A FORMER Grays police officer who died while on duty in 1940 will be remembered this month when Essex Police honours its fallen officers.

Throughout this month, Essex Police will dedicate individual days to honouring officers who have died on duty.

On November 16, the force will remember PC Alexander ‘Alex’ Simpson Scott, who served in Grays, starting in 1934.

Alex went on to become a motor patrol driver at Essex Police headquarters – qualifying as a first class driver and wireless operator.

During a night raid on London, one German plane turned back towards Chelmsford and dropped its shrapnel bombs on Police HQ.

Alex was one of two officers killed.

He had only been married eighteen months, and his wife, Myrtle, joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force after his death.

In January 1994, a few weeks before her own death, Alex Scott’s widow wrote: “At 24 I married Alex Scott and we were to have eighteen months of wedded bliss. He was an all-round sportsman who was loved by all, a policeman based at headquarters where he was a wireless operator on the cars. The war was on and for a holiday we went to Chigwell to stay with his mother and father. After that we went on to Grays to a pal of Alex’s from headquarters.

“When we returned to Chelmsford he had to go on duty. That was the last I saw of him. That afternoon I went to the pictures to see a film but instead I slept through it. Going home, I felt something was wrong.

“During the evening a policeman came and told me that Alex had been killed. He took me to my mother who lived nearby. I went to bed and did not wish to get up. My brother came in and kept worrying me to go downstairs and eventually I did. I had such a caring family, eight brothers and sisters and of course, I can’t forget my loving parents.

“I was so pleased when Alex was remembered at the memorial service at police headquarters in 1992. He was the love of my life and I’ve shed a few tears writing this. I still feel his presence sometimes, watching over me.”