THE ‘Hero of Haslemere’ is set to get wider recognition following publication of a full biography.

Thanks to a six-year labour of love by his great, great grandson Henry Pelham, the life story of Inspector William Donaldson (1807-1855) – the first Surrey Police officer to be killed in line of duty – has now been published.

Copies of Inspector William Donaldson are on sale in Haslemere Museum and Haslemere Bookshop.

Mr Pelham’s detailed research is also an account of what life was like for a 19th-century policeman.

The illustrated book offers a wealth of information on his police career, based on documents from the Metropolitan Police collection, and extracts from his entries in the policing records when he was based in Dorking.

Insp Donaldson lost his life in 1855 trying to restore law and order in Haslemere, when a group of railway navvies went on a drunken rampage.

They beat him to death and seriously injured his constable and the town doctor, before police reinforcements arrived.

Insp Donaldson’s heroism is recorded on the Police Roll of Honour.

In his foreword, Hindhead-based national police chaplain the Rev Canon David Wilbrahim writes: “We acknowledge his commitment and sacrifice, are mindful of the courage and bravery he displayed, and ensure his loss is not forgotten.”

It was thanks to Mr Pelham’s wife Jean’s interest in family history that he came across him in 2010 and started attending Haslemere Town Council’s ‘Donaldson Day’ annual memorials as guest of honour.

Mr Pelham said: “There’s not a day that passes without him being mentioned.”