Roll of Honor
Incident
Shot dead on foot patrol when fired on at close range by IRA gunmen.
Died at the scene after being fatally shot at close range by four terrorist gunmen, while on foot patrol with his colleague, Special Constable Thomas R. Cunningham, who died just minutes after arriving at hospital.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-USC-CA9E9DE4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Special Constable Chermside served with the Ulster Special Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Constable Chermside.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Constable William Chermside is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NIR, 422 of 599 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.5% of this state's fallen. That is 70.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Ulster Special Constabulary, 56 of 99 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Chermside's cause is highlighted.
How William Chermside Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Chermside is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
98 officers from Ulster Special Constabulary are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
