An Ordinary Bloke
By Peter Moore
Ronald Allen Moore began his working life at the age of
18. As the son of a Mail Driver on the
East Indian Railway, he followed his father, in time-honoured fashion, into
railway service as an A-grade Fireman.
Working on the footplate of steam engines was strenuous, especially in
India’s summers. As a junior fireman he
worked mainly on yard shunters graduating to goods trains. He was young fit and strong and well
hardened by railway work – he also had developed a reputation as a boxer of
early promise. His mother was
determined that he could do better than railway service and urged him to seek
another career. In Bengal, all roads
lead to Calcutta so in due course he found himself at the gates of Lalbazar,
the headquarters of the Calcutta Police Force.
The large, impassive Bihari police constable guarding the gate directed
him to a passing British Police Inspector who led him to the office of the
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, who adjusted his monocle and
interrogated the would-be applicant. On
April 2nd 1941 he reported to the Police Training School at 247
Lower Circular Road, Alipore and began a way of life that was to last for the
next 36 years. Ronnie Moore was
considered a “useful” member of the force’s boxing fraternity which already
contained many good and some outstanding fighters. In summary it unfolded like this:-
1941 – Posted to Headquarter Force, Lalbazar after initial training. Sergeants of
Headquarter Force maintained foot patrols - walking beats like London’s
policemen – in the centre of ‘European’ Calcutta, i.e. Chowringhee Road from
Dharamtollah to Park Street and the vicinities of the Spence’s, Great Eastern
and Grand Hotels. All of Calcutta’s
western film theatreland were in this precinct. During
the World War years, combined patrols of British and American military
policemen and Sergeants of the Calcutta Police patrolled Calcutta’s main “night
life” area in a struggle to maintain order in a virtual cauldron of high tension
and violence. Here Ron met and began
boxing training at the U.S. Army’s Camp Howrah with a military policeman,
Master-Sergeant Lester Carter who had been a lead sparring-partner for the then
world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis.
He learned much from Lester. After six months, he
applied for and was posted to the force’s mounted branch.
1942 – Early in the year, while on
late-night mounted patrol he was struck by a tram as his police horse shied
into its path in the wartime blackout.
His horse was killed and he was hospitalised for six weeks and
incapacitated with back injuries for a further three months. Later he resumed boxing training and
fought the following bouts:-
1943
- The wartime demands upon police officers meant little time off or time
for training. He fought one fight only,
in an “HM’s Forces vs. The Rest” tournament in aid of the Mayor’s Cyclone
Relief Fund in which he lost to Private Coles of the British Army on points.
1944
While still a Sergeant in the Mounted Police he fought the following
bouts:-
§ At the BESA Theatre, Park Street he
beat Leading Aircraftman Salmon, Royal Air Force, (Light-Heavyweight); and
§ Three weeks he later beat Leading
Aircraftman Edwardson, Royal Air Force;
On July 4th
he lost to Sergeant John Nuttall, Calcutta Police (Middleweight Champion
of India) on points.
The excerpt from “The
Statesman” on 5.7.44 read:
“The Ronnie Moore-Johnny Nuttall encounter exceeded
expectations and proved the best fight on the programme. Nuttall sent Moore down with a smashing
right for a short count in the very first round. Moore not only rose full of confidence but
carried the fight to Nuttall and a toe-to-toe exchange thrilled the crowd. Nuttall won but Moore was applauded for his
grand performance.”
On August 25th
he fought and lost, on a TKO, to his mentor, Master Sergeant Lester Carter, US
Army Military Police, in a match in aid
of the Indian Red Cross, in the presence of Sir Rex .C. Casey the Australian
Governor of West Bengal.
1945 – In the final stages of the World War, the “Quit India” movement was
increasing in crescendo against a background of Hindu-Muslim communal
violence. Ronnie Moore boxed on three
occasions in this year:-
§ At Fort William, he beat T. L.
Carapiet by a knockout;
§ He later knocked Piam (US Air Force)
out in the second round;
§ In the 3rd round of the
CBI Boxing Championships he lost, on a TKO, to George Evans (US Army).
1946
– He was promoted to Sergeant-Major, ‘B’ (Gurkha & Hill tribes)
Company, Calcutta Armed Police. This
year of unprecedented civil violence began with the February Riots (11-14
February, 1946) and later on the horrendous Great Calcutta Killing. In his memoir, “While Memory Serves”
((London: Cassell, 1950), Lt. General Sir Francis Tuker, the last British
General-Officer-Commanding Eastern Command, Fort William, wrote in his account
of the February Riots (pgs. 99-110):-
“Calcutta had a considerable force of
Gurkha armed police who usually came in and used their weapons whenever things
were getting beyond the power of the ordinary constabulary….The Gurkha armed police were in
action all over the town, to be ostracised later on by the Indian communities
for quietening their areas of the rioting city with their rifles….We in the
Army were always admirers of the Indian Police and believed that no other
police force of its kind could have stood up for so many years with unimpaired
efficiency to the storm of calumny and abuse that that force had had to
endure.”
Command of this unit, at various
ranks, was to feature several times during his police career.
An incident occurred where the Muslim
League-dominated Bengal Government under Chief Minister H. S. Suhrawardy sought
to prosecute Gurkhas of the Calcutta Armed Police for firing on a Muslim
mob. While Sergeant-Major Moore was
away inspecting the Cossipore Gun & Shell Factory guard (where Sergeant Max
Joachim, an Old Martinian and
outstanding boxer himself was in charge) the bulk of ‘B’ Company rose in their
lines, seized arms and ammunition from the armoury and ran amok in the Muslim
locality, shot many civilians and terrorised the district. They surrendered their arms to their
officer-in-charge and other officers who attended the scene. Following two days of negotiations no
further action was taken in view of the imminence of Indian independence. British sympathies lay with the much
put-upon Gurkhas as Suhrawardy was suspected of fomenting communal unrest for
political ends. Worse was to follow as
the horrendous four days of brutal Hindu-Muslim slaughter known as the Great
Calcutta Killing (August 16-19, 1946) unfolded in which up to 10,000 persons
are believed to have died and a further 15,000 injured. Like all British and Anglo-Indian police
officers of that period, he was actively involved in the near continuous police
operations to retain order and control.
In the midst of this, found time to train for and fight two bouts in
Fort William that year:
§ He beat Captain Divecha (Indian
Army); and
§ In a return bout, he beat George
Evans (US Army) on points.
British officers of the Calcutta Police
were repatriating their families to England and force morale was low,
reflecting the indecisiveness and instability of the times. The bulk of Anglo-Indian officers of every
rank stood fast and together with their Indian colleagues maintained discipline
by continuing to police the city, in often nightmarish conditions, while
insecure about their own legal status, unsure of their future and undecided
about their intentions.
1947
– With the approach of Independence, Sgt.-Major
Moore had decided to serve on in an independent India and immigration to
another country or opting to serve in Pakistan (despite much blatant
canvassing) was not considered. He
liked India and the unknown offered no attraction for him. Consistent with his generation of police
officers who were brought up in the tradition of “Duty”; “Honour” &
“Empire” the only transition he had to make was to “Duty”; “Honour” &
“Country”. He saw no conflict of
interest in doing so. He held the
pragmatic view that if one attended to their “Duty” properly and took care of
their “Honour”, the “Country” would be well-served as a consequence. A fortnight after
Independence Day, Calcutta experienced it’s first, post-independence, communal
riot. The experienced Calcutta Police
maintained the stability of the city throughout while the fragile transition of
power unfolded at national level.
1948 –In a March 22nd match, he lost to Sergeant John Nuttall on
points. He recollects that Johnny
Nuttal was the most scientific boxer he had ever fought, with a “classy” style
about him;
§ Later he knocked out Malayan,
Mohammed Kidwai (Middleweight Champion, CBI).
At the end of the bout, Kidwai’s friend “Wildcat” Hasan jumped into the
ring and challenged him to fight;
§ Three weeks later he fought Hasan, knocking
him out in the second round;
§ On October 31st he fought
another outstanding Anglo-Indian boxer, Lieutenant Oscar Ward, Indian Army,
losing to him on points at the YWCA, Wellington Branch. He reflects that, “It was no disgrace to be
beaten by someone of Oscar’s calibre.”
He was selected to represent India in Boxing at the Wembley Olympic
Games but could not be released from police service.
1949 – He attended the Indian Army School of Physical Training, Instructor’s
Course, in Poona (now Pune). The
School’s Commandant was the famous “Father of Indian Army Boxing”, then Major
Charles Campagnac, 3rd Gurkha Rifles. Upon gaining his PT Instructor’s
qualification, he returned to the Calcutta Police and was appointed Chief Drill
Instructor at the Police Training School.
1950 – He was promoted to the gazetted rank of Inspector of Police, remaining
at the Police Training School (I’PTS) as both Chief Drill Instructor and deputy
to the Commandant, an Assistant Commissioner (AC’PTS). In this year he saved a Cadet Sub-Inspector
from drowning in the Training School tank for which he was awarded the Kendall
Humanitarian Life-Saving Medal. He was
also awarded the Indian Independence Medal.
He was appointed Drill Instructor to the prestigious Calcutta Special
Constabulary and as the resident Physical Training Instructor to St. Xavier’s
College.
1952 - As Amateur Heavyweight
Boxing Champion of India he fought Sidney Schmidt at Gresham & Craven
winning on a knockout. Again he was
selected to represent India in Boxing at the Helsinki Olympic Games but could
not be released from police service.
1955 – He directly managed the closure of the Calcutta Police Force’s own
Training School and the transfer of those services to the Combined Police
Training Centre at Barrackpore.
1956 – He was selected for promotion to Assistant Commissioner (Junior Grade)
by the West Bengal Public Service Commission and transferred to the Calcutta
Traffic Police branch. While on duty as
officer-in-charge of policing a trade exhibition on the Calcutta Maidan, a
telephone linesman became trapped and electrocuted in overhead
power-lines. Regardless of personal
safety, Asst. Commr. Moore freed the unconscious man from the live wires and
resuscitated him. The man was discharged
from hospital three days later, fully recovered. A. C. Moore received a High Commendation from
the state government for his actions which was published in the Government
Gazette.
1957 – On April 6th he fought against Glen
(Dusty) Miller (late Royal Indian Navy) then All-India Heavyweight Boxing
Champion for the title, winning by a TKO.
1958 – Upon passing both parts of the Public Accountancy Examination at first
attempt, he was confirmed as an Assistant Commissioner (Senior Grade) and
posted as Assistant Commissioner, 2nd Battalion, Calcutta Armed
Police, at Talla Park Camp. It was a
homecoming as this Gurkha and hill tribes battalion was the direct descendant
of the old ‘B’ Company he had once commanded as a Sergeant-Major.
1962 – Following attendance at an extended
National Civil Defence training course in Nagpur, he was specially appointed as
Assistant-Commissioner, Civil Defence Training in Calcutta.
1963 – On August 21st an adult female elephant, “Phulmala”, in
Calcutta’s Zoological Gardens, inexplicably killed her mahout and ran
amok. She evaded every attempt at
recapture and it was decided, in the greater interest of public safety, to have
her shot. Assistant Commissioner Ronnie
Moore of the Calcutta Armed Police who was known to be experienced in culling
rogue-elephants for the state governments of Assam and Tripura was
approached. With great regret he
despatched the enraged animal swiftly and efficiently, thereby preventing any
further tragedy.
1964 – On May 22nd he was commissioned to raise an auxiliary body
along the lines of the old Calcutta Civil Guard to be entitled the “Home
Guard”. He was promoted to the rank of
Deputy Commissioner as the inaugural Commandant of the Home Guard.
1965 – He helped to develop the unique light-metal riot shields which
markedly reduced the level of injuries Calcutta’s policemen sustained from
brickbats in the city’s cyclic disturbances.
1966 - He was commissioned to raise an additional battalion of Calcutta Armed
Police. A lack of accommodation in
Calcutta was countered by locating the battalion in former military lines in
Kalyani some 40 miles north of Calcutta.
He was appointed as the inaugural Deputy Commissioner, 4th
Battalion, Calcutta Armed Police. He
was at the forefront of many police actions against the depredations of the
newly-emerged Naxalite terrorist movement.
1967 – On August 9th he was appointed to the Bengal cadre
of the national Indian Police Service (IPS).
1968 -– On August 9th his
earlier appointment to the Bengal cadre of the national Indian Police
Service (IPS) was substantively confirmed.
He formally retired, undefeated, from boxing
1970 – On December 23rd he returned, once again, to the 2nd
Battalion, Calcutta Armed Police, and this time as the Deputy Commissioner
commanding.
1972 – On September 9th he was appointed Senior Deputy
Commissioner of the Calcutta Armed Police Brigade (IPS Selection Grade) a post
that, by tradition, carried with it the simultaneous command of the 3rd
Battalion as well.
For three decades (1950-70’s) he was probably the most
widely-known Anglo-Indian in Calcutta if not northern India. He was especially sensitive about the plight
of Anglo-Indian people and went out of his way on countless occasions, not only
to attest immigration and passport documents of those joining the exodus, but
to personally support their various immigration applications with foreign and
Commonwealth High Commissions and embassies.
Many found employment through his intercession and he often mediated
with local police on behalf of Anglo-Indians in trouble.
1977 – On September 1st he formally retired having been awarded,
during his service, six Monetary Awards, four Commendations; one High
Commendation and the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in
recognition of his actions in quelling the notorious Bagmari Riot in Chitpur,
north Calcutta, in 1966. The Calcutta
Police Force officially farewelled him with a large parade. As the outgoing commander and Guest of
Honour, the Commissioner of Police invited him to inspect the parade during
which the Calcutta Police Band played “Auld Lang Syne” in slow-time. His final official act was to take the
salute as representative units of the Force marched past in review and, as the
serried ranks swung past, band playing, drums beating and bayonets fixed, he
permitted himself the momentary reflection, “Not bad for an ordinary bloke from
a railway colony.”
He emigrated to Western Australia to be reunited with his
family. In the manner of new migrants,
a decade of low-profile occupations followed before he retired from the
workforce. Now, at age 90, he potters
about tending the roses in his garden and keeping up a light exercise program
to maintain mobility. His long-term
memory is still good as is his skill as a raconteur. He remembers his life in India vividly and
with great affection and, like former policemen the world over, he reflects
that one may leave police service, but it remains in your head to the end. He is always keen to indulge in a bit of ‘gup-shup’ and ‘yadgari’ about “the old days”: game
shooting in the jungles of Orissa; culling rogue-elephants in the hilly wilds
of Assam and Tripura; sporadic recollections of Calcutta’s near-seasonal riots;
cruelties seen and kindnesses shared:-
“Old policemen, in the sun,
Dream of long ago;
Of hard times shared,
And hard things done,
And men they used to know.”
Ronnie Moore is my father and I am very proud of him.
Peter Ronald
Moore was born in Calcutta in June 1945.
He was educated in St. Xavier’s College and St. Thomas’ School and later
served in the Calcutta Armed Police in the mid-1960’s, resigning after two
years to join the British Police Service.
In 1980 he left the London Metropolitan Police and immigrated to Western
Australia where his family had settled.
There he joined the Department of
Corrections, Western Australia and served in every rank of the prison service,
over half of it at senior management levels, including appointments as
Superintendent (various), Assistant Director, Prison Operations; Director of
Prisons; Director, Operational Standards and, with the advent of private
prisons, Monitor, Custodial Contracts.
In addition to fifteen years previous police experience (India &
UK), he holds qualifications in Corporate Investigations; Government- Statutory
Investigation & Enforcement; Practitioner’s Certificate: Mediation &
Conciliation; Monitoring, Assessment & Review of Compliance Management
Systems; and Assessment & Workplace Training. He retired from service in 2004. Peter and his wife of 43 years, Ardyne, have three sons, two of whom are serving officers
in the West Australian Police Service and the youngest is a state Public
Servant. In retirement Peter is kept
busy with house renovations and serves the community as a Justice of Peace and
Volunteer with the Citizens Advice Bureau.
He enjoys reading, music and writing and spending time with his
family. His academic interests include
researching British and Indian military history as well as Indian Police
history. Peter has acquired a
considerable collection of books and articles on India and badges to complement
his interests. He can be contacted at peterm235@hotmail.com