The retirement of Inspector Wally Murison next month will end his family's 113-year connection with the Force. This family link is probably the longest one within the Force.

The family connection began in 1895 when Wally's grandfather, Mr William Murison, joined the Force as a constable at the age of 25, having previously served in the merchant navy. Subsequently, he rose to become the Chief Detective Inspector in charge of the criminal investigation section of the Force in the early 1920s. He was responsible for the investigation of many major cases, including the murders of five police officers at Gresson Street, Wan Chai, in February 1918, and the Happy Valley racecourse fire later the same month during which nearly 600 people perished.

Wally has provided copies of photographs of the police detectives in 1914, the medals awarded to his grandfather, and newspaper cuttings.

The senior Mr Murison passed away at the age of 61 in Scotland in October 1931, a China Mail cutting reported in an obituary. He retired from the Force in 1923 after 28 years' service, never having had any overseas leave. He was awarded the King's Police Medal, in January 1921, for exceptionally valuable services rendered.

Paying tribute to his distinguished service with the Force, the article said the then Governor, Sir Reginald Stubbs, had thanked the late Mr Murison for the arrangement he had made for the visit to Hong Kong of Crown Prince Hirohito of Japan in 1921. Later Mr Murison was the recipient of a silver cigarette case, the gift of the Crown Prince in recognition of Mr Murison's invaluable services, which is retained by Wally as a family heirloom.

According to the China Mail, Mr Murison, during his time in the Force, was very popular and was held in the highest esteem by those above and under him in rank. He was known as the "Policeman who recovered the most stolen property from pawnshops."

It is also interesting to note that Wally's grandfather was transferred from Central Police Division, in November 1913, and assumed command of the Water Police, albeit for a short time. Wally has spent his entire career in the Marine Region and was awarded the Hong Kong Police Medal for Meritorious Service in July 2005, in recognition of his contributions to the development of marine policing. Wally has also been a long-standing member of the Force Museum Advisory Committee.

Fond memory

The Force management cherishes the Murison family's century-old connection with the Force and many Force members will have very fond memory of the family's contributions to policing in Hong Kong.

Marine Regional Commander Chang Mo-see commented: "The retirement of Wally brings to a formal end a 113-year loyal service by the Murison family to the Force. It is a magnificent achievement by any standard and one with which his family can be justly proud of. In focusing on Wally's service with Marine Police, it is not only the immensity and depth of knowledge and experience that he has built up, but also the friendly manner and spirit of comradeship, in which he imparted that knowledge to newcomers to Marine Police. Wally will be missed and I wish him and his family all the very best in retirement."

"......Wally will be missed and I wish him and his family all the very best in retirement," said Marine Regional Commander Chang Mo-see.

The late Mr William Murison (fifth from right on front row) with his detective staff in 1914 in the Botanical Gardens, which was opened to the public in 1864

The family heirloom kept by Wally - medals awarded to his grandfather in 1901,1902, 1914, 1918 and 1921

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