David Allan (police officer)

Lieutenant-Colonel William David Allan OBE (4 November 1879 – 9 January 1961), known as David Allan, was a British soldier and police officer.

Allan was born in Elgin, Moray, Scotland. He was educated at Elgin Academy and Blundell's School and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd (Morayshire) Volunteer Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders on 4 January 1902.[1] He transferred to the Regular Army, in the Black Watch, on 8 February 1902.[2] He served in the South African War and had been promoted Lieutenant by 1910.[3] On 20 June 1910, he became Adjutant (and temporary Captain) of the 10th (Cyclist) Battalion , Royal Scots (Territorial Force).[4] He was promoted Major in 1917. On 1 January 1919 he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[5]

Allan served as Chief Constable of Bootle from 1919 to 1920, and Chief Constable of Argyll from 1920 until 22 June 1927.[6][7] He was then appointed HM Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland.[8] He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the Reserve of Officers on 27 March 1929.[9] On 1 December 1930 he was appointed one of the two HM Inspectors of Constabulary for England and Wales.[10][11]

On 8 June 1931 he became Assistant Commissioner "A" of the London Metropolitan Police, in charge of uniformed policing.[12][13] However, on 3 November 1931 he returned to the post of Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales.[14] He retired on 31 August 1938.[15]

Allan married Eve Crozier; they had three sons. He died at his home in Elgin in 1961, aged 81.[16]

Police appointments
Preceded by
Unknown		 Chief Constable of Bootle
1919–1920		 Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
Unknown		 Chief Constable of Argyll
1920–1927		 Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
Arthur Ferguson		 HM Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland
1927–1930		 Succeeded by
Robert Maxwell Dudgeon
Preceded by
Sir Leonard Dunning		 HM Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales
1930–1931		 Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
Sir Trevor Bigham		 Assistant Commissioner "A", Metropolitan Police
1931		 Succeeded by
James Whitehead
Preceded by
Unknown		 HM Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales
1931–1938		 Succeeded by
Gordon Halland

Footnotes

  1. ^ London Gazette: no. 27393. p. 12. 3 January 1902. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  2. ^ London Gazette: no. 27404. p. 785. 7 February 1902. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  3. ^ London Gazette: no. 28421. p. 6979. 4 October 1910. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  4. ^ London Gazette: no. 28390. p. 4576. 28 June 1910. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31097. p. 83. 31 December 1918. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  6. ^ "Assistant Commissioner of Police: Lieut.-Colonel W. D. Allan's Appointment", The Times, 21 May 1931
  7. ^ London Gazette: no. 33276. p. 3289. 20 May 1927. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  8. ^ "Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland", The Times, 18 May 1927
  9. ^ London Gazette: no. 33480. p. 2086. 26 March 1929. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  10. ^ "New Inspector of Constabulary", The Times, 5 September 1930
  11. ^ London Gazette: no. 33666. p. 7687. 2 December 1930. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  12. ^ "New Assistant Commissioner at Scotland Yard", The Times, 9 June 1931
  13. ^ London Gazette: no. 33725. p. 3837. 12 June 1931. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  14. ^ London Gazette: no. 33775. p. 7658. 27 November 1931. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  15. ^ "New Post for Head of Police College", The Times, 18 July 1938
  16. ^ Obituary, The Times, 10 January 1961