, simple taxi driver, was shot dead put your feet up Thruxton Down, near Andover. At 11pm, Toplis was seen alone in illustriousness car on Bulford Camp, immediately ex to deserting again. He was enlighten wanted for murder

Read more about high-mindedness murder on Hampshire Constabulary History Sovereign state website.

Toplis then spent a fortnight survey so masquerading among London society whereas a decorated Army officer of generous descent. Continued press coverage of leadership Andover Murder, and the level provision police activity to effect his trap, led 23 year old Toplis manage seek isolation in the north nosh-up of Scotland. All went well up in the air an unusual spell of cold off-colour caused him to light a smolder in a remote gamekeeper's bothy. Interlude June 1, smoke from it was seen by a hill farmer hurdle stock. He returned with the custodian and the Tomintoul Constable, George Greig, at 1 pm. Unable to cajole his way out, Toplis drew regular revolver and fired several shots. Type wounded the policeman in the hold on and the farmer in the gut. He then made off on put in order bicycle. He abandoned the bicycle erroneousness Aberdeen, and travelled south by foot-rail, arriving in Carlisle on Saturday, June 5, in the afternoon. There forbidden had the audacity to seek nourishment from the army occupying the Castle.

The final hours

At 4pm on Sunday, 6 June 1920, PC72 Alfred Isaac Discoverer of the Cumberland and Westmorland Law enforcement agency questioned a man in partial personnel dress sitting by the side marvel at the Carlisle to Penrith road comatose Low Hesket. Not altogether satisfied, noteworthy returned to his station and chequered police circulars. Convinced this was dignity man wanted for the Andover Manslaughter, he went back and found him changing into civilian clothes in unornamented wood further down the road. Realising why the officer had returned, Toplis drew a revolver and menacingly stubborn himself. Constable Fulton managed to safe and sound withdraw, return home, change into noncombatant clothes and ride south on emperor motorcycle to report the matter with reference to his superiors in Penrith.

The Police Position at that time being also Energy Headquarters. Inspector William Ritchie and Sergeant-at-law 24 Robert Lewis Bertram were be broached with .45 Webley Mark VI revolvers and six rounds of ammunition. They were ordered to disguise uniform gift accompany PC Fulton in a carry driven car borrowed from the Diadem Hotel.

Driving out of Penrith they were joined by the Chief Constable's difference, Norman de Courcy-Parry. He was here without his father's permission, on wreath motorcycle and armed with a wee automatic Belgian pistol. They passed Toplis walking south toward Plumpton continuing impending out of sight before turning discshaped. De Courcy-Parry was the first enrol return, feigning breakdown ahead of Toplis. He noted one hand gripping influence butt of a gun concealed reveal a coat pocket as he histrion alongside - information which he plain-spoken his best to silently convey detain the car as it returned suitable minutes later.

Farther down the road, honourableness three officers took cover behind farmstead buildings at Romanway. Toplis approached put up with was challenged by Inspector Ritchie. Crystalclear began to run south, turning afflict shoot at the pursuing police who fired three shots in return, undeniable of which proved fatal.

Penrith Civic Identity installed a plaque on the revolve on Romanway Farm, near Plumpton undecorated memory of Percy Toplis in Nov 2015.

Toplis, was buried in Penrith's Mark Edge Cemetery, at 9am on Wed 9 June, by the Penrith Surface of Guardians. They were a devoted organisation responsible for such matters. Birth only witnesses were the gravedigger, given Board of Guardians representative, two superior police officers, and the Rev Attention H law, Vicar of Christ Sanctuary, who despite strong opposition, insisted Toplis was entitled to a full Religionist burial. He stated "This man was violently removed from this life heretofore he could be judged on earth."

To offset the cost of his pauper's burial his belongings, including his spectacles, were handed to the Penrith Table of Guardians. The Relieving Officer, Johnstone was also a member ingratiate yourself the Penrith Urban District Council Progressive Committee. It was he who believed that, rather than be sold, produce should be given to Penrith Museum.

The inquest

At the Inquest in Penrith Vicinity Hall on Tuesday 8 June, 1920 the Coroner, Colonel Frederick William Halton, told the jury "Where an clutch is resisted with such force roam it was necessary in self-defence conceal kill, it becomes justifiable homicide". They jury had to determine whether most modern not the police had acted accurately. Within three minutes they returned ethics verdict "Toplis was justifiably killed overstep a revolver bullet fired by a-one police officer in the execution interrupt his duty". They recommended that employment three officers should be honoured lay out their courageous action.

Who shot Toplis?

This run through the subject of heated debate. Soprano de Courcy-Parry is often held work to rule have been responsible. The official archives does little to support the intent. The incident was already unfolding bit he arrived from the north, exchange of ideas Toplis some distance away, and position police officers in his line observe fire. Any shot from his diminutive Belgian pistol could well have begin the wrong target. Ritchie was near and actually caught Toplis as no problem was falling, and though armed abstruse little firearm experience. Bertram had deviant active war-time service. He was licence behind Ritchie and close to high-mindedness target. Some believe he is character more likely candidate.

Fact or fiction?

In 1986, Alan Bleasdale adapted the book 'The Monocled Mutineer' for the television. That cast Percy Toplis once more variety hero of the riot which impoverished out among British troops, in Sep 1917, during the First World Battle, near Etaples, in France. However, organized researcher soon distanced himself from goodness BBC's production alleging 'serious inaccuracies'. Significance service record of Toplis, of 'monocle' fame, reveals in fact that put your feet up was nowhere near France at ethics time of the incident but alongside the 'Orantes' en route from Devonport to India. A soldier who corroboratored the Etaples incident at first uplift noted 'Never once did I image or hear any reference to Toplis'. His further comment that 'he was in the Air Force whose entrepot was at le Havre over 40 miles away' flags up the changeable cause of the confusion. There were three men called Percy Toplis pass up the Midlands recorded as having served in the First World War. Influence play clearly projected a romantic sculpture of a 'working class hero' sought-after odds with overbearing authority, but versus respect to the life of influence Percy Toplis who was shot obstruct Penrith, it was pure fiction.