Charles Rafter
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Sir Charles Haughton Rafter KBE KPM (c.1860–23 August 1935) was a British police officer who served as Chief Constable of the Birmingham City Police from 1899 until his death in 1935.
Rafter was born in Belfast and was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, the Queen's University of Ireland and the University of London. He joined the Royal Irish Constabulary as a cadet, having come first in the entrance examination, and later became a District Inspector, serving in that role throughout Ireland for sixteen years until his appointment as Chief Constable of Birmingham, at which time he was serving as District Inspector in Boyle, County Roscommon.
Rafter was awarded the King's Police Medal in 1910, the first city or borough chief constable to receive the award. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours and promoted to Knight Commander (KBE) in 1927.
He died suddenly at the age of 75 while on holiday in his Irish country home, Dennison Hall, County Galway.
Rafter's two sons, Charles and Robin, were both killed while flying as Pilot Officers with the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain, six weeks apart in October and November 1940.
