Here is an unusual photo to be included in the “Who, Where and When” column of our ExPo website which you can view at.

Unusual, because it seems to be dated 1945; although there are two officers in the photo, George Herman “Mike” Cann who joined the Police in 1948, and Aubrey Sinclair “Tom Copper” Johnson who joined in 1947.  This clearly brings into question the date of the photo.  It was undoubtedly taken on the steps of Somerset Police Station and we have a hand written caption to say it is of “Western District”. The caption also provides the surnames of everyone in the photo as shown in the typed caption we have added below.

 Western District  -  1945  or later?
Top Row -  Dunstan, Scott, Roberts, Cann, Cann, Hunt, Smith 
Middle row -  Fisher, Bean, Simmons, Philips, Hazel, Johnston, Neasham
Front row -  Miller, Henderson
 
 
 Hand written photo caption
 

The reason we have added it to our “Who, Where and When” column is that we are keen to see if we can more closely identify each of the individual police officers bearing in mind that we have had well over one hundred Smith’s serve in the BPS, at least 30 members of the Simmons family, and about 20 members of the Roberts family since the Bermuda Police was founded in 1879.

After research of our records we believe we have correctly identified each of the officers as follows:-

Top row (l-r)  
Harold Dunstan   -  served from 1941 – 1952
Willard Alexander Scott  - served from July 1941 – May 1963
Anthony “Sonny” Roberts (later Sgt)  - served from September 1944 – 1971
Cecil Cann - served 1926 – 1928, then April 1941 – 1955
George Herman “Mike” Cann  -  Served June 1948 – February 1971
Amound James Hunt -  served August 1943 – February 1949
Arthur Norwood Smith -  served May 1940 – May 1949  or  George Alfred Smith - served June 1937 – 1945, or Reginald Sinclair Smith  -  served 1942 – 1952
 
Middle row
Sgt. Harry Everette Fisher -  served 1930 – 1952
Westmore Bean  -  served April 1945  - April 1971
Carl Delmonte Simmons  -  served 1940 - circa 1950
Branwell Adby Philips or Phillips  -  served March 1936 – 28th March 1945*
Earl Sinclair “Spike” Hazel  -  April 1948 - January 1970
Aubrey Sinclair “Tom Copper” Johnston - served October 1947 - January 1971
Sgt. Thomas Watson Neasham -  served 1935 – 1957
 
Front row
Supt. Percy Miller (Supt) -  served 1930-1960
Chief Insp. William “Bill” Alexander Henderson  - Served August 1923 – December 1954

 

Editors Notes – 

P.C. Aubrey Sinclair "Tom Copper" Johnson
 
  • We have identified P.C. 'Johnston', standing between P.C. “Spike” Hazel and Sgt Thomas Watson Neasham, as P.C. Aubrey Sinclair “Tom Copper” Johnson, but according to our records “Tom Copper” did not join the Police until October 1947 (the photos appears to be dated 1945) and his surname is spelled “Johnson”. We did have a Thomas Watson Johnstone who served from June 1935 – September 1944, then from September 1945 –  to circa 1957 by which time he was an Inspector, but I knew “Tom Copper” personally and I’m almost certain he is the officer in this photo which brings into question the year this photo was taken.  
  • We have three police officers named Smith who, according to our records, could be the Constable Smith standing at top right. We are hoping that someone can identify him as one of the three men listed above.  If you can assist please contact us at info@expobermuda.com 
  • We have published an article about Sgt. Harry Fisher in our Hall of Fame which was kindly submitted by his son, Mr. David Fisher. CLICK HERE to view the article.

Stalwarts of the Bermuda Police

Bermuda ex Police AssociationStalwarts of the Bermuda Police
(l-r)  Insp Eddie "Boxhead" Foggo, D/Insp Dudley Swan, 
Insp Hubert Simmons, Insp Harry Lister, Insp Leon Bean
Chief Insp Hilton "Jellybean" Wingood, P.C. Howard Mitchell, 
COP Fred "Penny" Bean, D.C. Westmore Bean, and D.C. "Mike" Cann
 
The above photo of "Stalwarts of the Bermuda Police" appears in several articles on our ExPo website including our article on the life of the Late, Fred "Penny" Bean who rose through the ranks to serve as Commissioner of Police. CLICK HERE to view the article.  It is noteworthy that two of the young constables from the 1940's,  D.C. Westmore Bean, and D.C. "Mike" Cann went on to become legendary detectives in Western CID.  Sadly all of the stalwarts in this photo are no longer with us  -  except in spirit.
 
 
Published in May 2026
Roger Sherratt, Editor