Evan Clyde WILLIAMS

| 26/10/2012

Evan Clyde WILLIAMS

Late of Macquarie St, South Windsor

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # ????

Rank: Constable

Stations: Riverstone

Service: From 28 March 1949 to 10 August 1953 = 4+ years Service

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World War II

Australian Imperial Force Australian Army

Regiment: 2/4 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment ( RAA )

Enlisted: 9 July 1941, Paddington, NSW

Service # NX38321

Rank: Gunner

Embarkation: ?

Next of kin: Ethel WILLIAMS

Born: 12 January 1922

Religion: ?

Single / Married: ?

Returned to Australia: ?

Date of Discharge: 12 October 1945

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Awards: No find on It’s An Honour

Born: 12 January 1922 at Leeton, NSW

Died on: 10 August 1953

Age: 30

Cause: Motor Vehicle Accident – Police Bike – Rider

Event location: Riverstone Rd, Riverstone

Event date: 9 August 1953

Death location: Prince Henry Hospital

Funeral date: 12 August 1953

Funeral location: ?

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: McGraths Hill Cemetery, Charles St

Row 11, Plot 2

Memorial located at: ?

Evan Clyde WILLIAMS is buried with Ian Gary WILLIAMS - son - 1952 - 1957 — Evan Clyde WILLIAMS is buried with Ian Gary WILLIAMS – son – 1952 – 1957

[Half headstone missing] …Memory of / …OUR FOND FATHER / …WILLIAMS / …AGED 30 YEARS / …o / …WILLIAMS / …AGED 5 YEARS / …ISSED. [Note: Earlier transcriptions have Evan Clyde Williams died 11th August 1953 aged 30 years & Ian Gary Willilams died 23rd November 1957 aged 5 years] — [Half headstone missing] …Memory of / …OUR FOND FATHER / …WILLIAMS / …AGED 30 YEARS / …o / …WILLIAMS / …AGED 5 YEARS / …ISSED. [Note: Earlier transcriptions have Evan Clyde Williams died 11th August 1953 aged 30 years & Ian Gary Williams died 23rd November 1957 aged 5 years]

[alert_green]EVAN is mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]

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Grave location: TBA

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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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May they forever Rest In Peace

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On the evening of 9 August, 1953 Constable Williams was riding a police motor cycle outfit along Riverstone Road, Riverstone when the cycle collided with another vehicle which had been travelling in the opposite direction. The constable was treated at the scene before being conveyed to the Hawkesbury District Hospital suffering from severe injuries including a fractured skull. He was transferred to the Prince Henry Hospital that night, where he was operated on, however he died on 11 10 August, 1953 without regaining consciousness.

The constable was on his way home from duty when the accident occurred.

The constable was born in 1923 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 28 March, 1949. At the time of his death he was stationed at Riverstone.

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Murrumbidgee Irrigator (Leeton, NSW : 1915 – 1954), Friday 14 August 1953, page 2

EX-RESIDENT OF MERUNGLE HILL KILLED IN ACCIDENT

The Late Cst. E. Williams

Residents of Merungle Hill were shocked to learn of the death of Constable Evan Williams, who died on Monday night as the result of injuries sustained in a motor cycle accident.

The late Mr. Williams was a member of the Police Force, and while riding a motor cycle between Parramatta and Windsor on Sunday night his machine came into collision with a motor car. He sustained a fractured skull, and a broken leg. He was taken by Ambulance to the Coast Hospital where doctors performed an operation in an effort to save his life. Despite the best medical skill however, he died from his injuries. The late Mr. Williams’ parents who reside at Merungle Hill, did not learn of the accident until told about it by a neighbor on Monday morning who had heard it In a news bulletin broadcast over the air. Mr. Williams immediately got into touch with the police who informed him that they had been endeavouring to locate him. Mr. and Mrs. Williams caught Monday night’s train for Sydney, but when they arrived at the Hospital the sad news had to be broken to them that their son had passed away during the night. The late Evan Clyde Williams was born at his parents home which is situated opposite the Merungle Hill School where he received his first schooling. He later attended the Leeton Intermediate High School. He was a returned soldier of the second World War and saw service In the Middle East and New Guinea. He was about 31 years of age, and is survived by his wife and two children. The funeral was held at the Windsor Cemetery on Wednesday. Mrs. Eckley, a next door neighbor of the Williams family, who had known the deceased ever since he was a little boy, said that the news of his untimely death came as a great shock to the people of Merungle Hill where he was so well-known and the shock was all the greater because of the fact that the announcement came so suddenly and unexpectedly over the air.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/156130553

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Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Wednesday 12 August 1953, page 28

WILLIAMS, Evan Clyde.— August 10, 1953 (suddenly), late police constable, dearly loved husband of Pyhllis Williams of Macquarie street, South Windsor, and dear father of Graham and Ian, aged 30 years.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18390127

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Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 – 1954), Tuesday 11 August 1953, page 21

POLICEMAN DIES

Constable Evan Clyde Williams, 30, of Riverstone, who was seriously hurt when his motorcycle outfit collided with a car near Vineyards railway station, Windsor, on Sunday night, died in Prince Henry Hospital early today.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230220323

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Murrumbidgee Irrigator (Leeton, NSW : 1915 – 1954), Tuesday 5 August 1941, page 2

FATHER AND SON IN KHAKI

Corporal Evan Williams, a Digger of the last war, who is now serving with the Hay Garrison, was seen in Leeton during the week-end with his son, Gunner Evan Clyde Williams, also in khaki. The latter has enlisted for service abroad, and is attached to the anti-tank reinforcements. Mr. Williams senior arranged his leave to be home with his son, and also to attend the 21st birthday party given in honor of his daughter, Joy, last night. She was the first baby born on Merungle Hill soldier settlement.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/156075803

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Murrumbidgee Irrigator (Leeton, NSW : 1915 – 1954), Tuesday 9 November 1943, page 2

WAR CASUALTIES

WOUNDED IN ACTION

GUNNER EVAN CLYDE WILLIAMS as been wounded in action. Gunner Williams, who served in the Middle East, was in action in New Guinea. His father Cpl. Evan Williams, is attached to the garrison force at Hay. The wounded soldier’s mother, who resides at Merungle Hill, is at present a patient in the District Hospital, where she underwent an operation. The telegram containing the notification read as follows: ‘I regret to inform you that Gunner Evan Clyde Williams has been wounded in action. The Minister for the Army extends his sincere sympathy.’

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/156038450

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February 2 2018 – 11:00AM

Relatives of killed officer Evan Clyde Williams being sought

Krystyna Pollard

Relatives of a local police officer killed on duty more than 60 years ago are being sought as plans for his grave to be restored in an historic Hawkesbury cemetery forge ahead.

Constable Evan Clyde Williams, a resident of South Windsor, was killed on duty on August 9, 1953 while stationed at Riverstone. Constable Williams had been riding a police motorcycle along Riverstone Road when it collided with another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to Hawkesbury Hospital suffering from severe injuries, and was later transferred to Prince Henry Hospital to be operated on. He died without regaining consciousness two days later.

The Narrandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser stated on August 17, 1953, that Constable Williams had only just returned to duty after an earlier injury.

“He had resumed duty only a fortnight after having received injuries when he chased a stolen motor car, the driver of which ran his machine against an electric light pole,” the article stated.

Constable Williams was buried at historic McGraths Hill cemetery, where his grave is currently in a state of disrepair. The NSW Police Memorial and Historical Society is working to restore his grave, and society member Ian Colless is asking descendants to come forward.

“We are seeking anyone who may have known or know the Williams family, or has any contacts in the Hawkesbury district, who could assist,” he explained. “McGraths Hill cemetery is heritage listed and any application for work normally requires permission of an ancestor or heir of the burial rights.”

Born in 1923 at Leeton, Constable Williams served in WWII where he was injured while serving as a gunner in the 2/4 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the AIF. He joined the NSW Police Force in 1949.

Constable Williams’ wife Phyllis stayed in the area for a time after his death and the couple had two sons, Graham and Ian. Ian died as a child and is buried in the same location. Anyone with information should contact coll2ian@gmail.com.

http://www.hawkesburygazette.com.au/story/5195651/relatives-of-killed-officer-evan-clyde-williams-being-sought/

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Garnet Frederick MORTLEY

| 26/10/2012

Garnet Frederick MORTLEY

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 6325

Rank: Constable

Stations: Special Traffic Patrol ( S.T.P. ) – North Sydney

Service: From 17 January 1949 to 1 June 1953 =4+ years Service

Awards: ?

Born: ? ? 1928

Event date: 27 May 1953

Event location: ( Old ) Princes Hwy, near Waterfall

Died on: 1 June 1953

Cause: Injuries sustained in a Motor Vehicle Accident

Age: 25

Funeral date: Wednesday 3 June 1953

Funeral location: Methodist Church, Halhousie St, Haberfield @ 11am

Buried at: Cremated at Rookwood Crematorium

Touch plate at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra. Constable Garnet Frederick MORTLEY — Touch plate at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra.
Constable Garnet Frederick MORTLEY

Plaques commemorate eight officers from Sutherlands Local Area Command who were killed in the line of duty. The names of the men and details of how they died hang on plaques in the foyer of the station. The plaques were unveiled during the 150th anniversary of policing in New South Wales. — Plaques commemorate eight officers from Sutherland Local Area Command who were killed in the line of duty. The names of the men and details of how they died hang on plaques in the foyer of the station. The plaques were unveiled during the 150th anniversary of policing in New South Wales.

On 27 May, 1953 Constable Mortley was riding a Police Special Traffic Patrol solo cycle to Sydney following an escort to the south coast. Whilst travelling along the Princes Highway near Waterfall, the front tyre on the cycle blew out. The constable was thrown to the roadway, sustaining compound fractures and severe head injuries. He was conveyed to the St George District Hospital, where he died five days later.

The constable was born in 1928 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 17 January, 1949. At the time of his death he was attached to the Special Traffic Patrol, Sydney.

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Illawarra Daily Mercury ( Wollongong ) Thursday 28 May 1953 page 1 of 12

Police Motor Cyclist Critically Injured

A Sydney police motor cyclist was critically injured when he lost control of his motor cycle on the Prince’s Highway on the southern side of Waterfall yesterday afternoon.

He got into difficulties on a corner at the bottom of a long hill on his way back to Sydney after escorting two big lorries through to the South Coast.

His cycle swerved and hit a lorry which was travelling in an opposite direction.

The rider was thrown to the side of the road and the motor cycle careered on along the road and crashed into another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

The cyclist suffered a compound comminuted fracture of the thigh, a compound comminuted fracture of the elbow, severe head injuries, internal injuries and severe shock. The motor cycle was completely wrecked.

St. George Ambulance rushed him to St. George District Hospital. His condition last night was described as “very low”

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/134151260

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The Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday 2 June 1953 page 14 of 42

MORTLEY Garnet Frederick – June 1 1953 at St George Hospital (result of accident), dearly beloved husband of Elaine Estelle and loving father of Christine, aged 25 years.

MORTLEY, Garnet Frederick – June 1 1953 at St George Hospital (result of accident), loved son of Garnet (Dick) and Lillian Mortley and dear grandson of Elsie May and the late Frederick Shettle and Mrs C F and the late Charles Mortley.

MORTLEY Garnet Frederick – June 1 1953 at St George Hospital (result of accident), loved son-in-law of James Clifford and Nellie Evelyn Hay and dear brother-in-law of Evelyn Hay.

MORTLEY – The Relatives and Friends of the late GARNET FREDERICK MORTLEY of 36 Dalmar Street Croydon are invited to attend his Funeral to leave the Methodist Church, Dalhousie Street Haberfield Tomorrow (Wednesday) after service commencing at 11 a m for the Rookwood Crematorium.

GEO ANDREWS UA2808 9

237 – 9 Liverpool Road Ashfield

MORTLEY – The Relatives and Friends of Mr and Mrs W. W. Dennis Mr and Mrs C Ingle-Olson, Mr and Mrs H Ingle-Olson, Mr. and Mrs T Shirley, Mr and Mrs J Menzies, Mr. L. Traynor and Families, are invited to attend the Funeral of their loved Nephew and Cousin, GARNET FREDERICK to leave the Methodist Church Haberfield, after service at 11 am Wednesday for Rookwood Crematorium.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18371123

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The Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 3 June 1953 page 30 of 31

MORTLEY – Lodge Minimbah No 781 U. G. L. of N S W and Sister Lodges – Officers and Brethren are Invited to attend the Funeral of their late esteemed Bro. GARNET FREDERICK MORTLEY to leave the Methodist church Dalhousie Street Haberfield This Day after service commencing at 11 a m for the Rookwood Crematorium (Regalia ) F S GLOSS, W.M.; A. A. J GREEN Sec.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18377764

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The Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 16 July 1953 page 5 of 22

Constable’s Death Accidental

The City Coroner, Mr. E. J. Forrest, S.M., yesterday recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest on Constable Garnet Frederick Mortley, 25, of Croydon Road, Croydon.

Constable Mortley, who was attached to the Public Safety Bureau, North Sydney, was riding a police motor cycle outfit along Prince’s Highway, near Waterfall, on May 27, when the front tyre burst.

The outfit collided with a lorry and Constable Mortley was thrown to the road. He died from injuries at St. George District Hospital on June 1.

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Location of Church Service:

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Residence of Garnet MORTLEY at the time of his death: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@

William Roy SMITH

| 26/10/2012

William Roy SMITH

( late of 53 Hillview Ave, Gwynneville )

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 1217

Rank: Sergeant 1st Class

Stations: ?, Officer in Charge – Port Kembla Police Station

Service: From 9 September 1921 to 1 September 1951 = 29+ years Service

Awards: No find on It’s An Honour

Born: ? ? 1895

Died on: Saturday 1 September 1951 @ 7.10pm

Cause: Heart Attack

Age: 53 old

Funeral date: Tuesday 4 September 1951

Funeral location: Woronora Crematorium

Buried at: Cremated

Memorial location: 1/ Police Wall – Woronora Crematorium

2/ Front wall of Lake Illawarra Police Station

3/ Inside hall – picture frame – Lake Illawarra Police Station

On the afternoon of the 1 September, 1951 Sergeant Smith and Constable Searl attended the Commercial Hotel, Port Kembla in relation to an intoxicated man causing trouble. After a struggle the police managed to gain control over the man and walk him to the police station. Although suffering some physical discomfort after the struggle, the sergeant remained on duty. A short time later however, he began to lose the use of his arm and experience considerable pain. He was taken to the Wollongong District Hospital but died at 7.10pm.

The sergeant was born in 1895 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 9 September, 1921. At the time of his death he was stationed at Port Kembla.

Sgt 1/Class William Roy SMITH touch plate in Canberra

William Roy SMITH - NSWPF - Died 010951 - Funeral notice 1 — William Roy SMITH – Funeral Notice The Sydney Morning Herald Monday 3 September 1951

William Roy SMITH - NSWPF - Died 010951 - Funeral notice 2 — South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus Monday 3 September 1951 page 2 of 24

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Hillview Ave, Gwynneville, back in 1953, was a lengthy Avenue which is now ( 2015 ) a very short Avenue due to the Memorial Drive cutting through it and also F6 / Princes Motorway / Highway cutting across it – causing sections of Hillview Ave being named Graham Ave and also Murphys Ave. The original house would now be located somewhere in, what is now called, Murphys Ave.

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Woronora Cemetery Police Remembrance Wall – 7 April 2015.pdf

William Roy Smith is # 3 on the attached list.

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Allen Boyd PATCH

| 26/10/2012

Allen Boyd PATCH

Constable

New South Wales Police Force

26 years

Motor Vehicle Accident – motor cycle

Mittagong

5 February, 1949

On 5 February, 1949 Constable Patch was riding a police motor cycle from Parramatta to Sutton Forest where he was to perform special Vice Squad duty. About ten kilometres north of Mittagong, on the Hume Highway, the cycle left the roadway, throwing the constable onto a rock heap. As a result he sustained a fractured skull and died a short time later in the Berrima District Hospital.

The constable was born in 1922 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 11 November, 1946. At the time of his death he was stationed at Rose Bay.
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Edwin Oliver PRATT

| 26/10/2012

Edwin Oliver PRATT

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 1812

Rank:

Sergeant 3rd Class

Stations:

Manly? Penrith ( 1940’s ), Katoomba – death

Service:

From 14 May 1924 to 19 November 1948 = 24+ years Service

Awards:

No find on It’s An Honour

Born:

Junee Junction, District of Narrandera, 8 March 1904

Event date:

1 October 1948

Event location:

Mountain Road (Great Western Highway) Katoomba, NSW

Died on:

19 November 1948

Cause:

Motor Vehicle Accident.

Hit by a timber jinker while directing traffic at a railway crossing.

(Timber jinker is a trailer designed to carry timber towed behind a truck)

Age: 44

Funeral date:

20 November 1948

Buried:

Katoomba Cemetery

Cemetery Rd, Katoomba, NSW.

Section KCE3 Row R1, Plot 2

His son, Ian Stephen PRATT ( son ) died on 7 July 1949, aged 4 years and is buried with his father.

Alma Charlotte PRATT ( wife ) died on 26 February 1959, aged 49, and is buried in the same plot also.

Memorial location:

Senior Constable Neville Higgs, Detective Constable Terry Dudeney, Sergeant Edwin Pratt & ?.

Left to right.

Senior Constable Neville Higgs, Detective Constable Terry Dudeney, Sergeant Edwin Pratt & ?.

The three Police Officers were involved in numerous rescues/incidents in the Blue Mountains.

Photo taken outside Sinclair Motor Garage, Katoomba (unknown date)

Sgt Edwin Pratt from 1930 holding the grandmother of Leanne Bailey ( 2013 )

70 years AFTER Sgt Pratt was Killed On Duty and this is his Unmarked grave at Katoomba Cemetery ( 2015 ) — **70 years AFTER** Sgt Pratt was Killed On Duty and this is his **Unmarked** grave at Katoomba Cemetery ( 2015 ) ( The Anderson grave is there as a reference point only ) Click photo to enlarge

In early 2017, thanks to the efforts of Ian COLLESS, NSWPF, Edwin's grave went from an unmarked grave to having an appropriate headstone placed at the spot that Edwin, his wife and son now, forever, Rest In Peace. — In early 2017, thanks to the efforts of **Ian COLLESS, NSWPF**, Edwin’s grave went from an unmarked grave to having an appropriate headstone placed at the spot that Edwin, his wife and son now, forever, Rest In Peace.

Eucser Haze?Beyond Courage<br /> 24 August 2017 ·<br /> Just one more update on Sgt Pratt's grave with a NSW Police crest added to the marker. My thanks to John McDiarmid and NSWPF Protocol for their assistance.<br /> Olwyn Danny Ken for your information. — Eucser Haze – Beyond Courage
24 August 2017 ·
Just one more update on Sgt Pratt’s grave with a NSW Police crest added to the marker. My thanks to John McDiarmid and NSWPF Protocol for their assistance.
Olwyn Danny Ken for your information.

[alert_green]EDWIN IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]

On the night of 1 October, 1948 Sergeant Pratt was directing traffic at a railway crossing at Katoomba. About 8.50pm a truck passed over the crossing and as it passed the sergeant attempted to walk behind it, not realising it was towing a timber jinker. Unfortunately the sergeant was hit by the jinker which inflicted severe injuries. He died on 19 November, 1948. He was survived by his wife Alma, sons Kevin and Ian, and daughter Olwyn.

The sergeant was born in 1904 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 14 May, 1924. At the time of his death he was stationed at Katoomba.

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On Thursday, 10 August 2017, the son-in-law – Retired Sgt 3rd Class Scott EDMONDS – married to Edwins daughter – Olwyn, passed away and was married to Olwyn for 51 years at the time.

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The death of Edwin has been widely circulated as having occurred on the 19 October 1948 which is INCORRECT and as of 30 October 2013, steps have been taken to have the correct date of 19 November 1948 recorded on all official touchstones and publications.

As of 14 October 2016, having checked the online website of the National Police Memorial, the data on the website HAS been changed to reflect the correct date of death as NOVEMBER BUT, unfortunately, the actual Touch Plate has NOT been altered and still displays ( as of Police Remembrance Day 2016 ) the incorrect date.

Unfortunately, the NSW Police Protocol Unit have done nothing to alter the Official website of http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/proud_traditions where the INCORRECT date is still reflected. I have, this date, sent a message to the Webmaster for NSWPF to action the website.

As of 9 March 2017 – I have never received a response to the message I sent to the Webmaster

The protocol Unit is located at:

NSW Police Protocol Unit

Level 6/ 151-241 Goulburn St (Riley St)
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Australia

Get directions

02 9285 3835

Would have been nice if NSW Police Protocol Unit had let others know that they had actioned the matter in relation to the National Wall but I have now found out ( Friday 14 October 2016 ), that the actual Touch Plate on the National Wall of Remembrance has NOT been changed to reflect the correct date.

National Wall of Remembrance - Canberra Sergeant Third Class Edwin Oliver PRATT Katoomba New South Wales 19 October 1948 " October " is incorrect. Correct month should show "November " — National Wall of Remembrance – Canberra Sergeant Third Class Edwin Oliver PRATT Katoomba New South Wales 19 October 1948 ” October ” is incorrect. Correct month should show “**November** “

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BDM – Birth = 14621/1904 to Charles P. & Caroline A. Pratt at Narrandera.

BDM – Marriage = 10147/1934 to Alma C. NEVILLE in Sydney

BDM – Death = 29635/1948. Charles Pacey PRATT & Caroline Ann PRATT.

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http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/79692879?searchTerm=sergeant%20pratt&searchLimits=

Sgt Edwin PRATT - Katoomba Police, NSW - Broken leg - 1948 — Sgt Edwin PRATT – Katoomba Police, NSW – Broken leg – 1948 The Daily News ( Perth, W.A. ) Saturday 2 October 1948 page 6 of 25

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http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/117911405?searchTerm=sergeant%20pratt&searchLimits=l-decade=194

Sgt Edwin Pratt – Nepean Times ( Penrith NSW ) Thursday 25 November 1948 page 1 of 10

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http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18095887?searchTerm=sergeant%20pratt&searchLimits=l-decade=194

Sydney Morning Herald Saturday 20 November 1948 page 32 of 32 — Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday 20 November 1948
page 32 of 32

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http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17940647?searchTerm=sergeant%20pratt&searchLimits=l-decade=194

Sydney Morning Herald Monday 21 May 1945 page 3 of 10 — Sydney Morning Herald
Monday 21 May 1945
page 3 of 10

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http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18121770?searchTerm=sergeant%20pratt&searchLimits=l-decade=194

Sydney Morning Herald Friday 8 July 1949 page 16 of 20 — Sydney Morning Herald
Friday 8 July 1949
page 16 of 20

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Edwin is buried at Katoomba Cemetery. Cemetery Rd, Katoomba, NSW.

Section KCE3 Row R1, Plot 2

His son, Ian Stephen PRATT died on 7 July 1949, aged 4 years and is buried with his father.

Alma Charlotte PRATT ( wife of Edwin ) died on 26 February 1959, aged 49, and is buried in the same plot also.

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Eucser Haze added 2 new photos.

September 29 2016 at 9:52am · Sun Valley ·

Today I remember all those that have gone before us, regardless of how they died or whether their name is recorded on a wall, or monument, or not.

I specifically spare a thought for those that lay in unmarked graves throughout the state-we shouldn’t permit this to happen or continue. For that very reason a special thought for Sgt 3rd Class Pratt killed in 1948 whose grave is pictured below.

https://police.freom.com/edwin-oliver-pratt/

” Let those who drink from the well not forget those that dug it “

Glen Kins As you say this should not be allowed to happen.

Like · Reply · 1 · September 29 at 10:13am

Keith Smith Lest we forget.

Like · Reply · 1 · September 29 at 10:45am

Olwyn Pratt Edmonds That tiny cross was placed there by his granddaughter Stephanie and her children during the last school holidays.,I have not been there since I was a child as I didn’t know where to find it till recent years. I went there as a teenager looking for a headstone, but as we now know , there wasn’t one to find. Only in recent years was I able to find the location.

Like · Reply · October 1 at 10:06am

Olwyn Pratt Edmonds Stephanie Edmonds

Like · Reply · October 1 at 10:21am

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Olwyn Pratt Edmonds‎ to Greg Callander

September 27 at 3:56pm ·

About unmarked police graves. I have been waiting for about 4 years for the Police Department to erect a headstone for my father Sgt 3/c Edwin Oliver Pratt. Promises promises. Last time I heard months ago that they were in the process of getting quote from stone mason for a full grave marker., but nothing since. The officer in charge is a very busy man indeed, so I do try to understand the delay. Would like to see it done in my lifetime.

— feeling sad.

Comment

Comments

Greg Callander Did you check the PM that another member sent to you recently. It should be in your Others folder under messages about money towards the gravestone.

Like · Reply · September 27 at 11:15pm

Eucser Haze Olwyn, I’d like to try and help getting your fathers grave appropriately marked. If you’d like some help, my email is coll2ian@gmail.com

I’m the person that Greg is referring to that sent you a message

Unlike · Reply · 1 · September 27 at 11:20pm · Edited

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Eucser Haze‎ to Memorial Muster

September 28 at 9:11pm · Rylstone ·

Got the letter from Bathurst Council today approving use of Sulman Park and fees waived.

Robbo has collected some prizes from local businesses for raffles etc.

Robbo, Marita and I also met an interesting character at Sofala today – Robbo has a new bff. Ask him about it on the 30th.

Comments

Danny Webster I hope to be there!

Like · Reply · 1 · September 28 at 11:10pm

Eucser Haze Be good to catch up Danny

Like · Reply · September 28 at 11:33pm

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Olwyn Pratt Edmonds

September 29 at 6:29am ·

Remembering father Sgt 3/c Edwin Oliver Pratt on Police Remembrance Day.

Comments

Susanne Pearson Loving thoughts are with you Olwyn ♡

♥♡

Like · Reply · September 29 at 8:31am

Eucser Haze Hello Olwyn I’ve replied to your email, if you want to send me number I’d like to give you a call

Like · Reply · September 29 at 10:33am

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Olwyn Pratt Edmonds

November 19, 2015 ·

On this day 67years ago my father Sgt 3/c Edwin Oliver Pratt passed away after being injured in a motor vehicle accident on the railway crossing in Katoomba 6 weeks earlier.R.I.P

Comments

Rhonda Turner injured on police duty and aged just 44 when he died….. so sad for you then and now, Olwyn

Like · Reply · November 19, 2015 at 7:38pm

Susanne Pearson My thoughts & love are with you Olwyn. Love Suz. xx

Like · Reply · November 19, 2015 at 9:55pm

Jill Burgess That’s so sad 🙁 I’m sorry of your loss xx

Like · Reply · November 19, 2015 at 11:51pm

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Memories of Penrith and surrounding suburbs

Like This Page · June 4, 2013 ·

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Greg Callander‎ to Thin Blue Line – Australia

November 21, 2015 ·

Comments

Rod Pratt Thanks for going to the trouble of putting this on the page. I have been asked a lot if Sgt. Ed Pratt was related to me, and to be honest, I didn’t know. My dad was from Junee, and died when I was young, so I never really got the chance to find out a lot about him. When I saw the death certificate, and the fact that Ed Pratt was also from Junee, I went digging into state records and found that he was my fathers cousin. We have a lot of links with NSWPF, but mostly on my mothers side, and it was great to discover this new link. Police Remembrance Day has always been a big issue with me, due to the mates I have lost in the job, this is an even stronger link. Cheers Greg

Like · Reply · February 3 at 6:18pm

Greg Callander That is cool Rod Pratt. I was contacted, a year or two ago, by Olwyn Pratt ( https://www.facebook.com/olwyn.prattedmonds?fref=ts ) who is the daughter of Ed. I would assume that she will have more information on Ed and, maybe, your father. It is certainly worth contacting her. Olwyn isn’t a member of this particular FB Group but is a member of NSW Fallen Police FB Group. I tried to ‘tag’ her to this message but, because she isn’t on this page, wasn’t able to.

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Greg Callander‎ to Do you remember Katoomba when?

November 21, 2015 ·

Comments

Jim Mitchell How the memories flood back. Dad attended the accident and that year I was in 4th class at Katoomba Primary with Sgt Pratt‘s son Kevin.

Unlike · Reply · 2 · November 21, 2015 at 5:51pm · Edited

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We love looking back on photos of the Police in a bygone era, check this amazing photo out of Sgt Edwin Pratt from 1930.

184 Peter Gould and 183 others

15 shares

13 Comments

Comments

Memories of Penrith and surrounding suburbsLeanne Bailey posted this picture and this is her Grandmother being held wearing a miniature police uniform, brilliant photo!

June 4, 2013 at 9:27pm · Like · 7

Brad NielsoAnd to think now thay let them in as small as that Kid. 🙂

June 4, 2013 at 9:30pm · Like · 2

Liz RenshawAnymore info Leanne or anyone? A great picture .

June 4, 2013 at 9:31pm · Like

Laraine Passmore fantastic photo 🙂

June 4, 2013 at 9:34pm · Like

Kevin Anderson The old style photoshop didnt work too good back then lol

June 4, 2013 at 9:36pm · Like · 3

Susannah Low What a fab photo!!!

June 4, 2013 at 10:09pm · Like

Vicki Goldsmith Wow …..

June 4, 2013 at 10:11pm · Like

Leanne Bailey Yes SGT. Pratt was killed while on duty: 19 Oct 1948

Sgt 3/C Edwin Pratt – struck by a motor vehicle whilst on point duty http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/proud_traditions

Honour Roll – NSW Police Online

The Honour Roll commemorates those members of the New South Wales Police Force who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the execution of their duty.

police.nsw.gov.au

June 4, 2013 at 10:15pm · Like

Leanne Bailey This happened at Katoomba. The only other story I know was that he had about 12 children, and sometimes would have a few of them balanced all over his bicycle in the afternoon, taking them for a ride down High street and to the river for a swim.

June 4, 2013 at 10:17pm · Like · 3

Memories of Penrith and surrounding suburbs Leanne Bailey who is Sgt Pratt in your family tree?

June 4, 2013 at 10:43pm · Like · 1

Jim Baldwin Samantha Jayne, in your family tree perhaps?

June 5, 2013 at 6:52am · Like

Kathy Davis Isn’t that great a perfect picture

June 8, 2013 at 8:00pm · Like

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Victor Donald AHEARN

| 26/10/2012

Victor Donald AHEARN

( late of Lavender St [ cnr of Walker St ], North Sydney )

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # ?

Rank: Detective Constable 1st Class

Stations: ?, Clarence Street Station, North Sydney Station – Death

Service: From 8 January 1930 to 11 August 1946 = 16+ years Service ( 10 years as Detective )

Awards: No find on It’s An Honour

Born: ? ? 1906 at Penrith, NSW

Died on: Sunday 11 August 1946

Cause: Shot – Murdered

Event location: Anzac Pde, Matraville

Age: 40

Funeral date: Tuesday 13 August 1946

Funeral location: Christ Church, Lavender Bay

Buried at: Rookwood Cemetery

Zone C, Anglican Section 8, Row 19, Grave 2214, 2215

Headstone inscription: In loving memory of my Dear Husband & my dear father. Erected by the N.S.W. Government
in memory of Detective Constable 1st Class. Shot in the execution of his
duty at Sydney. ( Victors father is also buried with him. His father, Maxwell Victor Ahearn, died 4 August 2007 aged 72 )

Touch plate for Victor Donald AHEARN at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra.

VICTOR IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

On 11 August, 1946 Detective Constable Ahearn and Detective Constable Bowie waited at Long Bay Gaol to arrest two suspects ( Sydney Grant and Keith George Hope ) who were wanted for break and enter and motor vehicle theft offences. When the two men arrived to visit two female prisoners at the gaol, as expected, the detectives arrested them. They then set out to convey the prisoners to Daceyville Police Station, with Constable Bowie driving and Constable Ahearn seated in the rear of the vehicle between the prisoners. Shortly after leaving the gaol Grant produced a firearm and shot Constable Ahearn twice in the side. Constable Bowie quickly stopped the vehicle, and when trying to assist his colleague now struggling with the offenders, he was also attacked. The offenders then made good their escape. Unfortunately Detective Constable Ahearn died of his wounds before medical assistance arrived at the scene. Both offenders were later arrested.

The Sydney Morning Herald of 14 August, 1946 reported on the detective’s funeral.

LARGE NUMBER AT FUNERAL OF DETECTIVE.

The funeral yesterday of Detective V. D. Ahearn, who was shot by a gunman on Sunday, was one of the largest seen in North Sydney. Christ Church, Lavender Bay, was crowded for a memorial service. About 300 members of the police force remained in the street, and many other sympathisers were unable to get into the church. Detective Constable Alexander Bowie, who was injured in the police car in which Detective Ahearn was shot, was among the mourners. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Frank Cash. Archbishop Mowll, who gave the address at the service, said he hoped it would be some comfort to Mrs. Ahearn that so large and representative a gathering had come together to do honour to her husband, who in the course of his duty had suddenly been killed.

The Advocate newspaper of 12 December, 1946 announced the result of the trial of the two offenders.

GRANT SENTENCED TO DEATH: UNUSUAL SCENES.

SYDNEY, Wednesday – Extraordinary scenes were witnessed at the conclusion of the murder trial in the Central Criminal Court to-day of Sydney Grant (23), labourer, and Keith George Hope (23), farm laborer, for the murder of Detective Constable Victor Donald Ahearn on August 11 at Matraville. The jury found Grant guilty and Hope not guilty. Grant was sentenced to death. Mr. Justice Herron agreed that the jury’s verdict was inevitable.

The constable was born in 1906 [ and was the son of Percy Augustis Ahearn & Elizabeth Anne Pirie ] and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 8 January, 1930. At the time of his death he was stationed at North Sydney.

As an aside – Victor AHEARN was the cousin of Clarence PIRIE who was also shot and murdered in 1960 aged 40.

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NSW BDM’s
Birth
17164/1906 AHEARN, VICTOR D : PERCY, ELIZABETH A @ PENRITH

Marriage
14450/1934 AHEARN, VICTOR D, MALLARD IRENE on 15 September 1934 in St Johns Church, PARRAMATTA, NSW

Death
25813/1946 AHEARN, VICTOR DONALD : Parents: PERCY AUGUSTUS & ELIZABETH ANNE @ KINGSFORD

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Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1950), Wednesday 14 August 1946, page 4

MANHUNT ENDS

Shooting of Detective BECKETT GIVES HIMSELF UP.

Sydney, Aug. 13. — The intensive search for Keith Beckett, alias Hope, whom the police allege was with Charles Grant (28), when detective Victor Donald Ahearn was shot dead in a police car on Sunday, ended dramatically when Beckett gave himself up to the police at Scone to-night. He said he had been working on a farm in the district. It was disclosed to-day that three bullets had been fired into Detective Ahearn‘s body as he sat between the two men in the police car during the drive from Long Bay Gaol. The police believed that two of the shots were fired as Ahearn attempted to grab the gun after one of the men in the car had pulled it from his pocket. The funeral to-day of Detective Ahearn was one of the largest seen in North Sydney. So large was the crowd at the church service that many hundreds were unable to get into the church and the streets through which the cortege proceeded to the Rookwood Cemetery were lined with citizens desiring to pay their last tribute to the late detective.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article95543797.txt

CALLOUS MURDER OF SYDNEY DETECTIVE Shot By Two Men While Being Escorted To Police Station
SYDNEY, Sunday.
Detective-Constable Vincent Donald Ahearn, 40, was murdered this afternoon in a police car in Anzac Parade, while two men were being taken to North Sydney police station for questioning in connection with car thefts. It was one of the most cold-blooded and callous crimes committed in Australia. The men had been detained after visiting two female prisoners at Long Bay Gaol, Joyce Read and Edna Grant. An attempt was made to shoot Detective-Constable Bowie, 27, who was seated in the police car, but the pistol jammed. The two men then bashed Bowie about the head and jumped from the car, escaping into the bush near the Bunnerong power house.The shooting took place within a few miles of the Long Bay Gaol. As the police car approached the old speedway at Maroubra one of the men pulled a revolver that had been concealed among his clothing, and shot Ahearn twice through the chest, one bullet puncturing his heart. Detective Bowie was seated in the front seat of the car while Detective Ahearn was in the back seat between the two men. On hearing the shots Detective Bowie turned round and saw his colleague in a slumped position on the edge of the seat.For the first time the new police plane was used in a search for the two escapees over the area of the crime. More than 400 police, assisted by police dogs and with soldiers armed with tommy-guns in support, are scouring dense scrub between Bunnerong Road and La Perouse Road. At the North Sydney Court last Tuesday, two attractive girls, Joyce Read, 19, and Edna Grant, 20, were committed for trial on three charges of illegally using motor cars, and one of breaking, entering and stealing from a Lindfield garage. Bail was fixed at £200 for Grant and £100 for Read, but they did not find the surety. During the hearing, in a statement allegedly made by Read, she told how she and Grant were arrested in a stolen car at Northbridge in the early hours on July 29, when they had been left by two men. Caught in the headlights of an oncoming car one of the men called, “It’s the ‘coppers’ go through.” The men then disappeared into the bushes. The alleged statement added that Read had been lured into crime by a man and his associates whom she had met one night at the California, a cafe in Darlinghurst Road, King’s Cross.Detective-Constable Bowie applied the brakes at the same time as he was grappling with the two men, one of whom hit him about the head and face with the butt of a revolver. Bowie continued to fight back and shortly afterwards collapsed into unconsciousness. The two men were seen to leap from the car and run in opposite directions. When the police arrived, Bowie was still clutching his half-drawn revolver and the body of Ahearn was found crouched on the back seat. Darkness set in soon after the search of the Bunnerong scrub land had started, and military searchlights were used to assist. The police warned residents in the Malabar district, who owned cars, to be on the watch as the wanted men were experienced drivers.The police are anxious to interview a man, known as Keith, who was in company with the two men this morning. Late to-night the police stated they were anxious to interview Sidney Greenep, alias Grant and also alias McMahon.
— The Canberra Times 12 August 1946

The Sydney Morning Herald Monday 12 August 1946 page 1 of 14

DETECTIVE SHOT IN POLICE CAR

Troops And Plane Join In Sydney Manhunt

One detective was shot dead and another brutally attacked at Matraville yesterday afternoon while they were escorting two men they had arrested at the gate of Long Bay Gaol.

Four hundred armed police, soldiers ( some carrying machine-guns ), the police aeroplane, and police dogs later took part in one of the most intensive manhunts ever organised by the New South Wales police.

The two men, who had been visiting two girl prisoners in the gaol, were not located at an early hour to-day.

DRAMATIC DRIVE FROM GAOL

The detectives were attacked as the men were being driven away in a police car. After a fierce struggle in the car the men made off across sand dunes and scrub covered hills.

Detective First-class Constable Victor Donald Ahearn, 40, married, with one child, who was stationed at North Sydney, was shot dead. Two bullets entered his body, one passing through his heart. Ahearn joined the police force 16½ years ago, and lived at Lavender Bay.

Detective Constable Alexander Bowie, 27, stationed at Mosman, was kicked about the head and body, and suffered severe abrasions and shock. He is the son of Superintendent L. Bowie, who was recently in charge of the Tamworth police district.

The two detectives had driven in a police car to Long Bay in the morning, believing that two men for whom they had been searching in connection with charges of car stealing and breaking and entering garages might visit two girls, aged 19 and 20.

The girls recently had pleaded not guilty to charges of illegally using motor cars and breaking into a Lindfield garage. According to the police, two men had been seen with the girls on the night of one alleged crime, but escaped.

The detectives yesterday parked their police car near the outer gates of the gaol. Soon afterwards the big gates opened and two men came out.

Ahearn and Bowie immediately intercepted them, and after a short conversation, ordered them to get into the car.

Bowie sat at the wheel and Ahearn sat between the two men in the back seat. The men, though sullen and disinclined to talk, gave no indication that they intended resisting arrest until the car had travelled about two miles along Anzac Parade.

About 300 yards from where the main road crosses the tram line near Pozieres Avenue, Matraville, and where dunes and tea-tree skirt the road, one of the prisoners is alleged to have pulled a .32 revolver from his pocket.

Bowie did not know it until he was attracted by a sudden scuffle from the back seat of the car. In less than two seconds there were two shots, and as Bowie turned round Ahearn muttered, “They’ve got me.”

Two bullets had plunged into the side of his body, piercing the heart and other vital organs.

LONG STRUGGLE IN MOTOR CAR

As Ahearn slumped dying on the floor of the car with portion of his clothes singed with the flame from the shots, Bowie swerved the car on to the grass track off the macadam road.

He pulled on the brake and after throwing the engine into neutral, he leaned over the seat to seize the two men.

The tracks of the car showed that during the subsequent struggle, the car travelled several yards before stopping.

As Bowie attempted to hurl himself on to the men, the one with the revolver pointed the gun at his head with the muzzle only a few inches from Bowie’s temple, the man said. “Get back or you’ll get it, too!”

Bowie saw the man pull the trigger and he heard a click. The revolver had jammed. The man holding the gun then crashed the butt of the revolver on to Bowie’s head, causing a deep cut.

Still Fought On

As Bowie was attempting to lever himself over the back of the front seat, the two men leaned back and raising both their feet, kicked him viciously about the face and head.

Each kick brought a new trickle of blood down Bowie’s face, but he continued to struggle with the men, and eventually wrested the gun from them.

Evidently, fearing that Bowie would continue the fight and get the better of them, the men threw open the doors on either side of the car and leapt to the road.

One ran through a wire fence up the sandhill towards Yarra Bay and was soon lost in the thick scrub.

Offender - Sidney Greenep @ Grant @ McMahon — Offender – Sidney Greenep @ Grant @ McMahon

The police last night issued these pictures of two men they are seeking in connection with the shooting of a detective at Matraville yesterday.

TOP: Sidney Greenep, alias Grant, alias McMahon.

LOWER: Keith Beckett (or Hope).

Offender - Keith HOPE — Offender – Keith HOPE

The other bolted in the opposite direction and was last seen making across the tramline over the sand

dunes.

Bowie, who by this time was on the point of collapse, tried to lift Ahearn from the door of the car.

But Ahearn was dead. Powder marks and blood on his clothing showed where the bullets had entered his body.

Glen Rich, a young man living in Page Street, Botany, who was passing on his bicycle, saw Bowie leave the car and stagger towards the road. He helped to lift Ahearn from the car to the grass on the side of the road, and then went to look for a telephone to summon the police.

Many Cars Passed

Police believe that many cars passed after the shooting, but it was not until 15 minutes later that a man and a woman who had driven along Anzac Parade to Maroubra, accosted Sergeant Ryan and Constable Watts on the beach.

The man said, “We think there’s been a bit of shooting along the road. You had better go along and see what’s happened.”

Ryan, and Watts raced back along Anzac Parade until they came upon the police car still parked on the side of the road. Bowie was sitting, still dazed and bleeding profusely, on the grass alongside the body of Ahearn, holding the revolver which he had taken from one of the men.

Two empty cartridge shells from which Ahearn had been shot were in the car. One cartridge bore a faint hammer imprint, but had jammed. There were other live cartridges in the revolver.

SPECTACULAR HUNT DEVELOPS

With at least 20 minutes start the men had probably travelled a long distance before the police search for them was begun, but within a short time Superintendent F. Matthews had organised one of the biggest manhunts ever known in Sydney.

The police plane was called out for the first lime to assist in the search. Police dogs were rushed to the car in which the shooting had occurred

and then they were let loose in the direction taken when the men ran away. And 400 armed police were rushed from the city and all suburbs to form a cordon around the district. Army personnel some armed with sub-machine guns, were rushed in military wagons to join in the hunt and within an hour an area extending from Malabar, Botany Bay, Yarra Bay and Kingsford was being systematically combed.

Every car returning from the seaside of the district was stopped and searched. The contents of several utility vans being removed to ascertain if anyone was hiding there.

Plane Uses Radio

The police plane swept low in circles over the sandhills, the observer using powerful glasses to scan the thick scrub as he kept in touch by radio with the police cars racing backwards and forwards throughout the district.

One message radioed from the plane and picked up by the police cars near the scene of the shooting was that a man was seen making his way over the sand dunes towards Yarra Bay.

Superintendent Matthews revealed late last night that a taxi-driver had picked up a man walking along Bunnerong Road near the Matraville Hotel about 3.30 p.m.

The man asked him to take him to East Sydney.

The description of the man tallies with that of one of the escapees. There were bloodstains visible on his neck and clothing.

Police found a cream Hillman car with a Victorian registration plate, near Long Bay Gaol. It was later learned that the car had been stolen in Melbourne on Friday.

The police state that the two men had used the car to drive up to the gaol and brazenly left it near the gate while they visited the two girl inmates.

Police said last night that one of the men sought is known to them as Sidney Greenep, alias Grant, alias McMahon.

Suspects Described

The police issued the following description of him:

“Twenty-six years old, 5ft 7in, dark hair and complexion, freckled face, brown eyes, scar over right eye, appears to be new scar on forehead, and two old scars on forehead as well. Lobe of left ear is peculiar shape. Dressed in black and white or dark brown and white very small check pattern sports coat. Badge in lapel appeared to be returned soldier’s badge. Man wearing light blue or bluish-green sports trousers. Green silk open-neck sports shirt, no hat. Very tidy appearance.”

A second suspect, the police say is known as Keith Beckett (or Hope). He is 22 to 25 years old, 5ft 9in or 10in. fair complexion, medium brown-coloured straight ball hooked nose, rather large and red; wearing a light blue American type of coat of woollen material, large lapels, and dark blue piping on pockets and lapels blue shirt with collar to match, a tie and fairly new grey felt pork-pie-shaped hat.

North Sydney Report

On latest reports, it was believed both hunted men had reached and possibly passed through the city.

Becket was said to have been seen in North Sydney at 3.30 p.m., after the shooting. He was wearing a white open-neck shirt, light coloured sports suit, light grey felt hat.

The search early this morning was covering a great part of the metropolitan area.

ABOVE: The scene at Matraville yesterday afternoon when a police cordon was thrown around the area in a search for two men who escaped from the police car ( indicated by circle ) in which Detective-Constable Victor Ahearn was killed.

LEFT: Police questioning motorists in Bunnerong Road last night. — Police questioning motorists in Bunnerong Road last night.

LOWER RIGHT: A detective-sergeant checking his rifle before joining the search. A spotlight was attached to the barrel of the gun. — A detective-sergeant checking his rifle before joining the search. A spotlight was attached to the barrel of the gun.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17982254#pstart995837

The Sydney Morning Herald Monday 12 August 1946 page 1 of 14

SURPRISE AT GAOL VISIT

The fact that a visitor with a loaded revolver could be admitted to Long Bay Gaol to “interview prisoners on remand caused comment in police circles after the shooting.

Remand prisoners are allowed greater liberty than sentenced prisoners, but police say it is at the least disquieting that visitors are not searched for firearms even it they are visiting only women in the remand section.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17982253#pstart995837

MAN ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF SYDNEY DETECTIVE Intense Search for Accomplice SYDNEY, Monday.
Early this morning Sidney Grant, 28, was arrested at gunpoint in a guest house at North Sydney, and charged with the murder on Sunday afternoon of Detective-Constable Victor Donald Ahearn. A police cordon had been thrown around Sydney to apprehend Keith George Hope, 23, alias Beckett, and all trains, planes and ships are being closely watched while the cooperation of the Victorian police has been sought in case Hope should break through the cordon in an at tempt to return to Victoria. The search for Hope is also being intensified in the Newcastle district. Grant was arrested by armed police while he was breakfasting at a guest house. He offered no resistance. A large squad of police was rushed to the guest house and, while all exits were guarded. Detective H. Hughes and Sergt. R. K. Knight, with revolvers drawn, rushed inside. They threw open the door of a room and found Grant having breakfast.Later, Grant appeared before the North Sydney Court with his head bandaged and was charged with the murder of Detective Ahearn on which charge he was remanded to the Central Court on August 20, bail being refused. Grant appeared in court handcuffed to a detective-sergeant and was later removed under a heavy escort.Sergeant M. Whelan, who conducted the prosecution, told the court that Grant and another man had been arrested at the entrance to the women’s reformatory at Long Bay Gaol. The two men were placed in a police car, which was driven by Detective-Constable Bowie, while Ahearn sat between the men. After the police car had proceeded about a mile and a half from the reformatory, Grant drew a revolver and twice shot Ahearn, who died in a few minutes, Bowie, stopped the car and struggled with Grant, who was disarmed, but Bowie was assaulted about the face. Grant and the other man then disappeared.Shortly before 3.30 p.m. Grant was again before the North Sydney Court and was remanded until August 20, on nine charges of breaking, entering and stealing, including the theft of four sub-machine guns, two revolver chambers, and a quantity of ammunition, to the value £50, from Rushcutters Bay naval depot, on July 30.Four counts dealt with alleged thefts of wireless Sets. He was also charged with stealing clothing, valued at £200, from a shop at Crow’s Nest on July 31, with breaking into a shop at King’s Cross Road on July 5 and stealing women’s clothing, worth £100, and with breaking into a garage at Killara on July 28, and stealing tyres and money to the value of £30. Grant was also remanded on two charges of having been in possession of firearms.The police produced four Thomson sub-machine guns and two ammunition cases which were found among some bush at Roseville. The Victorian police advised that ballistic tests proved that the revolver which bad been used in the murder, had been stolen from a resident of Hawthorn in 1942. It is believed that Grant left a considerable sum of money in Melbourne. His arrest followed probably the greatest man-hunt ever staged in this State. Almost 500 police and soldiers were engaged. Grant told the police that he arrived by car from Melbourne on Saturday and, with a companion, booked in at the guest house early on Sunday morning.
NO POWER TO SEARCH GAOL VISITORS
There was no power to search any person whether visiting a gaol, a police court or any other establishment unless such a person was first arrested and charged, said the Minister of Justice (Mr. Downing) who added that such searching would be an offence.The Minister explained there was no restriction about the number of visits by friends to gaol prisoners who were also permitted to receive foodstuffs, but there was no physical contact between such prisoners and visitors because of a heavy wire gauze separating them. A Sydney detective stated that when a policeman visited the gaol he was required to hand over his revolver and he could not understand why the same regulation did not apply to civilians. A late Melbourne message stated that two men had been detained at the C.I.B. office for questioning in connection with the murder.
— The Canberra Times 13 August 1946

Victor Donald Ahearn
AHEARN. — August 11, 1946, Victor Donald. Dearly beloved husband of Irene Ahearn, and loving father of Max, aged 40 years.
— Sydney Morning Herald 13 August 1946

Large Number At Funeral Of Detective
The funeral yesterday of Detective V. D. Ahearn, who was shot by a gunman on Sunday, was one of the largest seen in North Sydney. Christ Church, Lavender Bay, was crowded for a memorial service. About 300 members of the police force remained in the street, and many other sympathisers were unable to get into the church. Detective-Constable Alexander Bowie, who was injured in the police car in which Detective Ahearn was shot, was among the mourners. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Frank Cash. Archbishop Mowll, who gave the address at the service, said he hoped it would be some comfort to Mrs. Ahearn that so large and representative a gathering had come together to do honour to her husband, who in the course of his duty had suddenly been killed.
INCREASING DEBT
“Others are here,” said Archbishop Mowll, “to show regard for the police force, to whom the community owes an increasing debt of gratitude. “The episode of last Sunday afternoon brings home to everyone the risk continually being run by members of the force. We are grateful to them for what they are doing to protect us.” Boy Scouts of the 1st Lavender Bay Troop, of which Max Ahearn, son of the detective, is a member, occupied the choir seats at the service. The coffin was carried from the church after the service by Detectives Whiteman, Fagan, Griffin, Kelly, and Tupper, who had worked with Detective Ahearn. A detachment of about 300 uniformed and plainclothes men preceded the hearse. These were followed by a company of’ military police in the charge of Captain Wiseman, and by members of the New South Wales Fire Brigade under Inspector J. Neville, who also represented the Chief Officer and the Board of Fire Commissioners.
CITIZENS LINE ROUTE
The funeral proceeded through the city to Rookwood Cemetery. The cortege as it left the church was preceded by motor cyclists, a detachment of mounted police, and the police band. Along Lavender Street, Blues Point Road, and Blue Street to Bradfield Highway the route was lined by hundreds of spectators. Ordinary traffic along the route to the Bridge was held up for about half an hour. There were about 100 motor cars following the hearse. The chief mourners were Mrs. Ahearn, widow, Max Ahearn, son; Mr. P. Ahearn, father; Mrs. R. Moon, and Mrs. A. Clarke, sisters, Messrs. Moon and Clarke, brothers-in-law; and Mr. and Mrs. H. Mallard, father-in-law and mother-in-law. Officers and members of Masonic Lodge Tuscan also attended. Superintendent J. F. Scott represented the Chief Commissioner, Mr. Mackay. Other police officers present included Superintendent B. E. Sadler, who was in charge of the police arrangements; Superintendents F. Matthews, T. Wickham, and N. D. James, of the C.I.B.; Superintendent W. E. Sherringham, Inspectors M. Cahill, W. L. Alford, C. Kennedy, and J. Nealon; ex-Superintendent W. Sherringham and a number of retired officers and men.
— Sydney Morning Herald 14 August 1946

WANTED MAN SURRENDERS TO SCONE POLICE NEWCASTLE, Tuesday.
Keith George Hope, who was wanted by the police for questioning in connection with the shooting of Detective Ahearn on Sunday, walked into the Scone police station at 11.45 p.m. and gave himself up. He told the police that he arrived at 3 a.m. on Monday and, after staying at the Royal Hotel, obtained work on a farm. The police were advised that a man answering to his description, had booked in at the hotel. Hope when he entered the police station, said, “I understand that you were making inquiries about me, so I thought I had better give myself up.” He added that the farmer, by whom, he had been employed, had driven him to the police station.Two detectives will leave Sydney to-morrow to take Hope back to Sydney. They have been instructed to take no chances with him. Police in Sydney to-night hinted that intensified co-operation between forces in other States, following the murder of Ahearn on Sunday, may lead to a clean-up of certain inter-state crimes. A senior officer of the C.I.B. said that detectives in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane had been working to break up certain interstate criminal activities.Large crowds gathered to-day to pay their last respects to Detective Constable Ahearn, when the funeral was held. Mounted police were in attendance with detachments of police, military provosts and motor cyclists. The funeral of Detective Ahearn was conducted to-day. A service was held at Christ Church where Archbishop Mowll paid a moving tribute to the service rendered to the community as a whole by the police force.
— The Canberra Times 14 August 1946

WANTED MAN SURRENDERS TO SCONE POLICE
NEWCASTLE, Tuesday.

Keith George Hope, who was wanted by the police for questioning in connection with the shooting of Detective Ahearn on Sunday, walked into the Scone police station at 11.45 p.m. and gave himself up. He told the police that he arrived at 3 a.m. on Monday and, after staying at the Royal Hotel, obtained work on a farm. The police were advised that a man answering to his description, had booked in at the hotel. Hope when he entered the police station, said, “I understand that you were making inquiries about me, so I thought I had better give myself up.” He added that the farmer, by whom, he had been employed, had driven him to the police station.Two detectives will leave Sydney to-morrow to take Hope back to Sydney. They have been instructed to take no chances with him. Police in Sydney to-night hinted that intensified co-operation between forces in other States, following the murder of Ahearn on Sunday, may lead to a clean-up of certain inter-state crimes. A senior officer of the C.I.B. said that detectives in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane had been working to break up certain interstate criminal activities.Large crowds gathered to-day to pay their last respects to Detective Constable Ahearn, when the funeral was held. Mounted police were in attendance with detachments of police, military provosts and motor cyclists. The funeral of Detective Ahearn was conducted to-day. A service was held at Christ Church where Archbishop Mowll paid a moving tribute to the service rendered to the community as a whole by the police force.

— The Canberra Times 14 August 1946

Hope Charged With Murder
Keith George Hope, also known as Keith Beckett, 23, labourer, was charged at Central Police Court yesterday with having on August 11 murdered Detective Victor Donald Ahearn. Hope was also charged with having had in his possession a car stolen in Victoria, knowing it to have been stolen. The police prosecutor, Sergeant Whelan, said that last Sunday afternoon, Detectives Ahearn and Bowie were escorting in a car Hope and a man named Grant from the women’s reformatory at Long Bay gaol. Some distance from Long Bay gaol Ahearn had been shot three times and had died almost immediately. Sergeant Whelan asked for a remand until August 20. Grant had been remanded to that date, he added. Mr. Beavers, S.M., granted the remand and refused bail. Hope was escorted into the court by the two detectives who had brought him back from Scone yesterday morning. He was neatly dressed in a brown suit, blue shirt, and red tie.
— The Sydney Morning Herald 16 August 1946

Hope Charged With Murder

Keith George Hope, also known as Keith Beckett, 23, labourer, was charged at Central Police Court yesterday with having on August 11 murdered Detective Victor Donald Ahearn. Hope was also charged with having had in his possession a car stolen in Victoria, knowing it to have been stolen. The police prosecutor, Sergeant Whelan, said that last Sunday afternoon, Detectives Ahearn and Bowie were escorting in a car Hope and a man named Grant from the women’s reformatory at Long Bay gaol. Some distance from Long Bay gaol Ahearn had been shot three times and had died almost immediately. Sergeant Whelan asked for a remand until August 20. Grant had been remanded to that date, he added. Mr. Beavers, S.M., granted the remand and refused bail. Hope was escorted into the court by the two detectives who had brought him back from Scone yesterday morning. He was neatly dressed in a brown suit, blue shirt, and red tie.

— The Sydney Morning Herald 16 August 1946

HOPE REMANDED ON MURDER CHARGE
SYDNEY, Thursday.
Keith George Hope, 23, was charged at the Central Court to-day with the murder of Detective-Constable Ahearn on Sunday last and was remanded until August 20. He was also charged with being in possession of a stolen motor car. Hope was escorted into court by Detectives Hargreaves and Strachan, who had brought him from Scone where he had given himself up. During the brief court proceedings Hope did not speak.
— The Canberra Times 16 August 1946

KITCHEN IS STILL UNPAINTED Det. Ahearn’s Death
SYDNEY, August 16.—The big, dark-haired policeman kissed his wife [Irene] before sitting down to breakfast in his cheerful flat at Lavender Street, North Sydney. He had been up late the night before, but that had not affected his good-humour. Nothing, his wife reflected, ever seemed to affect that. He ate his cornflakes and chops, drank his cup of strong coffee. Then, with his 11-year-old son to help, he started to paint the kitchen woodwork. He had promised his wife to do it, and, once he had promised — even little things — she could always count on him to do them. It was Saturday. He stuck at the painting until he had to go on duty.Sunday, he was on duty again. As he went out this time, whistling softly, his wife saw him turn, heard him call back cheerily: “I’ll finish off the paint when I get home.” But this week, the woodwork was still waiting to be finished. Early on the Sunday afternoon policeman Victor Ahearn was shot twice through the heart while doing duty as an escort. Said his widow, pretty, sad-eyed Rene Ahearn, this week: “Vic. was a big, strong chap; but he never thought it sissy to help me in the flat. He was always doing something for me. “I get sciatica. When I was sick he used to do all the shopping for me. Sometimes he’d get so many vegetables we wouldn’t know what to do with them. “He used to cook for our son Max and me when I was ill. He was a good cook, too. “When you met him once you knew him. He never changed. I met him when I was 16 and he was 28. He lived in a boarding house next door. We married four years later. That was nearly 13 years ago. “He was in the Police Force sixteen and a half years. The last 10 he’d been a detective. “That meant broken shifts, working until the job was done, coming home at odd hours. But he was always so dependable, so jolly. I didn’t mind the anxiety, the strain of being a policeman’s wife. “Week-ends, when he was off duty, we used to go fishing with our son. Vic. loved fishing more than any other pastime. We had planned a trip from Mosman Bay this week-end. “He had only lately been transferred from Clarence Street Station to North Sydney. He liked the move because it brought him nearer home — he could come back to the flat for lunch when he was working early shifts. “Vic. took me to the C.I.B. ball two days before he was killed. I wore a new wine velvet evening dress — my first since the end of the war. Vic. said to me: ‘You don’t look a day older than when I married you. Let’s have our photo taken.’ “He asked me three times before I agreed. I was so surprised, because he hadn’t had a photo taken since our wedding. He hated posing for a picture.” Widowed Mrs. Ahearn will continue to live in her flat at the corner of Walker and Lavender Streets. Said she: “My friends are here. So are my happy memories. Why should I move?
— Townsville Daily Bulletin 17 August 1946

KITCHEN IS STILL UNPAINTED
Det. Ahearn’s Death

SYDNEY, August 16.—The big, dark-haired policeman kissed his wife [Irene] before sitting down to breakfast in his cheerful flat at Lavender Street, North Sydney. He had been up late the night before, but that had not affected his good-humour. Nothing, his wife reflected, ever seemed to affect that. He ate his cornflakes and chops, drank his cup of strong coffee. Then, with his 11-year-old son to help, he started to paint the kitchen woodwork. He had promised his wife to do it, and, once he had promised — even little things — she could always count on him to do them. It was Saturday. He stuck at the painting until he had to go on duty.Sunday, he was on duty again. As he went out this time, whistling softly, his wife saw him turn, heard him call back cheerily: “I’ll finish off the paint when I get home.” But this week, the woodwork was still waiting to be finished. Early on the Sunday afternoon policeman Victor Ahearn was shot twice through the heart while doing duty as an escort. Said his widow, pretty, sad-eyed Rene Ahearn, this week: “Vic. was a big, strong chap; but he never thought it sissy to help me in the flat. He was always doing something for me. “I get sciatica. When I was sick he used to do all the shopping for me. Sometimes he’d get so many vegetables we wouldn’t know what to do with them. “He used to cook for our son Max and me when I was ill. He was a good cook, too. “When you met him once you knew him. He never changed. I met him when I was 16 and he was 28. He lived in a boarding house next door. We married four years later. That was nearly 13 years ago. “He was in the Police Force sixteen and a half years. The last 10 he’d been a detective. “That meant broken shifts, working until the job was done, coming home at odd hours. But he was always so dependable, so jolly. I didn’t mind the anxiety, the strain of being a policeman’s wife. “Week-ends, when he was off duty, we used to go fishing with our son. Vic. loved fishing more than any other pastime. We had planned a trip from Mosman Bay this week-end. “He had only lately been transferred from Clarence Street Station to North Sydney. He liked the move because it brought him nearer home — he could come back to the flat for lunch when he was working early shifts. “Vic. took me to the C.I.B. ball two days before he was killed. I wore a new wine velvet evening dress — my first since the end of the war. Vic. said to me: ‘You don’t look a day older than when I married you. Let’s have our photo taken.’ “He asked me three times before I agreed. I was so surprised, because he hadn’t had a photo taken since our wedding. He hated posing for a picture.” Widowed Mrs. Ahearn will continue to live in her flat at the corner of Walker and Lavender Streets. Said she: “My friends are here. So are my happy memories. Why should I move?

— Townsville Daily Bulletin 17 August 1946

REMAND ON MURDER CHARGE SYDNEY, Tuesday.
Sidney Grant and Keith George Hope, charged with the murder of Detective V. D. Ahearn at Matraville on August 11, were remanded until September 10 at the Central Court to-day. Grant said that a writ of habeas corpus had been served on the police to enable his wife to give evidence on a theft charge against him. Grant also faces nine charges of breaking, entering and stealing and two of possessing firearms while being a person previously convicted. Bail was refused both men.
— The Canberra Times 28 August 1946

REMAND ON MURDER CHARGE
SYDNEY, Tuesday.

Sidney Grant and Keith George Hope, charged with the murder of Detective V. D. Ahearn at Matraville on August 11, were remanded until September 10 at the Central Court to-day. Grant said that a writ of habeas corpus had been served on the police to enable his wife to give evidence on a theft charge against him. Grant also faces nine charges of breaking, entering and stealing and two of possessing firearms while being a person previously convicted. Bail was refused both men.

— The Canberra Times 28 August 1946

The Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 11 September 1946 page 4 of 36

DETECTIVE TELLS OF CAR SHOOTING

Sidney Grant who has been charged with the murder of Det.-Constable Victor Donald Ahearn, drove through the police cordon in a taxi a few minutes after Ahearn had been shot on August 11.

A witness said this at the inquest into the detective’s death at the City Coroner’s Court yesterday.

Present in court were Sidney Grant and Keith Hope, who have been charged with the murder of Ahearn. They were handcuffed together and escorted by police.

Mr. Peter Pelligrini, taxi proprietor, of Nagle Avenue, Maroubra, said that Grant had hailed his cab at Matraville about 3.30 p.m. on August 11 and had asked him to drive to King’s Cross.

Pelligrini said that while driving along Military Parade he had remarked on the presence of a large number of police.

Later he saw a patrol car and a police truck full of police coming along the road followed by an ambulance. He said that Grant then said, ‘There must have been an accident.”

“Blood On Grant”

Pelligrini said there was blood on Grant’s shirt and sleeve and the shoulder of his coat was slightly torn. He had a wound behind his ear.

He drove Grant to Cathedral Street, King’s Cross, where Grant got out and paid him. He said he thought Grant had been involved in an accident.

Mr. A. J. Forestal, proprietor of the Alloa Private Hotel, North Sydney, said Grant and Hope had booked accommodation about 2 a.m. on August 11. They said they had come from Melbourne and expected to stay a week. They paid seven days’ rent in advance. He said they had a small cream car.

About midday on August 11, Grant and Hope told Forestal they wanted to go to Mosman. He gave them a street directory.

Hope came back later for a short while and went away with a suitcase. About 4.30 p.m. Grant returned to the hotel with a little blood on his shirt collar, coat, and trousers, and with cuts on his fingers and head.

He told Forestal he had been in a car smash. He said that when driving his car down Military Road he had hit a pole. He said that police were there and he had reported the accident to the North Sydney police station. He discussed the accident with Forestal for about an hour.

Mrs. Esme Olive Lawson, wardress at the Women’s Reformatory, Long Bay, said that Grant and Hope came to visit Edna Grant about 2 p.m. on August 11.

When they left, she saw them being escorted to a police car by two detectives.

Constable Alexander Leslie Bowie, stationed at Mosman, said that he and Detective-Constable Ahearn arrested Grant and Hope outside Long Bay Gaol about 2.30 p.m. on August 11. There was a small cream car with Victorian registration plates outside the gates.

Hope, Grant and Ahearn got into the back seat of the police car with Ahearn in the centre. He and Ahearn had lightly gone over Hope’s and Grant’s clothing for small-arms. Just as he was driving away, Grant asked for his overcoat.

Bowie said he went over to the small cream car and found two overcoats, two scarves, a jemmy, torch, leather gloves, and a bunch of keys.

After searching the coats, he threw them on the back seat of the cream car.

He then drove away from the gaol. While going along Anzac Parade he heard some mention of “tailor-made” cigarettes, and this was followed immediately by the sound of a shot.

“I thought it was a blow-out until I heard Ahearn say: ‘He’s got me,’ ” Bowie said.

“Then I heard the sounds of another two shots. I applied the brakes and swung the car to the side of the road. I turned to the back seat and saw Hope getting out the door, and Grant with an automatic pistol in his hand pointing it at me.

“Detective Ahearn was trying to swing himself over in Grant’s direction. I struggled with Grant and tried to take the gun from him. I saw the gun was jammed, and when I took it from him I hit him on the forehead with the butt.

Kicked In Face

“Grant then said that he had had enough, and I told him to stay still until I handcuffed him. Grant leaned back and kicked me in the face, but I continued to struggle with him, hanging on to his trouser belt. Grant broke my grip, ran down Anzac Parade, and turned into the bush towards Matraville.”

Bowie said he then took Ahearn out of the car and laid him on the side of the road. He was unconscious.

Under cross-examination by Mr. Carruthers ( for Hope ), Bowie said that Hope had made no effort to attack him, and had been quite submissive outside the gaol when being arrested.

Dr. Stratford Sheldon, Government medical officer, said that when he examined Ahearn‘s body there were what he thought to be powder stains on his hands.

One bullet had entered the body near the right wrist and had run along to the elbow joint. A second wound was found on the left side of the chest, and a bullet track through the right ventricle of the heart and the abdomen, ending in the left loin. This was the bullet that had killed Ahearn.

There was a third bullet track through the spine. The bullet was recovered from just above the right hip.

Mr. A. Brindley appeared for Grant, Mr. J. E. Carruthers for Hope, and Sergeant Forde assisted the coroner.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17994334#pstart996502

CORONER TOLD OF SHOOTING OF DETECTIVE SYDNEY, Tuesday.
Evidence of the shooting of Detective Ahearn in a police car at Matraville on August 11, was given at the Coroner’s Court to-day by Constable Bowie, who was driving the car. Sydney Grant and Keith George Hope were present in custody, charged with murder. Constable Bowie told how he and Ahearn were driving in a police car, in which the accused were also sitting. Previously they had met the accused at the women’s reformatory and told them they were wanted for a “couple of jobs at North Sydney.” They ran their hands over the accused’s clothes, after which the men got in the car with Ahearn between them. After proceeding about a mile and a half, something was said about cigarettes and this was followed immediately by a shot. He heard Ahearn say he had been shot. Almost immediately there were two more shots. Witness stopped the car and saw Hope get out. Grant had a pistol pointed at witness but the pistol jammed. He took the gun from Grant who punched him about the head, but witness grabbed the gun and hit Grant with the butt. The latter replied he had had enough and, referring to Ahearn, said, “Will the poor ———— die?” Grant then leaned back in the seat and kicked witness about the face. The inquiry was adjourned until next Tuesday.
— The Canberra Times 11 September 1946

CORONER TOLD OF SHOOTING OF DETECTIVE
SYDNEY, Tuesday.

Evidence of the shooting of Detective Ahearn in a police car at Matraville on August 11, was given at the Coroner’s Court to-day by Constable Bowie, who was driving the car. Sydney Grant and Keith George Hope were present in custody, charged with murder. Constable Bowie told how he and Ahearn were driving in a police car, in which the accused were also sitting. Previously they had met the accused at the women’s reformatory and told them they were wanted for a “couple of jobs at North Sydney.” They ran their hands over the accused’s clothes, after which the men got in the car with Ahearn between them. After proceeding about a mile and a half, something was said about cigarettes and this was followed immediately by a shot. He heard Ahearn say he had been shot. Almost immediately there were two more shots. Witness stopped the car and saw Hope get out. Grant had a pistol pointed at witness but the pistol jammed. He took the gun from Grant who punched him about the head, but witness grabbed the gun and hit Grant with the butt. The latter replied he had had enough and, referring to Ahearn, said, “Will the poor ———— die?” Grant then leaned back in the seat and kicked witness about the face. The inquiry was adjourned until next Tuesday.

— The Canberra Times 11 September 1946

“DETECTIVE GOT IN WAY, SO I LET HIM HAVE IT” Alleged Admission by Accused SYDNEY, Tuesday
At the resumed inquest to-day into the death of Detective Ahearn, the police produced two letters, alleged to have been written by Sidney Grant, one of the accused, to his wife who was an inmate of Long Bay Gaol. An extract from one letter read: “He got in my way, so I let him have it. As for the other fellow, well, he’s lucky he’s not there calling for the angels too. Only for my rod jamming he would have been.”The second letter said in part: “Ahearn got the works for standing in my way and yours.” and also stated: “I got the word through that everything is working as planned by the boys in Melbourne and as soon as they take that escort off, well, it’s on and I’ll be free again.” Telling the court that the letters had been forwarded to the C.I.B., but he could not say by whom, Detective-Constable H. J. Hughes said that Grant had admitted writing the letters but had claimed he did not mean what was in them.The police also tendered to the Court a statement allegedly made by Grant in which it was claimed that the shooting of Detective Ahearn was accidental. According to the statement Grant was getting cigarettes from his pocket when Ahearn saw that he had a gun and tried to grab it. “It accidentally went off the first time and realising what I had done I just went on with it by shooting him again,” the alleged statement added.Also tendered was a statement allegedly made by Keith George Hope, the statement read in part: “I did not want to give myself up until after Grant was caught, as I was frightened at what he might do to me, because after he shot the detective in cold blood he would shoot me without compunction.”
— The Canberra Times 18 September 1946

“DETECTIVE GOT IN WAY, SO I LET HIM HAVE IT”
Alleged Admission by Accused
SYDNEY, Tuesday

At the resumed inquest to-day into the death of Detective Ahearn, the police produced two letters, alleged to have been written by Sidney Grant, one of the accused, to his wife who was an inmate of Long Bay Gaol. An extract from one letter read: “He got in my way, so I let him have it. As for the other fellow, well, he’s lucky he’s not there calling for the angels too. Only for my rod jamming he would have been.”The second letter said in part: “Ahearn got the works for standing in my way and yours.” and also stated: “I got the word through that everything is working as planned by the boys in Melbourne and as soon as they take that escort off, well, it’s on and I’ll be free again.” Telling the court that the letters had been forwarded to the C.I.B., but he could not say by whom, Detective-Constable H. J. Hughes said that Grant had admitted writing the letters but had claimed he did not mean what was in them.The police also tendered to the Court a statement allegedly made by Grant in which it was claimed that the shooting of Detective Ahearn was accidental. According to the statement Grant was getting cigarettes from his pocket when Ahearn saw that he had a gun and tried to grab it. “It accidentally went off the first time and realising what I had done I just went on with it by shooting him again,” the alleged statement added.Also tendered was a statement allegedly made by Keith George Hope, the statement read in part: “I did not want to give myself up until after Grant was caught, as I was frightened at what he might do to me, because after he shot the detective in cold blood he would shoot me without compunction.”

— The Canberra Times 18 September 1946

DEFENCE CLAIMS SHOOTING WAS ACCIDENTAL
SYDNEY, Tuesday.
A demonstration to support his claim that the shooting was accidental was given in the Criminal Court to-day by Sidney Grant. Grant and Keith George Hope are jointly charged with the murder of Detective Victor Ahearn, at Matraville, on August 11, and both pleaded not guilty. Grant denied that he was a cold-blooded killer and claimed he had had an opportunity to seize Detective Bowie’s pistol and also shoot him, but had refrained from doing so. With the assistance of a constable, two chairs and a pistol, Grant demonstrated to the jury how the pistol had been removed from his hip pocket. Grant said that when he had withdrawn the pistol, Detective Ahearn saw it and grabbed at it. The safety catch was on when he put it in his pocket and the pressure of Ahearn’s hand must have set it off. “After the first shot was fired I wanted to let the gun go and escape but I feared that if I left the gun in Ahearn’s hand he might shoot me”. I tried to take the gun from his hand and, in doing so, I shot him again.” Grant claimed he handed the gun to Bowie who pointed it at his (Grant‘s) head and he heard three distinct clicks. He did not know the pistol was loaded until it went off. Hope declared on oath that he had taken no part in the shooting. He had not given himself up until Grant was caught as he thought that Grant might shoot him, seeing he was the only witness to the crime. The trial will be resumed to-morrow.
— The Canberra Times 4 December 1946

Detective Shot Accidentally, Accused Claims Sydney Grant, 28, labourer, claimed in the Central Criminal Court yesterday that Detective Constable Victor Donald Ahearn was shot accidentally at Matraville on August 11.
Grant and Keith George Hope, 23, farm labourer, were charged with having murdered Ahearn in a police car travelling from Long Bay Gaol to North Sydney. Grant said in evidence yesterday that Ahearn had been shot accidentally while struggling in the car for a gun which he (Grant) was trying to dispose of. Grant said he came to Sydney from Melbourne in a stolen car on August 11. He was accompanied by Hope. He found an automatic pistol in the glove box of the car. In the afternoon, he and Hope went to Long Bay Gaol to see his wife. When he went into the gaol, he put the pistol in his hip pocket. As they left the gaol, they were approached by Constables Ahearn and Bowie, who asked them to accompany them to the North Sydney police station for questioning.
“JAMMED IN POCKET”
Ahearn sat in the middle of the back seat, and Constable Bowie sat at the wheel. He asked Ahearn if he could smoke and he agreed. While trying to pull the revolver out of his pocket it became jammed. Ahearn looked down and saw the weapon. Ahearn grabbed his hand, and tried to pull it forward, causing the pistol to explode. “I realised then what had happened, and thought of escaping,” said Grant. “I thought I would take the gun because Ahearn might shoot me. His body slumped over my shoulder, but he continued to struggle for the gun. I now know he had a death grip on the gun, and it again exploded. The recoil of the gun again caused it to fire.”
COURT DEMONSTRATION
Grant, with a police officer sitting on a chair, demonstrated on the floor of the Court to the jury the movements of the struggle in the car. “After the third shot, I handed the revolver to Constable Bowie,” Grant added. Constable Bowie said, ‘You have killed my mate in cold blood.’ I replied ‘It was an accident. I had no reason for shooting him.’ Hope tried to leave the car after the first shot. Bowie pointed the revolver at me and tried to shoot me, but the pistol had jammed. I punched and kicked Bowie in the face. I felt justified in doing this, because he had just tried to take my life. I eventually worked my way to the offside [ right ] door of the car. I was in a position to see Bowie’s service pistol in a holster. If I had been what the police and public believed me to be-a coldblooded killed-I could have taken his pistol and killed him in cold blood, but I did not, because I am not a killer.”Grant said he got out of the car and picked up a taxi. Hope, he added, did not know he had the pistol in his possession when they went into the gaol. He denied that he had told Hope previously that he would use it if he got into a jam. Keith George Hope, in evidence, said he first knew Grant had a pistol when he went with him to the gaol. He asked him whether it was loaded, and Grant replied that it was, and that he wanted to do a few hold-ups to get his wife out of gaol.Mr. Kinkead ( for Hope ): At any time was there an arrangement to prevent yourselves from being arrested? Hope: No. Hope added that he thought Grant might shoot him as the only witness to his crime. He made up his mind to surrender to the police as soon as Grant was arrested.Sergeant Brown, ballistics expert, recalled, said that if the first shot had been fired as indicated by Grant, with the hands in the position shown by him, the pistol would have jammed after the first shot, because the hands on the pistol would have interfered with the movement of the slide and the ejection of the fired shell.The trial will resume this morning. Mr. T. S. Crawford, K. C. ( by Mr. F. Cleland ) for the Crown; Mr. Kincaid (by Messrs. J. E. Carruthers and Co., for Hope; and Mr. A. G. Brindley for Grant.
— The Sydney Morning Herald 11 December 1946

GRANT SENTENCED TO DEATH SYDNEY, Wednesday.
Sidney Grant, who was found guilty by a jury in the Criminal Court to day of murdering Detective Ahearn on August 11, was sentenced to death. Keith George Hope, who was presented on the same charge was found not guilty but he is being held on other charges.
— The Canberra Times 12 December 1946

£1,295 FOR SON OF DETECTIVE
Civilians and police have contributed £1,294/16/8 to the fund for the education and future welfare of Max Ahearn, 11, son of Detective V. D. Ahearn, who was shot dead while arresting two men at Matraville recently. Detective Sergeant H. Miller, who is secretary of the fund said yesterday that the money would be invested in Commonwealth stock. The Masonic schools would take care of Max’s education until he was ready to continue his education at the University. The fund would be used for this higher education.
— The Sydney Morning Herald 25 March 1947

£1,295 FOR SON OF DETECTIVE

Civilians and police have contributed £1,294/16/8 to the fund for the education and future welfare of Max Ahearn, 11, son of Detective V. D. Ahearn, who was shot dead while arresting two men at Matraville recently.
Detective Sergeant H. Miller, who is secretary of the fund said yesterday that the money would be invested in Commonwealth stock. The Masonic schools would take care of Max’s education until he was ready to continue his education at the University. The fund would be used for this higher education.

— The Sydney Morning Herald 25 March 1947

LIFE IMPRISONMENT
SYDNEY, Tuesday—State Cabinet to-day commuted the death sentence imposed on Sidney Grant, 28, for the shooting of Detective Ahearn at Matraville on August 11, to life imprisonment.
— The Canberra Times 11 June 1947

£1,428 GIVEN FOR SON OF DETECTIVE
Public subscriptions to the fund for the education of Max Ahearn, 11, son of Detective Don Ahearn, of North Sydney who was shot dead in a car at Matraville last September, total £1,428. Detective-Sergeant H. Miller, of Petersham, who acted as chairman of the appeal has announced that the fund is closed. “One thousand pounds has been placed in Commonwealth war loans and £250 in war savings certificates,” he said. Max Ahearn will enter a High school soon.
— The Sydney Morning Herald 10 July 1947

£1,428 GIVEN FOR SON OF DETECTIVE

Public subscriptions to the fund for the education of Max Ahearn, 11, son of Detective Don Ahearn, of North Sydney who was shot dead in a car at Matraville last September, total £1,428. Detective-Sergeant H. Miller, of Petersham, who acted as chairman of the appeal has announced that the fund is closed. “One thousand pounds has been placed in Commonwealth war loans and £250 in war savings certificates,” he said. Max Ahearn will enter a High school soon.

— The Sydney Morning Herald 10 July 1947

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~aherns/ahvda.htm

Eric George BAILEY GC

| 26/10/2012

Eric George BAILEY GC

Arrested his own Murderer

Father to John ‘Jack’ George BAILEY – NSWPF # 6293

Grandfather to Stephen Colin MARTIN, NSWPF # 24821

New South Wales Police Force

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class # ???

( Class # 001 was in March 1947 – so Eric pre dates that. )

Regd. # 2382

Rank: Commenced Training on ? ? ?

Probationary Constable – appointed Wednesday 16 March 1927

Constable 1st Class – appointed 23 April 1938

Constable 1st Class – posthumously promoted to Sergeant 3rd Class

Stations: No. 4 Division from 14 June 1927,

The Rocks in 1928, then Gundagai, Narrandera & other rural stations.

Moruya 1938 then Blayney from 4 January 1945

Service: From 16 March 1927 to 12 January 1945 = 18 years Service

Awards: * George Cross ( GC ) awarded, Granted 20 October 1946 – posthumously

also the George Lewis Trophy.

Bravery Commendation re arrest at Batemans Bay in 1940.

Highly Commended and awarded six months seniority for Conspicuous Bravery for the rescue of survivors, at sea, off Moruya on the 3 August 1942, after a fishing trawler had been attacked by a Japanese submarine. Also received a Certificate of Merit from Royal Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society of NSW.

Born: Sunday 14 October 1906 at Tenterfield

Died: Friday 12 January 1945

Age: 38 years, 2 months, 29 days old

Cause: Shot – Murdered

Event location: Outside of Exchange Hotel, Adelaide St, Blayney

Funeral date: Monday 15 January 1945

Funeral location: Buried in Rookwood Cemetery

Grave location: Anglican Section, Rookwood Cemetery. Zone C, Section 08, Grave 1959

GPS: -33.87119050511541, 151.05958014008522

Grave:

Eric George BAILEY and his son - John — Eric George BAILEY and his son – John “Jack” BAILEY ( NSWPF # 6293 )

ERIC IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

Eric George BAILEY GC. Touch plate at National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra — Touch plate at National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra

Memorial location: Below plaque is located at the location of the murder.

On 4 January 1945, Constable 1st Class Bailey commenced duty at Blayney Police Station. On his 8th day at that station, he was dead.

On a hot summer evening, eight days later, while on duty in Adelaide Street, he was informed that a drinker at the Exchange Hotel was displaying a revolver.

Shortly after 8pm on 12 January 1945, Constable 1st Class Bailey spoke to a man, Cyril Norman, who was dressed in an American Naval Uniform outside the Exchange Hotel, Blayney. The constable told the man that he intended to search him and his belongings regarding his alleged possession of a revolver. The man suddenly produced the revolver and shot Constable Bailey in the stomach. The constable then took hold of the offender and during the ensuing struggle two more shots were fired and the offender was wounded in the wrist. Three railway employees quickly came to the constable’s aid and the offender was handcuffed and detained until the arrival of Constable Grady. Bailey told Grady: ” He shot me through the back. Don’t let him get away …I had a go. I didn’t squib it “.

The wound suffered by Constable Bailey proved to be severe and he died on admission to the Orange Base Hospital with his wife by his side. He had in fact arrested his own murderer.

Allegations were later made suggesting that the offender was a contract killer sent to murder another local policeman, Constable Stan Grady, who had been enthusiastically investigating sly grog sellers and SP bookies in the area. The offender was said to have inadvertently shot Constable Bailey, whom he mistook for Grady, who was off duty at the time. When shot, Constable Bailey was in mounted police uniform, and until that day Stan Grady had been the only mounted constable in Blayney, thus the offender’s error. The offender, well-known Sydney criminal Cyril Norman – alias Thomas Couldrey – was convicted and sentenced to death.

Norman was charged with the murder of Bailey and that of Maurice Hannigan, a Sydney shopkeeper from whom he had stolen guns and ammunition. Although he was convicted, the death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

Bailey was posthumously awarded the George Cross, instituted in 1940 by King George VI and intended primarily for civilians, which recognized ‘acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger’.

The first Australian policeman to be so honoured, he was also posthumously promoted sergeant 3rd class and awarded the George Lewis trophy in 1945 for the most courageous act by a policeman.

Bailey was accorded an official police funeral in Sydney and was buried in the Anglican section of Rookwood cemetery. His daughter and son John, who was to join the New South Wales police at the age of 16, also survived him.

( John ‘Jack’ George BAILEY, NSW Police Cadet # 0613, Regd. # 6293 )

28 May 2020

Maz Herrmann His son John “Jack” Bailey an ex cadet was our boss at Albury during the 80s and the day he retired I spoke to him that evening and said “Jack what are you fkn doing at work; today is your last day”? He said “I’m just tidying up some things before I go.

I knew Jack when he was a Snr Sgt at Wollongong and I was the Inspectors Clerk in 1977-1980.

I joined the cops the following year 1981 – then I had to call him Sir!

He was definitely an old school copper – enough said.

May he R.I.P.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1087842541279097/

The Sydney Morning Herald of 11 September, 1947

announced the presentation of Sergeant Bailey’s George Cross by Sir William McKell.

GEORGE CROSS AWARD – INVESTITURE BY MR. McKELL.

Mrs. F. M. Bailey, of Cleveland Street, Moore Park, widow of Police Sgt. Eric G. Bailey, yesterday received the George Cross awarded to her husband for holding a man who had fatally wounded him until assistance arrived, at Blayney in January, 1945. The decoration was made at an investiture held by the Governor General, Mr. McKell, at Government House.

Sergeant Bailey was born in 1906 and joined the New South Wales Police Force in 1927. At the time of his death he was stationed at Blayney. He was posthumously promoted to Sergeant 3rd Class ( Although his grave states Sgt 2/c ) and awarded the George Cross and the George Lewis Trophy.

* Eric BAILEY is the ONLY Australian Police Officer to be awarded the Imperial Honour, namely the George Cross Medal.

Bailey, Eric George (1906–1945)

by Christa Ludlow

This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, (MUP), 1993

Eric George Bailey (1906-1945), policeman, was born on 14 October 1906 at Tenterfield, New South Wales, ninth child of Arthur Peter Bailey, compositor, and his wife Jane, née Bush, both native-born. Eric worked as a postal assistant before joining the New South Wales Police Force on 16 March 1927. After training, he was transferred to Sydney’s No.4 Division on 14 June, and sent to The Rock in 1928; he then served at Gundagai, Narrandera and other rural stations. Bailey was confirmed an ordinary constable on 16 March 1928. He married Florence May O’Connor at Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Waterloo, on 24 November that year.

Promoted constable 1st class on 23 April 1938, Bailey was next stationed at Moruya on the south coast. In 1940 he arrested a criminal at Batemans Bay and was commended for bravery, cool-headedness and devotion to duty. Learning that a fishing trawler had been attacked by a Japanese submarine off Moruya on 3 August 1942, he and Sergeant Horace Miller set out at night in a pleasure launch in heavy seas to assist with the rescue of the survivors. Bailey was highly commended and awarded six months seniority for conspicuous bravery; he also received a certificate of merit from the Royal Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society of New South Wales.

On 4 January 1945 Bailey was transferred to Blayney, south-west of Bathurst. On a hot summer evening eight days later, while on duty in Adelaide Street, he was informed that a drinker at the Exchange Hotel was displaying a revolver. When Bailey questioned the offender, Cyril Norman, and declared that he would search his room, Norman drew a revolver and shot him. In the ensuing struggle two more shots were fired, but Bailey managed to handcuff Norman and restrain him until Constable Grady arrived. Bailey told Grady: ‘He shot me through the back. Don’t let him get away . . . I had a go. I didn’t squib it’. Fatally wounded by the first shot, Bailey died hours later on 12 January 1945 in Orange Base Hospital, his wife at his side.

Norman was charged with the murder and that of Maurice Hannigan, a Sydney shopkeeper from whom he had stolen guns and ammunition. Although he was convicted, the death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

Bailey was posthumously awarded the George Cross, instituted in 1940 by King George VI and intended primarily for civilians, which recognized ‘acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger’. The first Australian policeman to be so honoured, he was also posthumously promoted sergeant 3rd class and awarded the George Lewis trophy in 1945 for the most courageous act by a policeman. Bailey was accorded an official police funeral in Sydney and was buried in the Anglican section of Rookwood cemetery. His daughter and son John, who was to join the New South Wales police at the age of 16, also survived him.

Select Bibliography

I. Bisset, The George Cross (Lond, 1961)
L. Wigmore (ed), They Dared Mightily (Canb, 1963)
Police News (Sydney), Feb 1945, p 7, Sept 1945, p 9, Oct 1947, p 44
Sydney Morning Herald, 14, 20 Jan, 8, 22 Feb, 5 Aug 1945, 30 Oct 1946, 11 Sept 1947
Sun (Sydney), 17 Jan 1979
service records of E. G. Bailey (police registry, New South Wales Police Dept, Sydney).

Citation details

Christa Ludlow, ‘Bailey, Eric George (1906–1945)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bailey-eric-george-9403/text16527, published first in hardcopy 1993, accessed online 6 January 2015.

Life Summary [details]

Occupation

Workplaces

Police Force (NSW)

This article was first published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, (MUP), 1993

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bailey-eric-george-9403

John Lindsay MARSH

| 26/10/2012

John Lindsay MARSH

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # ?

Rank: Constable 1st Class

Stations: ?, Glenn Innes ( 5 – 6 years ), Gloucester ( 10 months ) – death

Service: From 8 January 1930 to 9 November 1943 = 13+ years Service

Awards: ?

Born: ? ? 1909

Died on: Monday 9 November 1942 about 2pm

Event location: southern end of Church St, Gloucester

Death location: at MVA scene

Cause: Motor Vehicle Accident, Police bike & sidecar – Rider

Age: 33

Funeral date: Wednesday 11 November 1942 @ 2pm

Funeral location: St James Church of England, Maclean

Buried : Maclean General (Anglican).

Cameron Street, Maclean.

Anglican, Section C, Row CC, Lot 13

GPS: -29.466111, 153.201944

Memorial at:

Touch plate at National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra

John Lindsay MARSH Maclean General (Anglican). Cameron Street, Maclean. GPS 29 27' 58S / 153 123' 07E — John Lindsay MARSH
Maclean General (Anglican). Cameron Street, Maclean.

[alert_green]JOHN is included in the NSW Police Honour Roll.[/alert_green]

On 9 November, 1942 Constable Marsh was riding a police motor cycle outfit in Church Street, Gloucester. The cycle collided with a post, overturned and threw the constable to the roadway. As a result Constable Marsh suffered a fractured skull and despite being taken to hospital, died the same day.

The constable was born in 1909 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 8 January, 1930. At the time of his death he was stationed at Gloucester.

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The Dungog Chronicle Friday, 13 November, 1942 page 3 of 4

“SHOCKING ACCIDENT. CONSTABLE MARSH KILLED.

A distressing fatality occurred in the southern end of Church Street, Gloucester, on Monday afternoon, when Constable John Lindsay Marsh was thrown from his motor cycle and received severe head injuries from which he died within a few minutes. The occurrence happened about 2 p.m., just at a small culvert almost in front of the home of Mrs. J. West, Sen. The constable left town and was on his way to Ward’s River on official duty. A few minutes before he was at the motor garage of Mr. A. Grahame and in excellent spirits. Mr. Jack West, who saw the happening from his home, said Mr. Marsh seemed to be doing something to the gears of the cycle. It suddenly veered to the left-hand side of the road way and the wheel of the sidecar struck the guide post of the culvert. The rider was thrown into the air and in falling his head appeared to come in contact with the hard road. The machine overturned, also, and skidded partly under the injured man. Constable Marsh was unconscious when help arrived, within a short space of time, but passed away without regaining consciousness, some fifteen or twenty minutes later. In addition to his parents, widow and son, the deceased is survived by four sisters: Mrs. Boon and Mrs. Moses, of Kogarah; Mrs. William S. Friar, 19 Boyce Street, Taree; and Mrs. Farlow, of Maclean.”

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NSWBDM

Born – 5214/1909 Father = Walter Mother = Barbara A MacLean District

Married 1932 to Sheila Daphne MARSH nee THOMAS in Narrabri, NSW – born 1912

Death – 26323/1942 Father = Walter Mother = Barbara Ann

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Daily Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1915 – 1954), Wednesday 11 November 1942, page 2

CONSTABLE KILLED

Lower River Native To Be Given Police Funeral AT MACLEAN TO-DAY.

First-class Constable John Lindsay Marsh, who was killed while on duty at Gloucester on Monday afternoon, will be accorded a police funeral at Maclean this afternoon.

This will be the first police funeral held in the Grafton district for many years. Fifteen police in charge of Inspector B. H. Baxter, of Grafton, will attend the funeral.

Constable Marsh, who was a native of the Lower Clarence, had been stationed at Gloucester for nearly a year. On Monday afternoon he was riding a motor cycle along the main road on the outskirts of the town when the machine skidded on some rough road and crashed into a post, throwing Constable Marsh heavily to the ground. He received severe head injuries from which he died about half an hour later before he could be removed to hospital.

The body was taken to Taree and put on the train for Grafton. It was taken from Grafton to Maclean yesterday afternoon for the funeral at Maclean at 2 o’clock this afternoon.

Constable Marsh, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Marsh, of Palmer’s Island, are well-known residents of the Lower River, was born at Maclean 33 years ago, and joined the New South Wales police force about 13 years ago. He was stationed al places in the north-west of the State and at Glen Innes, and went to Gloucester about a year ago. During the time that he was stationed at Gloucester he proved a most efficient officer and won the esteem and affection of a very large circle of friends, who were deeply grieved to learn of his tragic death.

As Constable Marsh had been killed on duty it has been decided that he be given a police funeral, and Inspector Baxter, whose district the funeral will take place, has been instructed to arrange for this. Police from Grafton, South Grafton, Ulmarra. Maclean. Brushgrove, Lawrence; and Harwood Island, will be in Maclean for the funeral this afternoon. They will march ahead of the hearse, and at the cemetery will form a guard of honor. Some of them will also act as pall-bearers.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article194064086.txt

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Gloucester Advocate (NSW : 1905 – 1954), Tuesday 10 November 1942, page 2

Shocking Accident,

CONSTABLE MARSH KILLED.

A distressing fatality occurred in the southern end of Church Street, Gloucester yesterday afternoon, when Constable John Lindsay Marsh was thrown from his motor cycle and received severe head injuries from which he died within a few minutes.

The occurrence happened about 2 p.m., just at a small culvert almost in front of the home of Mrs. J. West, Sen. The Constable left town and was on his way to Ward’s River on official duty. A few minutes before he was at the motor garage of Mr. A. Grahame and in excellent spirits.

Mr. Jack West, who saw the happening from his home, said Mr. Marsh seemed to be doing something to the gears of the cycle. It suddenly veered to the left-hand side of the road and the wheel of the side-car struck the guide post of the culvert. The rider was thrown into the air and in falling his head appeared to come in contact with the hard road. The machine overturned, also, and skidded partly under the injured man.

Constable Marsh was unconscious when help arrived, within a short space of time, but passed away with out regaining consciousness some fifteen or twenty minutes later. The Ambulance, from Taree, was sent for immediately after the happening and on its arrival the body was conveyed from Mrs. West’s residence to Howard’s funeral parlour.

An inquest into the cause of the accident and death will be held.

Constable Marsh had been stationed in Gloucester for the past eleven months. He succeeded Constable Jack Casey when this officer was transferred to Glen Innes. He was an extremely likeable officer and had gained the goodwill of all sections of the community. He was of a happy disposition and displayed same in the course of his duty, and in the spending of his leisure hours.- To us he seemed the type that might genuinely be termed a good sport, and gave evidence of the trait in a man’s make-up that makes for this quality on a number of occasions, both in and out of Court.

During the past few months, whenever Constable Marsh had an hour or two away from the more serious duties of his job, he spent same in the garden and grounds at the Police Station. The trim and well-kept appearance there tell more plainly than words of his gardening ability and the. pride and pleasure shown in’ its doing.

Genuine regret will be general at this popular officer’s sad and sudden passing.

Mr. W. T. Howard . took the body to Taree by, hearse, last evening to be conveyed, later to Maclean, where Constable Marsh’s parents live.

Deceased will be accorded a Police funeral.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article160198670.txt

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Henry Stanley LEES

| 26/10/2012

Constable Henry Stanley LEES

New South Wales Police Force

Horse Accident

Jerry’s Plains

22 August, 1941

In 1941 Constable Lees was the Officer-in-Charge of Jerry’s Plains Police Station. On the day of his death he was patrolling the district on horseback, calling in at local properties. Later in the day the constable’s riderless horse was found by a farmer near Hobden’s Hill. He searched the area and eventually located the body of the constable lying in a roadside ditch beside the Jerry’s Plains, Singleton Road. It appeared that the roadway had collapsed underneath Constable Lees’ horse, causing the animal to stumble and fall into the ditch, crushing the rider.

The constable was born in 1914 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 11 January, 1937. At the time of his death he was stationed at Jerry’s Plains.

John Edward DUNN

| 26/10/2012

John Edward DUNN

New South Wales Police Force

Shot – Murdered

Detective Constable 1st Class

35 years

Wollongong

25 April, 1940

On 25 April, 1940 Sergeant Hall attended a dwelling in Ocean Street, Wollongong where an offender named Hinsby had beaten his wife to death.

After he was confronted and threatened by the offender, who had now taken siege in the house, he called for reinforcements.

Among those to attend were Detectives John Dunn and R.A. Debney.

While negotiations were taking place with the offender, a piece of paper was thrown from a window, and, assuming that it was a note from the offender, Detective Debney crept up to the window to retrieve the paper. As he did so, a shot was fired from inside the house, through the window. The shot struck Detective Dunn, who was waiting nearby and watching Detective Debney. The bullet hit Detective Dunn in the forehead and he was killed instantly.

Tear gas was then used in an effort to flush the offender out, however it was soon found that Hinsby had committed suicide.

The Advocate newspaper of 22 May, 1940 reported briefly on the inquest into the matter.

RISKED LIFE ONLY TO SEE COMRADE SHOT

SYDNEY, Tuesday – “You two are married, I’m single. I’ll go and get it.” Saying this to two other detectives, Detective Debney went to a window of a house in which an armed murderer was holding the police at bay at Wollongong on April 25 to receive a paper which had fallen from the window.

When he reached the window a shot was fired and Detective Dunn, one of the detectives who had remained behind, fell fatally wounded.

This story was told at the inquest to-day into the death of Detective John Edward Dunn (35), George Hinsby (55), and his wife, Amelia Devine Hinsby (45).

The Coroner found that Hinsby murdered his wife and Detective Dunn and committed suicide while temporarily insane.

It was stated in evidence that since an accident 15 years ago Hinsby had been subject to ungovernable fits of rage.”

The detective constable was born in Victoria in 1904 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 27 March, 1929.

At the time of his death he was stationed at Wollongong.

John was, reportedly, married to Lawna DUNN nee COOK.

Evan Clyde WILLIAMS