FOUR Oxford police officers were killed in action during the First World War, including one who was honoured for his bravery by the French.

Constables George Judd, Edward Collett and Charles Martin died in France and Constable Albert Taylor in Belgium.

They were members of the Oxford City Police force that patrolled the city for almost a century, from 1869 to 1968 when Thames Valley Police was formed.

Their sacrifice is being remembered by the Oxford City Police Association, which represents retired officers and staff from the force.

George Judd was awarded the Medaille Militaire, a French medal, possibly in the action that led to his death in France on May 8, 1918. Born in Brackley, Northamptonshire, in 1888, he became Constable 44 in the city force in 1910 and volunteered for military service in 1915, joining the 132nd Oxford Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.

The same year, he married Elisa Payne in Summertown and they set up home in Wood Street, St Ebbe’s.

He was promoted to corporal, then to sergeant, leading to his transfer to the 129th Howitzer Battery, the unit he was with when he was killed. He is buried in Couin New British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

Edward Collett was born in 1885 at Appleford, near Didcot, the eldest of 10 children of James and Sarah Collett.

He joined the city force as constable 66 in 1908 and the 1911 Census listed him as living in police rooms in James Street, East Oxford. When war broke out, he enlisted with the 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, which landed in France in May 1915. In early 1916, while on leave, he married Rose Geary, of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

Back in France, he was promoted to sergeant but was injured in battle and died of his wounds, aged 31, on May 1, 1917. He is buried at the Warlincourt Halte British cemetery at Saulty, Pas de Calais, France.

Albert Taylor was killed in Belgium on October 1, 1917 while serving with the 132nd Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. He was born in Shabbington, near Thame, in 1890, one of eight children of farm labourer Joseph Taylor and his wife Maria. He trained as a bricklayer, but later decided on a police career, joining the city force as Constable 39 at the age of 21 in 1911.

He married Hilda Clifton in Headington in 1914 and they had a son Ronald the following year.

While his wife was expecting, he volunteered to join the military, enlisting in May 1915. He is remembered at the Huts cemetery at Leper, Belgium.

Charles Martin also served with the 132nd Heavy Battery. He was born at Astley, Warwickshire, in 1881, joined the city force in 1903 and in the 1911 Census, was recorded as one of 11 constables living in Oxford City Police rooms. He married Daisy Morris at Witney in 1913.

He was wounded in France in May 1917 and died from his wounds a few days later. His grave is in the Athies cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.