Douglas Ronald EATON
Douglas Ronald EATON QPM
Father of Serving NSWPF Member Sergeant Michael EATON # ?????
Late of ?
New South Wales Police Force
NSW Police Academy Redfern Class # 100
Regd. # 11167
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 17 August 1964
Constable – appointed 17 August 1965
Senior Constable – Death
Stations: ?, North East District ( 1965 ), Toronto – Death
Service: From ? ? Pre August 1964 to 30 April 1977 = 12+ years Service
Awards: posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal ( Imperial ), on 25 August 1978 Gallantry – NSW Police – Apprehend an armed man ( SenCon ),
posthumously awarded the George Lewis Memorial Trophy
posthumously awarded the Peter Mitchell Award
Queens Police Medal ( QPM ) – granted ? ? ?
Born: Saturday 23 November 1940
Died on: Saturday 30 April 1977
Age: 36 years, 5 months, 7 days
Cause: Shot – Murdered – On Duty
Event location: Toronto Country club, Kilaben Bay
Event date: Saturday 30 April 1977
In Company of: Senior Constable Edwin Jackson GILL # 11512 who was the victim of an Attempt Murder in this same Event
Funeral date: Sunday 3 May 1977
Funeral location: Beresfield Crematorium, Beresfield
Buried at: Cremated
Memorial located at: Toronto Police Station, 139 Cary St, Toronto, NSW
DOUG is mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal
May they forever Rest In Peace
On the night of 30 April, 1977, Senior Constable Douglas Ronald Eaton # 11167 and Senior Constable Edward Gill # 11512 ( Edwin Jackson GILL ) attended a “silent” intruder alarm at the Toronto Country Club, Kilaben Bay. While they were making an external check of the premises both police officers were shot by offenders who had broken into the club. Senior Constable Eaton was killed instantly and Senior Constable Gill was seriously wounded. Members of the Glesic family were later arrested and imprisoned and a large cache of weapons and explosives recovered.
The constable was born in 1940 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 17 August, 1964. At the time of his death he was stationed at Toronto. He was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, the George Lewis Memorial Trophy and the Peter Mitchell Award.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Thursday 5 May 1977, page 15
Crash kills two policemen
SYDNEY: Two policemen were fatally injured on Tuesday night in a car crash near Newcastle while returning from the funeral of a colleague who was shot dead on Saturday.
Police said a car carrying five’ policemen from Cessnock, overturned after apparently failing to negotiate a bend near Kurri Kurri.
Those killed were Senior-Constable Raymond Scorer, 31, of Aberdare, and Senior-Constable Alan Thompson, 30, of Cessnock. Each was married, with two children.
They had attended the funeral of Senior-Constable Doug Eaton, who was shot dead at a golf club at the weekend.
The three other policemen are in a satisfactory condition in Cessnock Hospital.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Saturday 16 September 1989, page 4
Police ‘betrayed’
SYDNEY: About 400 police in Newcastle overwhelmingly supported a call yesterday to protest on Wednesday over the release from jail this week of two brothers sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a police officer during an armed robbery in Newcastle in 1977.
The brothers, Danny and Wally Glesic, had each served 12 years for the murder of Constable Doug Eaton.
A Police Association spokesman said officers felt “severely betrayed” by Corrective Services Minister Michael Yabsley over the release.
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120853046
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Friday 8 July 1977, page 6
COURT REPORTS
Policemen shot: three committed for trial
NEWCASTLE: Three men were committed for trial after a hearing in Newcastle Court on a charge of having murdered a policeman.
The men were also committed for trial on a charge of having attempted to murder another policemen.
Before the court were Mr Nikola Glesic, 41, Mr Wally Vladik Glesic, 20, and Mr Danny Mladen Glesic, 19, all unemployed, of Corranbong.
They were each charged with having murdered Senior Constable Douglas Ronald Eaton at Toronto on April 30 and having feloniously wounded Constable Edwin Jackson Gill with intent to murder him.
At the conclusion of the Crown case yesterday, the public solicitor, Mr G. Graham, for the defendants, said he did not wish to address the court.
Mr Radford, SM, said he was of the opinion that the evidence of the prosecution established a prima facie case against each defendant on each charge. The three pleaded not guilty and reserved their defence.
Mr Radford committed them for trial at New castle Supreme Court on September 26 and refused bail.
The three were remanded to Newcastle Court on October 24 on a further charge of having, on April 30, broken into the store of Toronto Country Club Ltd and stolen six bottles of spirits, three bottles of Coca Cola and a carton of beer.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110853844
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Wednesday 6 July 1977, page 11
Police allege man admitted shooting
SYDNEY: A man had admitted shooting a policeman at a Toronto country club in April, it was alleged in Newcastle Court of Petty Sessions yesterday.
Detective Sergeant C.W. Hodgkinson, of Sydney Homicide Squad, was giving evidence during the second day of committal proceedings against Mr Nikola Glesic, 41, Mr Wally Vladik Glesic, 20, and Mr Danny Mladen Glesic, 19, all unemployed, of Cooranbong, near Newcastle.
All three are charged with having murdered Constable Douglas Ronald Eaton at Toronto, 20 kilometres south-west of Newcastle, on April 30, and feloniously wounded Constable Edwin Jackson Gill with intent to murder him at the same time and place.
Constables Eaton and Gill had been answering a burglar alarm at the Toronto Country Club when the shooting occurred.
Sergeant Hodgkinson told Dr R. L. Radford, SM, he had gone to the Glesic property with other police on Monday, May 2. Police had taken possession of a number of firearms at the property.
The defendants allegedly told police they had been at home on the night of the shooting.
A ballistics report from Sydney had shown that a shotgun, a pistol and a revolver found at the property had been used at the shooting.
Sergeant Hodgkinson said that Mr Nikola Glesic, told of this, had said, ” I shoot one policeman. I am deeply sorry. I love this country “.
Earlier in the hearing, Sergeant A. McDonald, also of the Sydney Homicide Squad, gave evidence that he had said to Mr Wally Glesic at Toronto police station on May 2, ” Since I talked to you last I have found a 9mm pistol and a 44.40 carbine.
” I have reason to believe these weapons were used in the shooting of two police at the Toronto Country Club last Saturday night “.
Mr Wally Glesic had allegedly said, ” Yes, it was us that shot them. What I told you before was all lies “.
The hearing resumes today.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110853464
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Saturday 7 May 1977, page 8
Father, sons on extra charges
SYDNEY: A man and his two sons charged with the murder of a policeman at Toronto last Saturday were further charged in Newcastle Court yesterday on two counts of attempted armed robbery.
The additional charges allege the men, Mr Nikola Glesic, 45, Mr Wally Bladik Glesic, 20, and Mr Danny Mladen Glesic, 19, all unemployed, of Cooranbong, were armed with weapons in two attempted robberies, alleged to have occurred at Morisset on April 3 and April 24.
At a hearing in Wallsend Court on Tuesday, the men were each charged with having murdered Senior Constable Douglas Ronald Eaton at Toronto on April 30 and having wounded Senior Constable Edwin Jackson Gill ( # 11512 ) with intent to murder him at the same time and place.
Mr Power remanded the three men to the Newcastle Court on July 4 and refused bail.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110844762
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Saturday 9 July 1977, page 7
More charges against father and sons
NEWCASTLE; A father and two sons, already committed for trial on a charge of having murdered a policeman were committed on further charges of attempted armed robbery, when they appeared in Newcastle Petty sessions yesterday.
Mr Nikola Glesic, 41, Mr Wally Vladik Glesic, 20, Mr Danny Mladen Glesic, 19, all unemployed, of Maitland Road, Cooranbong, were charged with having assaulted Mr Howard James Hallett and Mr Reginald Ernest Davis with intent to rob them, with two shotguns and an automatic pistol at Morrisset on April 24.
Mr Nikola Glesic and Mr Danny Glesic were also charged with having assaulted Mr Ernest David Heaton and Daphne Hope Heaton, with intent to rob them while armed with two shot guns at Morrisset on April 3.
Mr Radford, SM, committed the three men for trial at Newcastle District Court on August 2 and refused bail. All three pleaded not guilty.
Yesterday’s committal completed 4½ days of hearing evidence against the Glesics on a number of charges, including the murder of Senior Constable Douglas Ronald Eaton, and the attempted murder of Constable Edwin Jackson Gill, at the Toronto Country Club on April 30.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110854075
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Wednesday 21 September 1977, page 6
Three change plea on murder count
NEWCASTLE: A Newcastle Supreme Court jury convicted yesterday a man and his two sons on charges of having murdered a police constable and having wounded another policeman with intent to murder him.
The three men changed their pleas to guilty on each charge when the trial entered its second day this morning.
Mr Justice Slattery remanded the three men, Mr Nikola Glesic, 41. Mr Wally Vladik Glesic, 20. and Mr Danny Mladen Glesic, 19, all of Cooranbong, for sentence today.
When the trial resumed shortly before 11am yesterday the Public Defender, Mr E. J. Shields, for the accused, asked that the charges be read again to each of the accused.
The three men then pleaded guilty to charges of having murdered Mr Douglas Ronald Eaton at or near Kilaben Bay on April 30 and having wounded Mr Edwin Jackson Gill with intent to murder him at Kilaben Bay on the same date.
Mr Justice Slattery told the jury ” The Crown case against each of the accused is a very strong one. The final decision is yours because each of the accused has been placed in your hands even though they pleaded guilty “.
The jury retired at 11.15am to consider its verdict and found each of the accused guilty on each charge when they returned at 11.40 am.
The prosecutor said he intended to present further charges against the three men today and asked the court to remand them for sentence.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110867037
National Police Remembrance Day ceremony in Lake Macquarie
-
David Stewart
- September 29 2017 – 4:27PM
POLICE from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command have unveiled plans for a memorial wall at Belmont to honour the seven local officers killed in the line of duty since 1863.
Plaques commemorating the seven officers were dedicated to the wall in a ceremony at Belmont police station this afternoon, National Police Remembrance Day.
Chief Inspector Murray Lundberg of Lake Macquarie LAC presided over a private ceremony attended by police, local high school students, and the families of the fallen officers.
“This is a time for reflection on the ultimate sacrifice that police officers can give in the execution of their duty,” Chief Inspector Lundberg said.
The fallen officers honoured were Constable Henry Rucker (who died in 1863), Constable Frederick Martin (1953), Sergeant 2nd Class William McKie (1965), Senior Constable Douglas Eaton (1977), Sergeant 3rd Class Keith Haydon (1980), Sergeant 1st Class Rhoderic Lindsay (1984), and Sergeant 3rd Class Ross Jennings (1986).
Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree, the Northern Region Commander, said the wall of remembrance, to be created on the distinctive blue wall at the entrance to the police station, would be striking.
“It will be a sight to treasure,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Greentree said.
“I want the officers, as they are walking out the front doors of this police station, to stop and reflect on the names, stop and reflect on the sacrifice.”
He said he hoped that the inaugural plaques to be installed on the wall were also the last.
“My dream is that we never, ever, add another name to this wall. I hope and pray that our wall is now complete.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner Greentree reached out to the families of the fallen officers.
“No commemoration or recognition can make good the loss that is unfairly carried by family members,” he said.
“I can only offer you my heartfelt condolences. Please know that your loved ones, who are no longer with us, will always be remembered.”
Across NSW, ceremonies were held to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the 269 officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and through injury or illness, since the formation of the NSW Police Force in 1862.
Senior Constable Douglas Eaton
The Doug Eaton Room in the Toronto Police Station commemorates Senior Constable Douglas Eaton.
On the evening of Saturday 30 April 1977, Senior Constable Eaton, and Senior Constable Edward Gill, were called to a ‘silent’ intruder alarm at the Toronto Country Club at Kilaben Bay. Whilst making external checks of the premises, the officers were ambushed and shot by three male offenders who had broken into the club. Senior Constable Eaton was killed instantly and Senior Constable Gill was seriously wounded.
The offenders were later arrested and imprisoned after a large cache of weapons and explosives was located.
| Address: | 139 Cary Street, Toronto Police Station, Toronto, 2283 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -33.012433 Long: 151.592924 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Thursday 17th August, 2017 |
|---|
Doug Eaton Room Plaque : Senior Constable Douglas Ronald Eaton QPMOn the night of 30 April 1977 Senior Constable Eaton and Senior Constable Edwin Gill attended a silent intruder alarm at the Toronto Club Kilaben Bay. While they were making an external check of the premises both police officers were shot by the offenders who had broken into the club.Senior Constable Eaton was killed instantly and Senior Constable Gill seriously wounded. Members of the Glesic family were later arrested and imprisoned and large cache of weapons and explosives recovered.The Constable was born in 1940 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 17 August 1964. At the time of his death he was stationed at Toronto. He was posthumously awarded the Queen`s Gallantry Medal the George Lewis Memorial Trophy and the Peter Mitchell Award.This room is dedicated to Senior Constable Douglas Ronald Eaton QPM for the ultimate sacrifice.17 August 2017
Senior constable Douglas Eaton
Each September we pause to remember and pay tribute to the police men and women who have been killed on duty while serving to protect our local communities. Since the inception of Police Remembrance Day 254 members of the NSW Police Force have died on the front line protecting our values and our way of life. I recently had the privilege of attending a ceremony at Toronto Country Club where a plaque was unveiled to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of an event that still holds strong in the memories of many in my community.
Late in the evening of 30 April 1977 Senior Constable Doug Eaton and Senior Constable Edward Gill were called to a silent intruder alarm at the country club, which is located in a quiet and isolated part of Kilaben Bay. While they were making external checks of the building they were ambushed by three armed men who had broken into the club. Senior Constable Eaton was killed by one of the gunmen and Senior Constable Gill was seriously wounded. The club was an old fibro clubhouse that had been popular with the locals, but its isolated location had made it a regular target for thieves. On this night 41-year-old Nikola Glesic and his sons Wally and Danny had broken into the clubhouse and were about to leave with a few bottles of scotch, a bottle of wine and a few bags of potato chips when the senior constables arrived. They fired at the officers from behind nearby bushland.
Senior Constable Eaton was just 36 years old when he died, leaving behind his wife, Judy, and young children Sharon and Michael. Senior Constable Gill later recovered from serious wounds. What followed was an extraordinary show of community strength, yet more grief was to come. Three days later, in a bitter irony, Cessnock officers Senior Constable Alan Thompson and Senior Constable Ray Scorer were killed in a car accident while returning to their station after the funeral of their colleague. Senior Constable Eaton was very well known and highly regarded in the area, having lived and served locally for the previous 13 years. The community, shocked and angry, established a memorial appeal for the Eaton children.
Sergeant Joe Hinton, who ran Toronto police station at the time, said he had never seen anything like it. He recalled people streaming into the station to donate whatever they could afford to make sure the Eaton children were able to continue with their education. He recalled, “One chap who had been arrested and charged by Senior Constable Eaton weeks prior sent a card to the station expressing his sadness at Doug’s death and saying how courteous Doug had been the night he was charged. He also sent a $50 donation.” About $24,000 was raised in the area, while a further $27,000 was sent from all over Australia to police headquarters in Sydney. It was an extraordinary gesture.
“He was a special type of fellow, and an outstanding policeman, exemplary husband, father and community man,” Sergeant Hinton said. Those qualities live on through his wife, Judy, and through Sharon and Michael. Michael is now a police sergeant working general duties in the Coffs-Clarence Local Area Command. I have known Judy for many years now. She is a stalwart member of Morisset Lions Club and is involved in many community activities. She is held in very high esteem by those who know her but without a doubt she still carries the scars of that horrible night 40 years ago. I am certain Doug would be very proud of his wife and children.
Senior Constable Eaton was posthumously recognised with a Queen’s Police Medal. Last month’s commemoration included the unveiling of a plaque at Toronto Country Club which will forever preserve his memory, as well as his dedication to the local community. The service was organised by local area commander Superintendent Brett Greentree, who was joined by the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Field Operations for the NSW Police Force, Jeff Loy, and most significantly the Minister for Police, Troy Grant, who is in the Chamber this evening. I should also point out that the Minister joined me at Morisset late last year to open a new police station in my electorate. He will be back in the electorate in the coming weeks to officially open the new station at Toronto, which includes a training room that will be named in honour of Senior Constable Doug Eaton.
The Minister is always welcome in the electorate of Lake Macquarie, and I thank him for his and the Government’s interest in providing better facilities and general support for our police in Lake Macquarie. Police work is all too often dangerous, and protecting our community requires a constant vigil. While I acknowledge senior constables Eaton, Gill, Thompson and Scorer today, I also acknowledge all those men and women who serve every day to keep our communities safe.
Local Legends – Senior constable Douglas Eaton
30 April 2020
http://monumentaustralia.org.au/australian_monument/
