1900 May 13 Born Belford, Morpeth, Northumberland son of William Purvis and Frances Fenwick
1901 census living at Broomhill South, East Chevington
1911 census living with parents at South Broomhill, Acklington, Northumberland
He does not appear to have been commissioned
1920 Jun 18 joined RIC. #71689 He was not ADRIC. Electrician & ex-Soldier
1920 Jul 24 Posted to Limerick
1921 Oct 15 Awarded the Kings Constabulary Medal
1922 Feb 10. disbanded Kerry
1922 enlisted in Palestine Gendarmerie
1923 Jun 10 Died in Palestine. (P.G.) 639 Killed on Duty shot in bandit ambush Hosp., Nazareth - grave not found Ex-ADRIC
2012 photograph by Michael Gottschalk as part of the project to restore headstones for PPOCA
In 2011 Martin Higgins of the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association (PPOCA), whose father Michael served with the Gendarmerie, found a photo in his father’s albums of a funeral thought to be at Nazareth. He sent this to Dr Norbert Schwake and Michael Gottschalk, two friends in Israel helping to keep and guard the history of this country for future generations. Checks with the Anglican Christ Church in Nazareth found the officers’ burial records and a search in the cemetery then found the three graves - headstones broken. Now, with funding of £3,400 from the PPOCA and much hard work the site has been cleared and headstones renewed (as have those of two other constables who died off duty in 1935). The re-dedication ceremony at the cemetery, organised by Michael Gottschalk, is held in the presence of local dignitaries, church leaders, historians and representatives of the Israeli Police and Commonwealth War Graves Commission, with a member of the PPOCA travelling from the UK. Thus after 89 years, thanks this international brotherhood, we may once more honour the fallen British Policemen who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of both our countries and who lie here in Israel… so far from home… but not forgotten.