The 29 GMP officers who died whilst on duty remembered

In a post on social media today (Sunday, September 29), the force wrote: "Today is National Police Memorial Day and we stand with our colleagues to honour and remember those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

"For 50 years, thousands of officers have taken the oath to serve and protect the communities of Greater Manchester. During that time, 29 officers made the ultimate sacrifice.

"Here we reflect and commemorate on those who lost their lives while serving in the line of duty, through criminal acts, natural causes, accident, and unknown causes.

"May they always rest in peace."

Here are the 29 GMP officers who have died in the last 50 years:

Alison Armitage - died March 5, 2001, aged 29

Constable Armitage and a colleague were keeping observations on a stolen vehicle, when a youth approached it, entered and started the engine. Both officers ran to the vehicle, PC Armitage from the rear, the other officer going to the driver’s door to open it and detain the occupant. The youth violently reversed the vehicle and drove over PC Armitage, and then drove forward once more over her, killing her.

Allan Shaw - died July 19, 2006, aged 33

Constable Shaw was riding a police motorcycle on Crompton Way, Astley Bridge, Bolton during a training exercise. His motorcycle hit a hump in the road, causing him to lose control and crash into the back of a lorry after being flung from the motorcycle, leaving PC Shaw with fatal injuries.

Andrew James Stokes - died January 3, 2012, aged 46

Detective Constable Stokes collapsed and died of heart failure while on duty.

Christopher Donald Maclure - died September 10, 2007, aged 21

Police Community Support Officer Maclure was on a bicycle patrol when he suffered fatal head injuries in a crash with a wagon at a road junction in Hindley Green near Wigan.

Christopher Hart - died January 12, 2008, aged 40

PC Hart was responding to an emergency incident when the police van he was driving crashed with a car on Ashton Old Road, Openshaw, causing it to overturn, leaving him with major fatal head injuries.

Deborah Nicholson - died November 6, 1980, aged 24

Constable Nicholson was on duty in Wigan when she collapsed and died from a viral heart infection.

Dennis Williams - died April 9, 1975, aged 41

Sergeant Williams, along with other officers, was on crowd control duty outside the Granada Studios on Quay Street, Manchester. Suddenly the crowd surged forward into the road, and Sergeant Williams was knocked backwards onto the ground, where several people fell on top of him. Sergeant Williams was taken to hospital where he was dead on arrival having suffered a fatal heart attack.

Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes - died September 18, 2012, aged 32 and 23 respectively

PCs Bone and Hughes attended a 999 report of a burglary at a house in Mottram, which turned out to be a bogus report. As the pair approached the front door, they were shot at by Dale Cregan. As the pair lay injured on the ground, Cregan threw a hand grenade, killing them both.

Nicola Hughes, right, with her father, Bryn

George Main - died February 24, 1978, aged 35

Constable Main was in a police vehicle travelling on Thornton Street North, Collyhurst, Manchester, when the vehicle was involved in a crash with a van parked on that road, with the crash leaving Main with fatal injuries.

Ian James Terry - died June 9, 2008, aged 32

Constable Terry was involved in a firearms training exercise at a disused industrial premises on Thorp Road in Newton Heath. During the exercise, the officer was accidentally struck in the chest by a fatal shot discharged from a shotgun carried by a colleague.

Ian Rodgers - died April 3, 1975, aged 26

Constable Rodgers and a colleague received a report of young children trespassing on the railway line at Brinnington near Stockport. Whilst they were searching the line, P.C. Rodgers was struck by a train, leaving him with fatal injuries.

John Egerton - died March 11, 1982, aged 20

Constable Egerton responded to a call for assistance from another officer, who had seen a man climb into a large factory yard in Bolton. The officers split up to search the yard. A short time later, PC Egerton used his radio to report that he had disturbed someone, but no other transmissions were heard. After a search the officer was found at the side of one of the yard buildings suffering from four fatal stab wounds to his head and body.

John Jefferson Charles Cameron - died January 6, 1977, aged 27

Constable Cameron was engaged on Motor Patrol duties and was travelling in a police vehicle on the M66 at Whitefield in response to a call to assist at the scene of a crash on the M62. The road conditions on both Motorways were hazardous due to thick fog. PC Cameron's car crashed with the rear of a goods vehicle and he was trapped in the wreckage of his vehicle, which subsequently caught fire, causing his death.

John Sandford - died May 2, 1982, aged 45

Detective Constable Sandford was on duty near the Manchester Airport Sports and Social Club on April 27 when he attended an incident involving a group of youths. As he was speaking to the youths, one of them ran to a car, seized a wheelbrace, returned and struck the officer with a violent blow to his head, leaving DC Sandford with serious and fata injuries which caused his death.

John Waring - died March 25, 1980, unknown age

Collapsed and died of a heart attack in Park Lane Police Station in Higher Broughton.

Kevin James Dearnaley - died March 27, 1996, aged 31

Constable Dearnaley was taking part in a police motorcycle training course and was travelling along the A533 at Bostock, Cheshire, overtaking a lorry. He crashed with a car that was coming in the opposite direction, and was thrown in front of the lorry, suffering fatal injuries.

Lewis Entwistle - died December 22, 1981, aged 49

Sergeant Entwistle was on duty on the M62 in Whitefield, when he stopped a Ford Cortina on the hard shoulder. Sergeant Entwistle went to speak to the driver of the Cortina and, as he was doing so an articulated lorry drifted onto the hard shoulder and collided with the Cortina, which immediately burst into flames. Sergeant Entwistle and both occupants of the Cortina died as a result of the crash.

Michael Gareth Entwistle - died September 8, 1981, aged 30

Constable Entwisle was called into work due to a shortage of staff and as he was driving in, he was involved in a road accident which left him with fatal injuries.

Nigel Heap - died May 22, 1989, aged 32

Constable Heap was a member of the Mounted Section of the GMP. Whilst in a horse loose-box, he was kicked in the head by a horse, leaving him with injuries which proved fatal.

Norman Salisbury - died March 22, 1976, aged 45

Constable Salisbury was involved with the Dog Section of the GMP. He was undergoing a period of training, with his dog, on the moors near to Manchester, when he collapsed and died.

Peter Thomas Fox - died July 23, 1999, aged 31

Constable Fox was travelling to start an evening shift when his motorcycle crashed with a car at Rainford, Merseyside.

Raja Bashrat Ahmed - died August 31, 1999, aged 35

Constable Ahmed was on motorcycle patrol on Oldham Road, Miles Platting, Manchester, following a stolen vehicle, when the vehicle rammed into his motorcycle, leaving him with fatal injuries.

Raymond Anthony Codling - died September 14, 1989, aged 49

Inspector Codling was on night duty with a colleague when they visited the lorry park at the Birch motorway services on the M62 to check the security of the vehicles. They saw a man acting suspiciously amongst the vehicles. As the officers approached him he produced a gun and shot at them. Inspector Codling fell to the ground, and was then shot a second time, killing him.

Robert Nathans - died February 27, 1999, aged 49

Constable Nathans was driving a divisional patrol van along Portland Street in the City Centre. As he turned into Oxford Road, he suffered a massive heart attack which proved instantly fatal.

Stephen Burgess - died September 15, 1988, aged 44

Sergeant Burgess was riding his pedal cycle on his way home when he was involved in an crash at the junction of Talbot Road with Greatstone Road, Stretford, receiving fatal injuries.

Stephen Robin Oake - died January 14, 2003, aged 40

Detective Constable Oake was one of several officers who entered a flat in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester, as part of a counter terrorism operation. He went to the aid of his colleagues who were being violently attacked by one of the suspects being detained. DC Oake was stabbed, receiving fatal injuries.

Thomas McCarthy - died October 21, 1986, aged 38

Detective Constable McCarthy was killed in a road accident during mobile surveillance training near Preston.

William Thomas Hughes - died April 20, 1973, aged 51

Sergeant Hughes was a police dog trainer. On April 4, he was running a dog training exercise when he slipped on a wet, muddy bank and injured his ankle. Following the injury a large blood clot formed, and on April 20, it moved into his pulmonary artery, causing his death.