KARL Spencer, a retired member of the Royal Hong Kong Police, has written from the other side of the world to see if Peeps readers can help with information about a local man who became the first person to be awarded the Shanghai Municipal Police Distinguished Conduct Medal 1st Class – and was one of only eight Western recipients of this medal.

“I believe BB Boddy came from Godalming, maybe Bridge Street, and that it is likely that he still has relatives or people who knew him in the area,” writes Mr Spencer. “They may not have known this great story about him.

“Bernard Bryan Boddy was born on August 3, 1900, in Surrey, and served in the British Army from 1918 to 1922.

“He joined the Shanghai Municipal Police as a Constable in 1923 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1924.

“At around 10am in the morning of Thursday, October 30, 1924, three Chinese men armed with pistols entered an exchange shop on the corner of Avenue Edward VII and Shantung Road in the Shanghai International Settlement and fired several shots to intimidate the employees, before making off with cash totalling $127.50.

“The robbers then made their escape along Shantung Road. One of the shop employees was shot through the shoulder in the course of the robbery.

“The gunshots attracted the attention of a patrolling Chinese Constable, CPC 1312 Kao Fu-yuen, who immediately blew his whistle to raise the alarm and then challenged the robbers.

“He was shot twice by them and received a severe wound which fractured his leg.

“Sergeant Boddy, who was unarmed at the time, was alerted by the whistle of Constable Kao and responded with several other Chinese constables.

“Two of the culprits fled down Shantung Road and turned into Wuhu Road, where they were met and chased by Boddy.

“During the chase, one of the culprits suddenly turned and opened fire, hitting Boddy in the stomach.

“Not realising the seriousness of his wound – the bullet had entered his liver – Boddy attempted to apprehend one of the culprits, but failed.

“Boddy picked up a shovel from a chestnut seller and continued to give chase, catching one of the culprits about 300 yards from where he had been shot. Boddy hit the culprit in the head with the shovel, while members of the public wrested away his gun.

“Boddy continued to hit the culprit with the shovel until he was still. Reinforcements in the form of a Sikh Havildar soon arrived and Boddy was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, where he was operated on immediately.

“Only the skill of the police surgeons saved Boddy’s life.

“The culprit arrested by Boddy was interrogated by police and gave up the identity of one of the other gang members and he was arrested shortly after in the Chapei area.

“On the afternoon of Tuesday December 2, 1924, Sterling Fessenden – the chairman of Shanghai Municipal Council – visited Sergeant Boddy in hospital and presented him with the first ever Shanghai Municipal Police Distinguished Conduct Medal 1st Class.

“Present at the ceremony were Major A Hilton Johnson, Acting Commissioner of Police; Captain E I M Barrett, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sikhs); Captain R M J Martin, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Chinese); Mr W W Beatty, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sikhs) and an inspector and sergeant from each of the separate stations in the settlement.

“In addition to the medal, Boddy received one-year seniority and a cheque for an unknown amount.

“On Monday, January 12, 1925, Chinese males Lieu Nyi and Nee Kuang-lien appeared before magistrate LOH Tsau-tsoong of the Mixed Court charged with robbery and the attempted murder of Sergeant Boddy and Constable Kao. Mr E T Maitland prosecuted.

“Lieu admitted the robbery and firing twice but denied shooting Boddy and Kao.

“He also denied the shooting of the store employee and said he had given the names of the real culprits to the police after he had been arrested. Nee denied all the charges.

“Lieu was convicted of all charges and was sentenced to death. He was handed over to Chinese authorities for execution. Nee was acquitted of all charges but was expelled from the international settlement.

“Shortly after the trial Boddy returned to the UK aboard the P&O steamer Kalyan on six months’ sick leave. He took with him a fully-equipped suitcase which was presented to him by his colleagues at Central police station as a mark of their respect.

“Bernard Boddy was promoted to Sub Inspector in 1929 and Inspector in 1934. He would have received the Shanghai Municipal Police Long Service Medal (12 years) in 1935 and the Shanghai Municipal Council Emergency medal in 1937.

“Boddy was promoted to Chief Inspector in 1940 and after Japanese capture of the international settlement was interned in the Haiphong Road POW camp on November 13, 1942. He was later moved to Fengtai POW camp and was eventually released in 1945.

“He became a war crimes investigator (ALFSEA 1946-1947) with the rank of 2nd Lieut.

“Bernard Bryan Boddy was married to Edith Alberta Boddy and had one daughter called Bernice Audrey Boddy. He died in 1961 in Surrey and his wife died in 1978 in London.

“I would love to hear from anyone who has a photo of BB Boddy in uniform, a photo of his medals, or who knows what happened to them.”

If you can help Karl Spencer with any information about the Boddy family, please get in touch with him at [email protected] or send it to Peeps and I will forward it and share more about this fascinating story through the column.