On This Day in Wembury — 10 October 1912
A rabbit-shooting trip near Staddiscombe, close to Wembury, ended in misfortune when a Plymouth policeman was accidentally injured. He had gone out with his brother, also a constable, and Mr. T. Hull of Plymouth. While they worked separately with a hedge between them, a shot appears to have struck a stone or other hard object, deflecting pellets into the lower right side of the officer’s abdomen and groin.
He was quickly attended to, conveyed back to Plymouth, and examined by a doctor. Fortunately, none of the pellets penetrated deeply, and although one or two might remain lodged, his condition was described as comfortable. A full recovery within days was expected.
Source: Western Daily Mercury, 12 October 1912
The episode shows the hazards of informal rabbiting parties in the early 20th century, when a day’s sport could turn dangerous in an instant. It also reminds us how close-knit the communities around Plymouth, Wembury, and Staddiscombe were — where policemen, farmers, and townsmen often joined forces in such rural pursuits.