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Roger Brereton
Agency patch
Police Constable

Roger Brereton

Thames Valley Police — Kidlington, ENG
Felonious
United Kingdom flag England flag
End of Watch August 19, 1987
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 293 · Column 3 · Line 8 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 21

Incident

The Hungerford Massacre, as it became known, began when a 27-year-old man embarked on an armed rampage.

Following a 999 call to Newbury Police Station at 12.40pm, reporting a shooting incident, PC Roger Brereton was one of four police officers to respond. The officers planned their approach and, as agreed, Roger drove into South View, a narrow lane leading to Hungerford Common.

The armed man suddenly emerged and repeatedly fired at PC Brereton, hitting him and causing his police car to crash. Despite this, Roger used his VHF radio to warn the Force Control Room. Using an automatic weapon, the man again opened fire on the officer. A total of twenty-four bullets struck the police car.

PC Brereton was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Image from the funeral of PC Brereton.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Constable Brereton served with the Thames Valley Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Brereton.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Thames Valley Police
Type State Police
Location Kidlington, ENG
Platform Identity tvpd.oxf.eng.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 19, 1987
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Roger is one of 1,170 officers killed feloniously in United Kingdom, 30.9% of the 3,791 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1987, 20 officers in United Kingdom were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 216 years on record. The heaviest was 1941, with 167.

Every year on record · United Kingdom
II

Who

Roger was 41. Of the 1,048 killed feloniously in United Kingdom whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 44; the middle age was 36.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 7.1% of these deaths in United Kingdom; May holds the most, 12.6%. Wednesdays: 14.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 30.9% of all 3,791 deaths in United Kingdom, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Thames Valley Police has 22 officers remembered here, Roger among them.

Across the years

Police Constable Roger Brereton

Thames Valley Police · End of Watch August 19, 1987

Where the Name Is Cut

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