Ethel Violet Bush GM (10 March 1916 – 18 May 2016) was a British police officer who was one of the two first Metropolitan Women Police awarded a

George Medal The George Medal (GM), instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI,''British Gallantry Medals'' (Abbott and Tamplin), p. 138 is a decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, awarded for gallantry, typically by civilians, or in cir ...

. Bush joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable in 1946 after service with the

Women's Auxiliary Air Force The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as WAAFs (), was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II. Established in 1939, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000 at its peak strength in 1943, with over 2 ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, and was promoted to Sergeant in 1953. During 1955, after several women had been attacked in Fairfield Path,

Croydon Croydon is a large town in south London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London. It is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extensi ...

, Sergeant Bush volunteered to act as a decoy, along with many of her colleagues. The assailant had seriously injure
WPC Kathleen Parrott
in March, and on 23 April approached Bush from behind and hit her over the head, making a wound that required eleven stitches. Bush held on to her attacker's coat and tried to hold him, but fell resulting in his escape. When the attacker was eventually caught, WPC Parrott and WPS Bush were among nine women who were able to identify the 29-year-old labourer. In response to her actions, a Judge stated "I can not imagine higher courage than you showed along that footpath." A Chief magistrate added, "If anyone can imagine a finer story in the

history of the Metropolitan Police The history of the Metropolitan Police in London is long and complex, with many different events taking place between its inception in 1829 to the present day. Pre-1829 London policing Before the passing of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829, la ...

, I shall be pleased to hear it." Bush received the

; also a Commissioner's High Commendation and £15 from Bow Street Police Fund.

Last years

Bush celebrated her

100th birthday A centenarian is a person who has reached the age of 100 years. Because life expectancies worldwide are below 100 years, the term is invariably associated with longevity. In 2012, the United Nations estimated that there were 316,600 living cent ...

in March 2016 and died two months later.Obituary
Telegraph.co.uk, 10 June 2016.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bush, Ethel 1916 births 2016 deaths British centenarians Women Metropolitan Police officers Recipients of the George Medal Women's Auxiliary Air Force airwomen Women centenarians Metropolitan Police officers