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Graeme Andrew ADAMS

| 03/05/2018

Graeme Andrew ADAMS

Late of Leichardt, NSW

New South Wales Police Force

Redfern Police Academy Class 206

Regd. #  21746

Rank:  Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 24 September 1984 ( aged 21 years, 7 months, 14 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 7 December 1984 ( aged 21 years, 9 months, 27 days )

Constable – appointed 8 December 1985

 

Final Rank = ?

 

Stations:  ?, Prosecutors – Resigned

 

Service:  From  ? ? pre December 1984?  to  ? ? 1991 =  7 years Service

 

Awards:  No find on It’s An Honour

 

Born:   Sunday 10 February 1963

Disappeared:   Tuesday 6 June 2000

Body recovered:   Wednesday 12 July 2000

Died on:  6 ( Wednesday )  or 7 ( Thursday ) June 2000

Age:  37 years, 3 months, 28 days

Cause:   Murdered – shot

Event location:  Hawkesbury River near Dangar Island

Event date:  6 ( Wednesday )  or 7 ( Thursday ) June 2000

 

Funeral date:   ? ? ?

Funeral location:   ?

 

Funeral Parlour:  ?

 

Buried at:   ?

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

 

GRAEME is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED

 

 

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

 Strike Force Sari headed up the investigation into this murder.

Class 206A
Class 206A

 

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2000
NSW: Man charged with murder of former police officer.

A court’s been told a former Sydney policeman whose body was found dumped in a river was killed to stop him earning a share of a lucrative Olympic-related security contract.

GRAEME ADAMS’ business partner, 29-year-old SIMON CHRISTOPHER CROWTHER-WILKINSON, was charged with his murder this morning.

According to police facts tendered to Manly Court, Mr ADAMS was a silent stakeholder in CROWTHER-WILKINSON’S firm Excell Security Pty Ltd.

The company had recently won a $1.6 million contract to supply staff to security giant and Olympic sub-contractor Chubb Security Australia.

But police allege that rather than share the proceeds, CROWTHER-WILKINSON and another associate shot and killed Mr ADAMS, wrapped him in chains and dumped him in the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, on June 6 or 7.

The accused man has been refused bail and will appear in Central Local Court on September 6.

http://leafagecom.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/nsw-man-charged-with-murder-of-former.html

 

08-30-2000
NSW: Ex policeman murdered over Oly security contract, court told

By John Kidman, Crime Reporter

SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP – A former Sydney policeman whose chained body was found dumped in a river had been shot in cold blood over a lucrative Olympic-related security contract,
a court was told today.

Detectives allege the two men charged with the slaying stood to gain his share of a $1.6 million personnel deal struck with industry giant and Olympic sub-contractor Chubb Security Australia.

The killing had “all the hallmarks of an execution-style murder”, according to a statement of police facts tendered in Sydney’s Manly Local Court.

“There is evidence of premeditated and deliberate planning well prior to the event,” the document read.

Mr Adams’ business partner, Simon Crowther-Wilkinson and another of his associates, private security agent James Cowie, were arrested by strike force police early today following a high-profile investigation.

Mr Adams, a one-time police prosecutor who left the force to start his own company nine years ago, was pulled out of the Hawkesbury River off Dangar Island, to Sydney’s
north, by a local fisherman on July 12.

An autopsy revealed he had been shot in the back of the head from close range.

He was also wrapped in a 135 kilogram length of chain.

It was initially believed Mr Adams had last been seen alive by Crowther-Wilkinson at 10pm on June 6 after they dined at Antos Pizzeria and Pasta in suburban Chatswood.

However, it is now alleged that the version of events was a smokescreen to divert suspicion.

According to receipt records, the accused man bought cigarettes and drinks at a Chatswood service station at 9.25pm the same night.

Neither the owner nor staff of the pizza parlour were able to place the men at the eatery, police allege.

According to the fact sheet, mobile phone checks also revealed both Crowther-Wilkinson and Cowie made or received calls near Dangar island on the night of the murder.

Crowther-Wilkinson denied ever having been to the area or having access to or owning a boat, it said.

Despite this, detectives alleged evidence would show he was in possession of an aluminium runabout at the time of the homicide.

It was also claimed Crowther-Wilkinson bought 15m of chain and a number of metal clamps like those found on Mr Adams’ body at a Brookvale hardware shop a week before the murder.

“Direct lies and inconsistencies exist in the versions of (both) Wilkinson and Cowie,”the facts stated.

Mr Adams had been a silent 51 per cent partner in Excell Security with Crowther-Wilkinson until his death but took little part in the company’s day-to-day business.

In the weeks before his death, he allegedly tried to gain financial records which showed he may not have been receiving his due profit share.

Police allege he expressed concerns over the matter to his accountant.

By contrast, Crowther-Wilkinson is said to have told an Excell employee that “he did not want to give up any profits made through his Olympic contract”.

Both accused men were today refused bail and will appear in Central Local Court next month.

https://myinformationview.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/nsw-ex-policem-murdered-over-oly.html

 

Victim feared colleagues, court told

By Malcolm Brown
May 10 2002

 

A week before his disappearance in 2000, murder victim Graeme Adams told his accountant he was afraid of former associates in the security company Blue Falcon Agency and thought he was being followed, the Supreme Court heard yesterday.

Accountant Eric de Haarte said Mr Adams had formed another company, Excell Security, after leaving Blue Falcon and had told him he had ”sort of tricked” Blue Falcon by taking their database of contacts for security guards.

Mr Adams had expressed apprehension about two principals in Blue Falcon, Peter Murrant ( # 22195 ) and Andrew King.

Mr Murrant, who had been a serving police officer at the time he was a principal of Blue Falcon, had been investigated by the Police Integrity Commission and had later been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to periodic detention.

”He told me he thought his former partners [Mr Murrant and Mr King] considered him a snitch,” Mr de Haarte said.

Mr Adams disappeared on June 6, 2000. His body was recovered, weighed down by chains, in the Hawkesbury River near Dangar Island on July 12 that year.

A partner of Mr Adams in Excell Security, Simon Christopher Crowther-Wilkinson (referred to in court as Wilkinson), was later charged with Mr Adams‘s murder. Wilkinson is now on trial before Justice Virginia Bell.

Questioned by Paul Byrne, SC, for Wilkinson, Mr de Haarte said Mr Adams had indicated that he wanted his involvement in Excell Security to be kept ”more or less secret” so that he was ”essentially invisible”.

Mr Adams had a 51 per cent shareholding in Excell Security but Wilkinson, with 49 per cent, did the day-to-day work.

Janelle Johnson, a girlfriend of Mr Adams at the time of his disappearance, said in evidence that according to what Mr Adams had told her, Blue Falcon went broke in June 1999 and Mr Adams himself was in debt as a result. He had blamed Mr Murrant and Mr King for ”taking money on the side”.

Ms Johnson said that four or five weeks before he disappeared, Mr Adams had made no attempt to discover the financial position of Excell Security though he had concerns about it.

The trial resumes today.

https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/09/1020914033849.html

 

Regina v Simon Crowther-Wilkinson

On 28 March 2003 the appellant, Simon Crowther-Wilkinson, was sentenced to imprisonment for 20 years with a non-parole period of 15 years for murder. His co-accused, James Cowie was found not guilty. He appeals against this conviction but not against the sentence.

The appellant had been a silent partner in a partnership with the deceased in a security company, Excell Security Pty Limited (“Excell”). The deceased’s body was found floating in the Hawkesbury River wrapped in plastic, metal 3/8 inch steel galvanised chains and 12 mm D-shackles. The Crown case was that he had been shot once in the back of the head, consistent with a .22 calibre bullet having been fired by either the appellant or James Cowie, with the other present and assisting or encouraging the killer. The deceased’s body had then been transported to the Hawkesbury River and dumped from a small aluminium boat.

https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/549faf773004262463b77099

 

SIMON CHRISTOPHER CROWTHER-WILKINSON was Sentenced to 20 years gaol – non parole of 15 years. Co-accused, James COWIE, was found not guilty.
He Appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeal, which was Heard  on 12 July 2004, and that Appeal was dismissed.
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/549f6d3c3004262463a5e4ab

Caution.  Possible PTSD triggers. 

this pdf link Contains Description of Murder to Court
Administrative Decisions Tribunal


Graham Dudley STRAWBRIDGE

| 03/05/2018

Graham Dudley STRAWBRIDGE

Late of Como, N.S.W.

Western Australia Police Force

Regd. #  4611

Rank:  ?

Stations:  ?

Service:  From  ? ? ?  to  ? ? ? =  ? years Service

Awards:   National Medal – granted 2 June 1988

Born:   21 August 1941

Died on:   Sunday 22 April 2018

Age:  76

Cause:   ?

Event location:   ?

Event date:   ?

Funeral date:   Saturday  28 April 2018 @ 10am

Funeral location:   Fremantle Cemetery

Funeral Parlour:  Mareena Purslowe Funerals  08 9388 1623

Buried at:   ?

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

 


[alert_yellow]GRAHAM is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow]  *NEED MORE INFO


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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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STRAWBRIDGE:
WA POLICE UNION Members are invited to attend the Funeral Service for our late retired member Graham Dudley Strawbridge 4611 at Fremantle Cemetery on Saturday (28.04.2018) at 10.00am. 

Published in The West Australian on Apr. 27, 2018
http://www.westannouncements.com.au/obituaries/thewest-au/obituary.aspx?n=graham-strawbridge&pid=188846849
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Anthony Mark SMITH

| 03/05/2018

Anthony Mark SMITH

AKA  Tony
Late of  ?

New South Wales Police Force

[alert_yellow]Regd. #  8891[/alert_yellow]

Rank:  Probationary Constable – appointed 25 November 1957

Constable 1st Class – appointed 25 November 1963

Senior Constable – appointed 1 July 1968

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 20 January 1974

Inspector – appointed 1986

Stations:  ?, Licencing – Sydney Metro area, Licencing Sgt – Fairfield ( 34 Division 1970’s – 1980’s ), Inspector – Assistant Officer – Office of Superintendent of Licences – ( 1986 ), Legal Services – Retirement

Service:  From  ? ? pre November 1957  to  27 October 1988 = 31 years Service

Awards:   No find on It’s An Honour

Born:   17 January 1933

Died on:   Saturday  28 April 2018

Age:  85

Cause:   Cancer

Event location:   ?

Event date:   ?

Funeral date:   Monday  7 May 2018 @ 2pm

Funeral location:   Innes Gardens Chapel, Phillip Charley Dve, Port Macquarie

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at:   ?

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

 


[alert_yellow]TONY is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow]  *NEED MORE INFO

 

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 Funeral location: 


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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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 Tony was the Licencing Sergeant at Fairfield ( 34 Division ) when I was there in 1977.
Cal
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Nothing further, at this time, is known about this man or his career.
Cal
300418
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Charles LEONARD

| 03/05/2018

Charles LEONARD

Late of  ?

Brother to Michael A. LEONARD, # Q 7115

Brother to Patrick Stephen LEONARD,  # Q 7644

Another ‘mentioned’ Brother is Thomas Wood LEONARD,  # Q 9062

Another ‘mentioned’ Brother is Roger.  It is not known if Roger was in the Police.

 

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  Q 7396

 For the purposes of this website, ‘Q‘ represents those Police joining between 1862 ( commencement of NSWPF ) – 23 February 1915 ( Commencement of NSWPF current numbering system )

 

 Rank:  ?, “possibly” a Sergeant

 

Stations:  ?,  “possibly” Taree, “possibly” Walgett ( from June 1923 as a SenSgt ), Marrickville – Sgt ( 2 July 1926 ),

 

Service:  From  21 October 1899  to  ? ? ? =  ? years Service

 

Awards:   ?

 

Born:  ? ? 1869 – Dungog, NSW

Died on:   Thursday 26 July 1945

Age:  75 – 76

Cause:  Pneumonia

Event location:  Randwick, NSW

Event date:   ?

 

Funeral date:   ? ? ?

Funeral location:   ?

 

Funeral Parlour:  ?

 

Buried at:   Woronora Memorial Park

Grave:  Plot:  RC  Sect: 1  Grave: 0366

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

 

 

CHARLES is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance  *NEED MORE INFO

 

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

“POSSIBLY” related to Charles LEONARD.  This link between Charles and Frank & Taree needs to be CONFIRMED.

Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW : 1894 – 1939), Saturday 1 January 1921, page 4

Drowned at Taree

Our Taree correspondent wires that a boy named Frank Leonard, 12 years of age, eldest son of Sergeant Leonard of the Taree police station, was drowned on Thursday evening, whilst bathing with a number of other children at Shallow Island swimming baths.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/123728843

Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 – 1931),

Friday 2 July 1926, page 4” PAT ” LEONARD

POPULAR OFFICER DIES FROM PNEUMONIA

Sergt. PATRICK Stephen Leonard, Senior Police Prosecutor, died from pneumonia at Randwick to-day, after six week’s illness. ” He was one of the ablest men who have ever held the position of police prosecutor. ” said the Commissioner of Police to-day. ” I heard of his death with extreme regret. He was one of my best, most conscientious, and most promising officers. In my opinion, he would have attained to high police rank had he lived “.

The late sergeant was highly esteemed by all who know him. He was a most courteous, unassuming, and obliging officer, and was exceedingly popular with Pressmen, with whom he came into close contact at the various police courts. His word was his bond, and he was always scrupulously fair to defendants.

Sergeant Leonard joined the police force in 1900 and was made a first class sergeant in 1923. He served in the Darlinghurst division for 13 years and at Redfern, and was police prosecutor for seven years, first on the suburban circuit and latterly at the Central Police Court.

He was born in 1876, and was a native of N.S.W.

He was unmarried, and lived with his sister at Melford-street. Randwick.

WORKER FOR CHARITY

He was a prominent worker for various charities, and took an active part in the organisation of the annual police carnival.

The late officer’s first promotion to the rank of first-class constable was a reward for a particularly daring arrest of a burglar in William-street. City, at 4 a.m.. on December 13, 1904.

Two of his brothers also joined the police force — Charles, ( Q7396 ) now a sergeant at Marrickville, and Michael, (Q7115 ) who died from pneumonia some years ago.

The funeral will leave the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Avoca street, Randwick, at 2.30pm tomorrow.

TRIBUTES IN COURT

‘ It is a sad end to a distinguished career.’ remarked Mr. Jennings. C.S.M., at the Central Court to-day. In referring to the death of Sergeant Leonard. ” He had been a long time with us, and his services were much appreciated by all those who worked with him. ”

Mr. Parker, on behalf of the legal profession. said he had known Sergeant Leonard for 23 or 24 years. ” I always admired him as an officer, ” went on Mr. Parker. ” He was absolutely conscientious. As a prosecutor he was one of the hardest men we had to fight, but he always fought fairly. He was a big man not only In stature, but In mind.”

Mr. Lionel Dare, barrister, remarked that, In his public capacity, Sergeant Leonard was courageous, unflinching, honorable, and firm.

Sergeant Cummings, police prosecutor, said the police felt Sergeant Leonard‘s death as a deep personal loss. He understood the late sergeant was on the eve of promotion to the rank of inspector. He was a highly capable officer.

TO HAVE BEEN MARRIED

A pathetic feature is that Sergeant Leonard was to have been married last Saturday to Miss Mary Agnes Roche, of Rose-street, Darlington, but his illness intervened.

( a photo of Sgt Leonard and Mary Roche appear in this news article but the ‘scan’ is far too dark from the Trove article to be useful for his Memorial page )

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/114383043

Catholic Press (Sydney, NSW : 1895 – 1942),

Thursday 8 July 1926, page 21

The Late Sergeant P. Leonard.

NOTED POLICE OFFICER PASSES.

Great regret was felt over the death of Sergeant Patrick S. Leonard, Chief Police Prosecutor of the metropolitan district, which occurred at his late residence, Milford Street, Randwick, on Friday morning last.

Poignancy is added to the death of this fine police officer by the fact that he was on the eve of his promotion to an inspectorship — in fact, he was about to be presented with the whip that accompanies elevation to that rank.

The late Sergeant joined the service in 1900, and was stationed at Darlinghurst.

A hard-working and efficient policeman, he soon attracted the attention of his superiors, and he won quick promotion, attaining the rank of first-class sergeant in 1923. He was police prosecuting officer in the suburbs for 10 years until his transfer to the Central Police Court over a year ago.

Of a courteous and genial nature, he enjoyed the friendship of all sections of the community, and the esteem of all his fellow officers and subordinates.

Genuine expressions of regret at his passing were made at the Central Police Court on Friday. Mr. Jennings, S.M., said that those who represented defendants had been well satisfied with his fairness in all proceedings. It was a sad end to a distinguished career.

On behalf of the legal profession, Mr. Parker and Mr. Lionel Dare paid tributes to his conscientiousness. He was a hard man to fight, said Mr. Parker, but he fought fairly. He was big in stature and mind, and it would be hard to replace him.

For the police, Sergeant Cummings, prosecutor, extended sympathy to the relatives. He understood that Sergeant Leonard was on the eve of promotion.

The Commissioner of Police ( Mr. J. Mitchell ) said that it was with extreme regret that he had heard of Sergeant Leonard‘s death. ” He was one of the ablest officers in the service, and had he lived he would have reached high police rank. He also rendered excellent service as a member of the committee of the police carnival for hospitals. ”

Sergeant Leonard, who succumbed to pneumonia, was 50 years of age, and a devout Catholic.

Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father T. O’Loughlin, M.S.C, at the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Avoca-street, Randwick, after which the funeral cortege left the church for the Randwick cemetery.

The procession, which was officially a police funeral, attracted a very representative gathering.

Squads of police, preceded by the Police Band, marched under Inspector Maze, and members of the Metropolitan Fire Brigades, under District-Inspector Grimmond.

The pall-bearers were Inspector Maze, Sergeants Roser, Dean, MacDougall, Twist, Jones and Maher. Many and beautiful were the wreaths conveyed.

The principal mourners were: Messrs. Charles, Thomas, and Roger Leonard ( brothers ), Misses Annie and Cissie Leonard, and Mrs. Delahunty ( sisters ), and Miss Mary Roche, to whom Sergeant Leonard was to have been married.

Amongst those present were: The Chief Secretary ( Hon. C. C. Lazzarini, M.L.A.), Inspector Spyer ( representing the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mitchell ), Mr. Cruise ( representing the Minister for Justice ), Mr. A. Bishop ( representing the Crown Law Department ), the Speaker ( Hon. J Dooley, M.L.A.), Supt. G. Mitchell, Supt. Mankey, Chief of C.I.B., Inspectors Lynch, Delaney, Lindfield, and Kersley; Det.-Sgt. Lynch, Det.-Sgt. Coombes, Det.-Sgt. Jones ( South Africa ), Det. Sgt. Kennedy, Det.-Sgt. Smith, Det.-Sgt. Miller, Sergeant Nicholls and Constable Carroll Ashfield, Detective Gallagher, Sergeant T. O’Brien, ex-Sergeants Duncan, Hay and Toohey, ex-Inspector Fullarton, C. Thackeray ( ” Police News ” ), Mr. B. Fortescue ( general secretary, Police Association ), Detective Comans, ex-Sergeant Hayes, Sergeant Lane, and Sergeants Philpott and Maples ( Redfern ), Station-officer Beare ( representing Fire Brigades’ Hospital Carnival and Art Union ), Messrs. R. D. Meagher, W. Niland, and T. Arkins ( solicitors ), R. O’Halloran, B. Greig, S. R. Alldis, Ms.L.A., Hon. J. Tyrrell, M.L.C., P. Conroy ( vice-president ), and W. Carey ( secretary, A.L.P.), Aldermen M. L’Estrange ( Mayor of Mascot ), R. H. McDonald ( Redfern ), and D. Mulcahy ( Waterloo ), Messrs. Rafferty ( assistant secretary, R.A.S.), T. Windrum ( Rockhampton), E. Ward, P. Fennessy, D. Capice, W. O’Connor, R. Allen, A. Agnew, L. R. Mordant, and A. R. Pope ( Catholic Club ), J. McCann, W. Campbell, Hartnett, H. Kirkland, W. McNamara ( secretary, Friendly Society Dispensary ), P. Rynn, and F. Haron. — R.I.P.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106276742
Further research is needed on this man.
Cal
30 April 2018


Michael A. LEONARD

| 03/05/2018

Michael A. LEONARD

Late of Paddington, NSW

Brother to Charles LEONARD,  # Q 7396

Brother to Patrick Stephen LEONARD,  # Q 7644

Another ‘mentioned’ Brother is Thomas Wood LEONARD,  # Q 9062

Another ‘mentioned’ Brother is Roger.  It is not known if Roger was in the Police.

 

 New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  Q 7115

 For the purposes of this website, ‘Q‘ represents those Police joining between 1862 ( commencement of NSWPF ) – 23 February 1915 ( Commencement of NSWPF current numbering system )

Rank:  Constable – appointed  9 September 1897

Sergeant – Death

Stations: Darlinghurst his entire Service

Service:  From  9 September 1897  to  2 April 1919 = 22 years Service

Awards:   ?

Born:   ? ? 1873 – Morphettville, NSW

Died on:   Wednesday  2 April 1919

Age:  46

Cause:   Influenza

Event location:  at home, Paddington, NSW

Event date:  Wednesday  2 April 1919

Funeral date:   Thursday  3 April 1919

Funeral location:   ?

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at:   ?

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

 


[alert_yellow]MICHAEL is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow]  *NEED MORE INFO

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 Funeral 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

[divider_dotted]

May they forever Rest In Peace

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Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 – 1954), Wednesday 2 April 1919, page 5

POLICE-SERGEANT LEONARD

Death From Influenza

Amongst those who died to-day from pneumonic influenza was Sergeant Michael Leonard, of the Darlinghurst police division. He was taken ill last Tuesday, ( 25 March ) and died at his home in Paddington this afternoon.

Sergeant Leonard, was a splendid type of all-round policeman, and had done good work in endeavoring ( sic ) to suppress sly grog selling, which in the Darlinghurst area was assuming serious proportions.

He was 46 years old.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/221455569

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Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 – 1954), Thursday 3 April 1919, page 2

IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

THIRTEEN DEATHS REPORTED AND 156 FRESH CASES.

CASES FROM QUARANTINED SHIPS.

Sydney, Thursday.

There were 13 deaths from influenza in Sydney yesterday. The new cases totalled 147.

Nine fresh cases were taken from three steamers in quarantine.

Sergeant Michael Leonard, of the Darlinghurst police, died yesterday from influenza. He was taken ill on Tuesday last. Deceased was 46 years of age.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/45478549
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Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 – 1930), Friday 4 April 1919, page 5

FUNERALS

LATE SERGEANT LEONARD.

The late Sergeant Michael A. Leonard‘s funeral yesterday afternoon was attended by representatives of all ranks in the police force, to the number of over 100, as well as by many civilians The police officials included the Inspector-General ( Mr. James Mitchell ), Superintendent Brookes, and Inspectors Doig and Wallace.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/239603889
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Further details required about this man.
Cal
30 April 2018
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Michael John BANKS

| 03/05/2018

Michael John BANKS

AKA  Banksy
Late of Fyshwick, ACT

Australian Federal Police Force

Regd. #  ????

Rank:  ?

Stations:  ?, Police Negotiator,

Service:  From  ? ? ?  to  19 April 2018 =  ? years Service

Awards:   No find on It’s An Honour

Born:   Monday  5 April 1976

Died on:   Thursday  19 April 2018

Age:  42

Cause:   “possible” Cancer

Event location:   ?

Event date:   ?

Funeral date:   Friday  27 April 2018 @ 2pm

Funeral location:   Anglican Parish Church of All Saints, Cowper St, Ainslie, ACT

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at:   Cremated – Saturday  28 April 2018

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

 

[alert_blue]BANKSY is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED

 

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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

[divider_dotted]

May they forever Rest In Peace

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Michael John “Banksy” BANKS (1976 – 2018)

 

MICHAEL JOHN BANKS
5 April 1976 – 19 April 2018


Banksy never gave up, fought until the last, and passed away peacefully.


Loving hubbo to Michelle, and super proud Dad to Lincoln, Lachlan and Lewis.
Much loved son and son-in-law of Mary, Judy and Richard. Beloved friend and highly respected colleague.

Eternally in our hearts

A full Police service will be held in the Anglican Parish Church of All Saints, Cowper Street, Ainslie on Friday, 27 April 2018 commencing at 2pm.
Private family cremation will follow on Saturday.
Banksy was driven to give his boys every opportunity possible.


In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to ensure his legacy and wishes will be carried on.
Donation boxes will be available at the service.

 

 

Michael John “Banksy” BANKS

This Guest Book will remain online until 30/05/2018.

Friday, 27 April 2018

My thoughts and prayers are with you Michelle and your boys. I was truly saddened to find out that “Banksy” had passed away. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mary also

~
Rebecca Rohrlach (nee Ross),
Rivett, Australian Capital Territory

Friday, 27 April 2018

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your boys and Banksy’s mum Mary

~
Rebecca Rohrlach (nee Ross),
Rivett, Australian Capital Territory

Thursday, 26 April 2018

Michelle and boys, there are no words that feel appropriate at this sad time other than to say our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Anna McLeod’s Mum and Dad. XX

~
Alan Latimer,
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

 

 

 

 



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http://tributes.canberratimes.com.au/obituaries/canberratimes-au/obituary.aspx?n=michael-banks&pid=188828047

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Phillip Arthur CLARK

| 03/05/2018

Phillip Arthur CLARK

Late of Fairfield

New South Wales Police Force

[alert_yellow]Regd. #  15143[/alert_yellow]

Rank:  Probationary Constable – appointed 27 March 1972

Constable 1st Class – appointed 27 March 1977

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 30 September 1987

Stations:  ?, Liverpool Police Station ( Licencing Sgt )

Service:  From  ? ? pre March 1972?  to  ? ? ? =  ? years Service

Awards:   National Medal – granted 2 November 1988

Born:  18 October 1949

Died on:   ? ? 1992?

Age:  42

Cause:   Possible Heart attack

Event location:   ?

Event date:   ?

Funeral date:   Wednesday  8 April 1992

Funeral location:   Forest Lawn Crematorium Chapel, Camden Valley Way, Leppington

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at:   Cremated

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

 


[alert_yellow]PHIL is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow]  *NEED MORE INFO

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 Funeral 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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It is believed that Phil suffered a heart attack and was Stationed at Liverpool at the time.
It is also believed that Phil was Cremated at Forest Lawn, Leppington.
Nothing further, at this time, is known about this man or his Service with NSWPF.
Cal
29 April 2018
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Bruce Frederick COOPER

| 03/05/2018

Bruce Frederick COOPER

AKA  Coops
Late of  ?, Qld

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  ?????

Rank:  ?

Stations:  ?, Sydney District HWP ( mid 1990’s ), St George / Sutherland HWP

Service – NSWPF:  From  ? ? ?  to  ? ? ? = 10 years Service

 

Queensland Police Force

Regd. # ?????

Rank:  ?

Stations:  ?

Service – QPol:  From  ? ? ?  to  ? ? 2008 = 10 years Service

Total Police Service:  20 years

 

Awards:  No find on Australian Honours

Born:   Thursday  1 May 1958

Died on:   Saturday  21 April 2018

Age:  59 years, 11 months, 20 days

Cause:   Chronic PTSD – Suicide – Firearm

Event location:   ?, Qld

Event date:  Saturday  21 April 2018

Funeral date:   Tuesday  1 May 2018 @ 10.30am

Funeral location:   Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium – East Chapel
329 Nursery Road, Holland Park

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at:   Cremated

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

Bruce COOPER

BRUCE is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance  * BUT SHOULD BE

Bruce Frederick COOPER

 Funeral location: 


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 behalf of Bruce’s sons, Simon, Joshua, Paul and Myself we would like to invite you to Bruce’s funeral to celebrate his life with us.

Tuesday 1st May 2018 at 10.30am

Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium – East Chapel
329 Nursery Road, Holland Park.

Post from Mark Kelly, Director Blue HOPE

 

It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Bruce Cooper who tragically died by suicide on the morning of Saturday, 21 April 2018.

He was 59 years old.

A 20-year veteran police officer, Bruce served with pride for 10 years with the NSW Police Force and another 10 years with the Queensland Police Service before leaving the job in 2008.

Policing took its toll on Bruce. He struggled with chronic PTSD for a long time and, like many who struggle with PTSD, Bruce tried to numb the pain with alcohol. Bruce was a fighter though; he fought his way back and had control over alcohol for a long time. The nightmares, painful memories and horrific images however, would not relent.

I first met Bruce in 2016, when he hit a hurdle and relapsed. His amazing wife Michelle reached out and we decided together that I would drop by to say G’day. I arrived unannounced and met a man who was in immense pain and struggling badly. At first, he was reluctant to talk so we just sat together watching television while he sized me up out of the corner of his eye.

Trusting people was hard for Bruce. He’d been let down many times in his life and aside from a couple of close friends and his family, he didn’t easily let people in. He was also a fixer; a man of great skill who could build and repair just about anything he turned his mind to. Cars, trucks, motorbikes, things around the house. You name it, Bruce could fix it.

Sadly, when it came to his own demons, Bruce couldn’t find a fix and he was reluctant to ask for, or accept help. So needless to say, he was a bit cross at me and Michelle when I showed up that day.

[blockquote]He was also embarrassed and as he told me later, “bloody ashamed”.[/blockquote]

We didn’t speak much at first. I’d share a bit and he’d open up a little bit and after a while the rapport that so often occurs between coppers started to build. Bruce was still wary though. He was also embarrassed and as he told me later, “bloody ashamed”. It’s hard to admit that you’re not ok and it can be even harder to admit that you need help. Eventually though, Bruce started to talk. We talked about his life, his sons, his grandchildren and his love for Michelle (his “Shelle Machine”). We talked about cars, motorbikes and eventually we started to talk about the job. That was hard for Bruce. He had seen and experienced a lot as a police officer. Police see some awful things, but I think Bruce got more than his share.

So, we sat together for hours; hours became days and thankfully, in time Bruce got some help. He entered a treatment program and was placed into the care of some great mental health professionals. Bruce and I became friendly, talking and texting occasionally. He’d often tease me about the day we met and the blue shoes I was wearing that day. He was a funny bugger. He seemed to be doing pretty well and, in the Winter of 2017, he and Michelle came to a Blue HOPE car show to say Hi. We hugged, and I was struck by how well he looked. He had spark and it seemed that the future looked pretty bright.

[blockquote]“It’s too fucking hard”, “It hurts so much”[/blockquote]

Unfortunately, towards the end of 2017, Bruce relapsed after a death in the family. I called in to see him and was shocked to see how much pain he was in. The Bruce I knew was still there, but the demons had resurfaced and taken hold. Everyone who knew and loved Bruce was rallying around him to encourage him to get back into treatment, but he didn’t want to go. “It’s too fucking hard”, “It hurts so much”, he told me. His pain was unfathomable. He wanted to get better. He wanted to beat PTSD. He wanted the nightmares and images to go away. He wanted to help others. Bruce had so much to offer the world but first he needed to get help.

We all had countless conversations about options and eventually, Bruce started to attend his appointments again. After a rough few weeks things were starting to look up. We spoke from time to time, I’d see him on social media and he’s touch base regularly via text, signing off with his traditional gorilla emoji. He seemed ok; but he wasn’t.

During the morning of Saturday 21 April, I received a call from Michelle saying that Bruce was in crisis; asking if I could come. He had somehow come into the possession of an old firearm and was talking about hurting himself. The police were immediately called, and I raced over to offer what assistance I could.

When I arrived, police, ambulance and tactical units were in attendance, all carefully positioned out of Bruce’s view. Thankfully, I was allowed through the cordon to speak with the police in command, provide a briefing to the negotiators and most importantly provide support for Michelle. I did not have the opportunity to speak with Bruce. Sadly, before anybody could make contact with him, Bruce took his life.

It’s important that I thank the members of the Queensland Police and the QLD Ambulance who were present. The QPS negotiation team in particular were incredibly professional, caring and supportive to all present. All emergency services personnel present should be commended for their incredible efforts to save Bruce.

To Bruce… Coops, I’m sad and I’m angry but I’m also thankful that you are no longer in pain. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more. For what it’s worth, I’m a better man for having known you. Rest well mate.

Finally, to everyone who is reading this.

If you are struggling, know this. Recovery starts and ends with you. You might have all the help in the world at your fingertips but unless you accept responsibility for your own recovery and surrender yourself to the healing process, recovery will elude you. It’s not enough to just show up for appointments; you have to get your hands dirty and do the hard work. This can mean going to hospital, accepting psychiatric and psychological treatment, taking the meds and persisting with recovery groups. Don’t just turn up. Engage with it. Your life depends on it.

Yes, it will be a grind. In fact, it will seem unbearable at times but all of the people that I know who are doing well (myself included) know that this is the only path. It’s hard and it’ll take time but it’s worth it. Not only for you, but for your family.

No police officer I have ever met was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of being a coward. If you were strong once, you can be strong again. I promise you that it can be OK.

Blue HOPE stands ready to help.

Thanks for taking the time to read about this terrific man.

Mark Kelly
Director
Blue HOPE
mark@bluehope.org.au

 

Two years on:

Today we remember Bruce Cooper who died by suicide on this day 2 years ago in Brisbane.

Indelibly marked by trauma in his early life, Bruce channelled his life experience into something better; joining the NSW Police Force where he served for 10 years before moving to Queensland where he served a further 10 years with the Queensland Police Service.

I first met Bruce briefly in 2002, when we were both in the job, but our paths didn’t cross again until 14 years later when his wife Michelle re-introduced us during his struggle with trauma, PTSD and alcohol addiction. After a while, we became good friends and the next couple of years were a mix of happiness, hope, sadness and frustration as Bruce improved in clinical programs, only to relapse sometime later. He did his best, but trauma and addiction had their hooks in him. He had so much love and support in his life. Honestly, if love and support alone could have saved him, Bruce would still be alive today.

I wish it was that simple.

Despite the efforts of those who loved him and tried to help, Bruce lost his battle. Many people worked so hard to save Bruce that awful day. We waited nearby, as incredible members from the QPS tried valiantly to reach out to him; we tried to help them with as much information that we could provide …. we prayed and we waited. We honestly thought that he would be recovered safely but that wasn’t to be. We all failed to get through…. and Bruce took his life. The rest is indescribable, so I won’t try. It wasn’t really Bruce in that moment; it was his pain, his trauma and his addiction that took him away. He loved us and we loved him, and we live in hope that he is now in a better, more peaceful place.

Today, Michelle and I visited Bruce at his resting place. We sat and we chatted. We reflected on his life and we thought about the meaning that this tragedy can have for others. What can we learn?

What I know is this. When you are faced with the impossible, the pain and the struggle you have to decide what is important. You have to decide what kind of person you are. All the support and love in the world can be available to you, but you have to make the choice to accept it and engage with it. Taking your life, ultimately robs the world of your potential to be more. You have so much to give, even if you don’t realise that now. Ask yourself, “What will my legacy be?”

Most importantly, suicide leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. When I look at my dear friend Michelle, I see an amazing woman who is trying to rebuild her life as best she can; in her own way, in her own time, and on her terms. Grief permeates every aspect of life, but I know she will prevail. As CS Lewis wrote, “Her loss was like the sky; spread over everything.” I was honoured to climb Mt Kilimanjaro with Michelle late last year so I know she can do anything. She is an incredible person.

I asked Michelle today, what she thought about trying to help someone who is struggling. She said very simply, “reach in and keep reaching in. It will be frustrating. Sometimes you will hate them, and they will often give you the shits, but you’ve got to keep trying.” She is not one to give up and I am immensely proud of her.

I have mixed feelings about Facebook posts about the death of police members. They are often polarising. Some people appreciate them and others dislike them. Today though, I write in the hope that someone, somewhere will draw strength to continue. It’s not too late. Two years ago, when I wrote about Bruce I said, “you have to get your hands dirty and do the hard work”. That remains true. So much help and support is available; you just have to accept it and commit to getting better for yourself and your loved ones. It will be hard and often unbearable, but it is worth it. The decision is yours and yours alone.

I apologise for the lengthy post and I appreciate you taking the time to join me in reflecting on the life of Bruce and all of the brothers and sisters we have lost to suicide. If you know someone who has lost a family member or friend to suicide, reach out to them today and tell them that you are thinking of them.

If you know someone who is struggling, “reach in, and keep reaching in”.

Their life may depend upon it.

Mark Kelly – Blue HOPE
21 April 2020



Edward Vincent CAHILL

| 03/05/2018

Edward Vincent CAHILL

AKA  Ted
Late of  ?

New South Wales Police Force

[alert_yellow]Regd. #  4361[/alert_yellow]

Rank:  Probationary Constable – appointed 3 July 1939

Police Prosecutor – appointed 1948

District Police Prosecutor – Hunter region – appointed 20 June 1952

Sergeant 1st Class – appointed 24 August 1967

Inspector 2nd Class – Retirement

Stations:  ?, North East District, Hunter District – ( Police Prosecutor ), Lochinvar, Maitland, Newcastle, Officer In Charge – ( O.I.C. ) – Cessnock, O.I.C. – Gosford – Retirement

Service:  From  ? ? pre July 1939  to  10 May 1975 = 36 years Service

Awards:   Australian Sports Medal – granted 29 September 2000 for Service to Administration of Lawn Bowls

Born:   11 May 1915

Died on:  Thursday  13 January 2011

Age:  95

Cause:   ?

Event location:   ?

Event date:   ?

Funeral date:   ? ? ?

Funeral location:   ?

Funeral Parlour:  ?

Buried at:   ?

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

Edward Vincent CAHILL

 

[alert_yellow]TED is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow]  *NEED MORE INFO

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 Funeral 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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 Edward (Ted) Cahill served the Police Association as Maitland Branch secretary, conference delegate and Executive member 1952–c1970.
As an associate member he represented retired police in the Newcastle Branch from 1979–1988.
Ted was attested on 3 July 1939. In 1948 he was appointed a police prosecutor and, in 1952, became the district police prosecutor for the Hunter region. Ted was a fine all-round athlete and, in retirement, a keen lawn bowler. He retired on 10 May 1975 with the rank of inspector 2nd class and died on 13 January 2011.
 https://pansw.org.au/about/life-members/life-member-biographies/cahill-edward-vincent-1915-2011
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Scone Advocate (NSW : 1887 – 1954), Friday 20 June 1952, page 1

Personal Pars.

Sergeant E. V. Cahill, a member of the prosecuting staff from the C.I.B., began duty in the Maitland district this week as police prosecutor. His territory includes the Coalfields and extends as far as Scone. Sergeant G. King, who has been appearing as prosecutor, made his last appearance at East Maitland Court on Friday last. He is returning to general duty. Sergeant King appeared as police prosecutor at a recent Scone coronial inquiry.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/160625584

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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW : 1876 – 1954), Saturday 12 September 1953, page 8

Warning On Speed At Crossings

The Police Prosecutor ( Sergeant E. V. Cahill ) said at East Maitland Court yesterday that the Commissioner had issued a general circular drawing motorists’ attention to amended regulations providing for a speed limit of 15 miles an hour approaching open level crossings.

Sergeant Cahill said this action had been taken because there had been four fatal accidents in 12 months at the level crossing on the New England Highway at Four Mile Creek each attributable to speed.

More than 70 motorists had been reported for speeding at the crossing since the regulation appeared. ” Unless the position at the crossing improves, I will ask the Court for heavier penalties. ” he said. ” The limit was not introduced to persecute people, but to protect them, and police have been instructed to tighten up supervision of the crossing. ”

Three people charged with having driven at speeds in excess of that provided each stated he was unaware of the 15 mile-an-hour limit. Kenneth Clarke, of Jackson-street, Balgowlah, and Howard Vincent Maughan, of White-street, Gosford, were each fined £2/8/, with 12/ costs. The charge against William Jenkins, of Spencer-street, Cessnock, was dismissed under Section 556A after Mr. W. A. Enright ( for Jenkins ) had said he had been driving for 40 years without a conviction.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/140302122
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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW : 1876 – 1954), Wednesday 25 August 1954, page 11

Blood Tests For Drivers Urged Blood tests for drivers charged with driving under the influence were advocated by Sergeant E. V. Cahill, of Maitland, guest speaker at Kurri Kurri Business Men’s Club dinner. He said these tests would be the best for all parties. They would show the amount of alcohol consumed and would prove the capabilities of a driver. This would help the driver and the Court in determining these cases, he added. A vote of thanks was given by Mr. P. Johnson, supported by the President (Mr. R. Dick).

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134657506
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Many more articles can be found on Trove via’ Sergeant E. V. Cahill ‘
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NSW Fallen Police FB Group:
28 April 2018:

Scott Ellis:   Ted was my Grandfather on my mum’s side. Some of the question marks in red:

He was a Prosecutor at Maitland before making Inspector and was then OIC at Cessnock. Later moved to OIC Gosford where he retired from.

He featured prominently in a couple of big stories around Maitland, firstly the 1955 flood disaster, and a double decapitation murder of a couple, The Shelley’s, which was the subject of a book.
He prosecuted the offender and the investigation was run by his brother, Pat Cahill who was a Det Sgt at Newcastle CIB. They were nicknamed the “brothers in law”.

The solving of the murder pretty much turned on ballistic evidence presented by then expert Barney Ross, after a series of coincidences turned up one of the heads in Newcastle Harbour and a bullet was recovered. Fascinating brief! ( see part of the story below – Cal )

They were interesting blokes and part of our families history of NSW Police Service which includes Ted, Pat ( P.J. Cahill ), my dad Ike, Ted’s nephew Wal Taylor, also a prosecutor and myself.

I will see how many more of the red question marks I can get answered by the family mate and come back to you. Thanks for posting this.

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Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995), Monday 25 April 1960, page 3

POLICE SEEK HEADS AND WEAPON

SYDNEY, Sunday.

Police investigating the ” headless bodies ” murder to-night issued an urgent appeal for help from any motorist who gave a lift to a man carrying a suitcase or sack in Maitland district on Saturday night.

Police think that a psycopathic (sic) killer, who axed the heads off an East Maitland man and his wife in their lonely placed home on Saturday morning, fled from the district carrying the heads and murder weapon with him.

The dead couple, in the most horrifying murder in the annals of N.S.W. crime, were Sydney Sylvester Shelley, 34, and Elva Shelley, 21.

Their baby, eight-month old Louise, was found alive, but suffering from concussion, buried under two blankets and a suitcase in her cot.

Police have a theory that the mother, seeing her husband being murdered, hurriedly hid the baby under the blankets and suitcase to save the baby’s life.

The detectives believe that the killer first shot Mr Shelley and then beheaded him on the front doorstep of the tiny home. They think he then killed Mrs. Shelley.

More than 150 police have been swung into the search for the killer.

Police are making a house to-house check of Maitland, Newcastle and areas further out. They have ” turned over ” all known criminals.

Det. Sgt. R. E. Lendrum ( Regd # 3919 )said, ” Police have spent today scouring the country near the scene of the murder looking for the heads of the murdered couple and the murder weapons.

A coroner’s report to-day disclosed that the Shelleys could not have been murdered before 5 o’clock yesterday morning. .

Maitland police also said that there was now clear evidence that the Shelleys had been shot first and then decapitated.

The Shelleys‘ baby is now in hospital and its condition is satisfactory.

Police have been told that a man visited, the Shelley home late on Friday afternoon and there was an argument. The visitor left.

Police are checking the possibility that the visitor returned later that night, after the Shelleys had retired, and knocked on the front door.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103077917
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Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995), Friday 20 May 1960, page 3

Charged Man Denied Killing Shelleys MAITLAND,

Thursday.

Police said at an inquest today that a man charged with the murder of a married couple at East Maitland had tried to put the blame on another man when they accused him of the crime.

Det. Sgt. P. J. Cahill said that the charged man, Terence Patrick O’Connor, painter, of Maitland, when accused of the double murder said ‘Jack Russell done this.”

The coroner was inquiring into the deaths of Sidney Sylvester Shelley, 34, and his wife, Elva Shelley, 21, whose beheaded bodies were found in their house on April 23.

Sergeant Cahill said he arranged for O’Connor to confront Russell and repeat his allegation.

O’Connor had said to Russell, according to Sgt. Cahill: ” I think you shot them and cut off their heads.”

Russell had replied, ” You are a liar. Now I know that you done it.”

Sgt. Cahill said O’Connor had admitted to police that he had received from Russell a .32 calibre Colt revolver which Russell had borrowed from Shelley on Easter Monday.

When asked what he had done with the gun, O’Connor said that he had thrown it into the sea off Nobby’s Lighthouse, Sergeant Cahill said.

O’Connor had denied that he had shot the Shelleys with the gun, even after police had told him that bullets fired from the gun for practice into a post in the Shelley‘s back yard matched the bullets taken from Mrs. Shelley‘s head when the head was found.

Det. Sgt Cahill said that when police asked O’Connor why he and Russell wanted the gun from Shelley, O’Connor had replied, ” We only borrowed it. We heard he had one and we wanted to do a job.”

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103080117
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Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995), Friday 10 June 1960, page 18

OWN PISTOL KILLED SHELLEY POLICE CLAIM

MAITLAND, Thursday.

A detective sergeant said in the Maitland Coroner’s Court to-day that he told a man accused of a double murder that two bullets dug from a post in the yard of a house at East Maitland showed identical firing markings to two bullets taken from the decapitated head of a woman which was found floating in Newcastle Harbour.

Det. Sgt. Jack Bateman, of the Sydney C.I.B., said this when giving evidence in an inquest into the deaths of Sidney Sylvester Shelley, 34, and his wife Elva, 21. Their bodies were found, decapitated, in their East Maitland home on April 23.

Mrs. Shelley’s head was taken from Newcastle Harbour a week later.

Before the court was Terence Patrick O’Connor, 32 married, of Maitland. O’Connor is in custody on charges of murdering the Shelleys.

At the sixth day of the inquest to-day Sgt. Bateman said he put it to O’Connor that police, by comparing the bullets from the post at the Shelley home with the bullets taken from Mrs. Shelley’s head, had established that Shelley and his wife had been killed by a pistol which Shelley had owned.

Sgt. Bateman said he further told O’Connor that police had established that a man named Jack Russell had borrowed the pistol from Shelley and had given it to O’Connor.

O’Connor had replied, ” Yes, he gave it to me, but how do you know it is the one that killed her “? Sgt Bateman said.

The hearing was adjourned to to-morrow. To-morrow all evidence is expected to be completed and the Coroner, Mr. Jenkins, is expected to record a finding.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/174412769
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Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995), Saturday 11 June 1960, page 11

Painter To Stand Trial For Maitland Killings

MAITLAND, Friday .- The Maitland Coroner, Mr. V. R. Jenkins, to-day found that Terence Patrick O’Connor had murdered Elva Shelley, 21. and her husband, Sidney Sylvester Shelley, 34, at their Maitland home on April 23.

Mr. Jenkins committed O’Connor for trial ” I am satisfied beyond any ( reasonable doubt ) that in each instance the killing was done by O’Connor, ” Mr. Jenkins told the court

Mr. Jenkins also found that Elva Shelley died from bullet wounds in the head. Sidney Silvester Shelley had died from some injury inflicted on the head.

The beheaded bodies of the couple were found in their East Maitland home. Mr Jenkins said the head of Elva Shelley had been identified to his complete satisfaction.

” I can find no evidence which implicates either John Vile Russell, or Alan Dawson, ” he said. ( Two counsel earlier said ” two other men ” could be said to have motive for the killings. )

Mr. Jenkins committed O’Connor to stand trial at Central Court, Sydney, on August 22.

://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/137115735

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Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995), Saturday 27 August 1960, page 12

Murder Trial Jury To Visit Cottage

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136936727
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Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995), Wednesday 31 August 1960, page 3

Man Convicted Of Maitland Headless Murder

NEWCASTLE, Tuesday. – A jury took 75 minutes to-day to find a 33-year-old Maitland painter guilty of the ” Maitland headless murders.”

The accused, Terrence Patrick O’Connor, was sentenced to penal servitude for life.

The jury found O’Connor guilty of having murdered Sidney and Elva Shelley at their home at East Maitland on or about April 23.

The trial started last Tuesday.

The jury retired at 2.25p.m. to consider its verdict and returned at 3.40 p.m.

After the jury delivered its verdict, Mr. Justice Brereton asked O’Connor if he had anything to say.

O’Connor who appeared distressed, said, ” There is nothing I can say Your Honour.”

The judge then delivered his sentence and O’Connor was taken to the cells below the courtroom.

Mr. Justice Brereton said that there was nothing in the case which even faintly suggested justification for the deed.

” The possibilities were that Shelley was shot as he went to the door and that Mrs. Shelley was shot while lying in bed,” he said.

” Then it seemed that Shelley‘s body was dragged out, his head was cut off and put in a bag.”

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136936995

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John McCROHON

| 03/05/2018

John McCROHON

Late of  ?

Grandfather of NSWPF member – Ernest Edward McCrohon – # ‘Q’ 9403

Great Grandfather of NSWPF member – Victor Harry McCROHON – # 5009

Great Great Grandfather of NSWPF member – Vicki McCROHON – Police Woman 0123 who rejoined as Police Woman 0202

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  ????

 

Rank:  Chief Constable – appointed 9 March 1836 – Resigned 10 October 1837

Reappointed, in place of Constable James Jordan, in July 1838 & served until May 1839

Chief Constable – appointed 23 July 1838 until 6 May 1839

 

Stations:  ?, Paterson ( 1836 – 1837 ) & ( 1838 – 1839 )

Service 1:  From 9 March 1836  to  10 October 1837 = 19 Months Service

 

Service 2:  From 23 July 1838  to  6 May 1839 = 10 Months Service

Total Service:  2 years 5 months

 

Awards:   No find on It’s An Honour

 

Born:   ? ? 1795 – Limerick, Ireland

Died on:   Monday 6 May 1839

Age:  44. ( Other sources have him aged 39 at time of death which makes his birth 1800 )

Cause:   Fall from his horse whilst ON Duty

Event location:   Between Maitland & Paterson, NSW

Event date:  Monday  6 May 1839

 

Funeral date:   ? ? ?

Funeral location:   ?

Funeral Parlour:  ?

 

Buried at:   Unmarked grave, Glebe Cemetery, George St, East Maitland, NSW

 Memorial located at:   ?

 

 

 JOHN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance  * BUT SHOULD BE

 

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

 The Sydney Herald     Friday  10 May 1839    page 3

At Paterson, on the 6th instant, Mr. John McCrohan, late Chief Constable there, in consequence of a fall from his horse, when proceeding on duty to Maitland, leaving a wife and seven small children, nearly destitute, to deplore his loss.

The deceased, by his vigilance and good conduct, had gained the confidence and respect of the magistracy and settlers of the district, as he previously had done that of the Officers of the 4th of King’s Own Regiment of Foot, from which corps he honorably retired as Quarter-master Serjeant (sic ), in the enjoyment of a pension which ceases with his demise.

 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12858096#

John McCROHON

Male 1795 – 1839  (44 years)

Name John McCROHON
Born 1795 Limerick, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
Gender Male
Occupation 07 Aug 1838 Paterson, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location
  • Appointed chief constable 1838
Died 06 May 1839 Paterson, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2]
  • The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 – 1842), Friday 10 May 1839, page 3http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12858096At Paterson, on the 6th instant, Mr. John McCrohan, late Chief Constable there, in consequence of a fall from his horse, when proceeding on duty to Maitland, leaving a wife and seven small children, nearly destitute, to deplore his loss. The deceased, by his vigilance and good conduct, had gained the confidence and respect of the magistracy and settlers of the district, as he previously had done that of the Officers of the 4th or King’s Own Regiment of Foot, from which corps he honorably retired as Quarter-master Serjeant, in the enjoyment of a pension which ceases with his demise.The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (NSW : 1838 – 1841), Monday 13 May 1839, page 3http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32164046At Paterson, on the 6th instant, Mr. John McCrohan, late Chief Constable there, in consequence of a fall from his horse, when proceeding on duty to Maitland.
Notes 
  • Irishman of the 4th Regiment of Foot in either England, Ireland or France.John was born 1795 Limerick, enlisted at Cueta as a 15 yr old, 25/5/1810. His service was 3 yrs in Portugal & Africa, 2 years in France, 6 yrs 391 days in West Indies (5/4/1819 – 1/4/1826), Married at Chatham in June 1826 and then served 1 year and 3 months in Portugal ( where son John born ) and then 3 years 6 months in NSW. After resigning from the Regiment, John joined the Police Force at Paterson in NSW where he was killed in a horse accident on 6/5/1839.
Person ID I20751 Rossow-Beitzel
Last Modified 9 Oct 2017
 http://www.rossow-beitzel.com/getperson.php?personID=I20751&tree=First
No find on NSW BDM.
The Gympie Researcher
Gympie Family History Society Inc
Nov 2014    No. 77
Researcher Article for November Issue 2014
My name is Jennifer Chantrill. I was born in Adelaide in 1955 ……..
Page 14
My paternal grandmother Veronica Hunt also hailed from interesting stock. She was the great-great granddaughter of Sgt John McCrohon and his wife Amelie Ducroix; John had
served in France and Portugal during the Napoleonic wars, and their first child was born in Portugal. John discharged from the Kings Own 4th Regiment in Sydney and became the Chief Police Constable at Newcastle (NSW).
Their descendent Maxwell McCrohon went to America as a foreign correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald; he stayed and eventually obtained the post of Chief Editor of the Washington Post in the time of President Ronald Reagan.

 

Death Cert Emily McCROHON 1891
« on: Saturday 25 March 2018 06 07:24 GMT (UK) »

I have an unwanted Death Certificate of Emily McCrohon who was the daughter of Sydney Peter McCrohon NSW and Sarah Tindel of Ireland.  Emily was born in 1868 Rockhampton Qld.

She unfortunately died aged 23 years in 1891 Petersham NSW.

I had been trying to obtain the death cert of her grandmother, also named Emily McCrohon alias Amelia McCrohon nee Du Croix.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=142438.0

View Full Version : John Patrick McCrohon

Ammanda Schutz
26-11-10, 21:33

Name – John Patrick McCrohon

Date and place of birth: May 1795, St John’s Parish, Limerick, Ireland

Names of parents: John McCrohon and Margaret Unknown

Date and place of baptism – Unknown

Details of each of his or her marriages – married Amelia (Emily) du Croix at St Thomas, Winchester Hampshire (Unconfirmed)

Date of marriage: 23/06/1826 (Unconfirmed)

Occupation(s) – Sergeant Major; 4th Regiment of Foot, Lancaster King’s Own Regiment: Served in Portugal and occupied France after Waterloo. Regiment posted to garrison duty in NSW 1832 – 1837  ( Some researchers claim he was a Quartermaster. Not easy to verify as the regimental records were largely destroyed. )
NSW Constabulary: 1837-39. Appointed Chief Constable at Paterson NSW, 23/7/1838

Addresses where they lived: East Maitland, NSW

Date, place and cause of death: May 6, 1839, thrown from his horse on the road between Maitland and Paterson, NSW while on duty.

Date and place of burial. Buried at Glebe Cemetery

Details of will / administration of their estate – Unknown
Memorial inscription – Unknown

tenterfieldjulie
26-11-10, 22:08
Ammanda, I have John’s Military Service Records – he enlisted at Cueta, Africa 25 May 1810 at 15 years of age. His service ended on 8 Feb 1837 in Australia. From 5 April 1819 until 1 April 1826 he served in the West Indies. He was a Sergeant for 8 years and 55 days and Quarter Master Sergeant for 5 years and 106 days.
I was looking for their marriage in Portgual/France, so that information, although unsubstantiated, is news to me. 😀 Thanks Julie
Ammanda Schutz
27-11-10, 13:29
Julie: The information was given to me by a Cantwell researcher. They did not give me any documentation so I cannot verify. According to the researcher John was posted back to England, a base in Hampshire, and he and Emily were married there.
I would be glad of a copy of his service record. Thanks, A
btw did you get my email with the copy of the church register for the Gray/Dillon marriage?
Merry
27-11-10, 16:03

That marriage date would appear to be for this entry, from the FS pilot site:

Groom’s Name: John Mccrohon
Groom’s Birth Date:
Groom’s Birthplace:
Groom’s Age:
Bride’s Name: Emily Banham
Bride’s Birth Date:
Bride’s Birthplace:
Bride’s Age:
Marriage Date: 23 Jun 1826
Marriage Place: Saint Thomas,Winchester,Hampshire,England
Groom’s Father’s Name:
Groom’s Mother’s Name:
Bride’s Father’s Name:
Bride’s Mother’s Name:
Groom’s Race:
Groom’s Marital Status:
Groom’s Previous Wife’s Name:
Bride’s Race:
Bride’s Marital Status:
Bride’s Previous Husband’s Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M13675-1
System Origin: England-ODM
Source Film Number: 1041222
Reference Number:
Collection: England Marriages, 1538–1973

but the bride has a different surname. Might she have been previously married?

Ammanda Schutz
28-11-10, 00:56
As far as I know Emily was not previously married. It seems to me that the other researcher has made an error. McCrohon is not a common name but one branch of the family moved to England, and still lives there, and this John is probably one of from that group.
Thanks for looking, Merry, and clearing up that question. Back to the drawing board.
tenterfieldjulie
28-11-10, 07:59
Merry, From the marriage reigster, would it be possible to see the original entry, or would you need to buy a certificate, in case there is a mistake with transciption of Emily’s surname?
As he was in the military from age 15, would he have needed Official Permission to marry? Would there be records?
Thanks Ammanda have received the Gray cert I will pm you. Julie
Merry
28-11-10, 11:18

It’s too early for a civil certificate (1837+) but you could get a copy of the Parish Register entry from the Hampshire RO, for a fee!

Otherwise, you should also check the Chaplains Returns marriages (overseas ones and I think they may include some UK army marriages as well) if you haven’t already (they are on FMP 1796-1880, but you’ll need a sub) and bear in mind both their surnames are open to being listed under different letters of the alphabet!!

I’m not sure about the permission bit. Certainly at various times one needed permission from a commanding officer to marry, but I think sometimes it made a difference what rank you were and at what time in history you were marrying. Plus of course, needing permission didn’t mean that permission was always sought!

Merry
28-11-10, 11:21

As he was in the military from age 15, would he have needed Official Permission to marry? Would there be records?

Ammanda, I have John’s Military Service Records

If there was a record of permission, his army papers would be the place to look, so if it’s not there……………..

Ammanda Schutz
28-11-10, 13:05
I found a record of the birth of one child to John McCrohon and Emily
Henry William Mccrohon
11 Apr 1832
St. Mary’s, Chatham, Kent, England
There may be more but it was late when I found this one.
It seems that there was a John and Emily in England and they were still there in 1832.
Thanks for the help. A
Merry
28-11-10, 15:43
I found a record of the birth of one child to John McCrohon and Emily
Henry William Mccrohon
11 Apr 1832
St. Mary’s, Chatham, Kent, England
There may be more but it was late when I found this one.
It seems that there was a John and Emily in England and they were still there in 1832.When did yours go to Australia? I had assumed Henry Wm was theirs, particularly being born in Chatham.Amelia (Emily) du CroixDo you have her birthplace or parentage?
Ammanda Schutz
28-11-10, 21:16
Merry, their first child, John McCrohon Jr, was born in Portugal in 1827.
After that there are two children born, according to one researcher, in England. William Denis McCrohon and Jeremiah Joseph McCrohon. Both of these children are said to have died in 1834. John Sr and his family went with his regiment to NSW in 1832/33.
Therefore the two boys would have died in NSW and I can find no evidence of this in the NSW records after trying all the variations of the spelling of the name McCrohon that I can think of nor can I find any record of their births in England. The next child was born in NSW in 1833, Sidney Peter.
It is possible, I suppose, that the birth of two boys were recorded in some military records.
Seems kind of speculative to me, but once we start looking back in time it is all a bit foggy. Like my brain.
Ammanda Schutz
28-11-10, 21:22
Oh, forgot to respond to the second part of your question. Amelia/Emily du Croix is a bit of a mystery; could be French, maybe from Belguim, no-one knows for certain. No date of birth just a C1798 for the year. Her parents are said to be Sidney Pierre du Croix and Sarah Unknown. That a lot of help, isn’t it?
tenterfieldjulie
28-11-10, 22:02
According to John’s Service Records from the National Archives, it was noted that he served in the West Indies from April 1819 to April 1826. (I think this is noted because in his pension? they were only allocated half pay). The next positive fact is when John Junior is born in Portugal as Ammanda says. John and Emily therefore could have been married in the West Indies, England, Portugal, France or Belgium – if you can find the marriage Merry, you are an absolute genius.
tenterfieldjulie
28-11-10, 22:06
The two boys I believe had headstones in Sydney in an early burial ground , but I think the cemetery has since disappeared. I think someone sent me some details, I’ll email them when I find them Ammanda.
tenterfieldjulie
29-11-10, 06:31
Amanda I will email you.
I found listed in Monumental Inscriptions at Bunnerong (the headstones etc were moved here after the Elizabeth & Devonshire Street Cemeteries were cleared.) Grave No. 1409: William Denis and Jeremiah Joseph McCROHON the sons of Quarter Master Serg’t John & Emily McCROHON of the 4th or Kings Own Reg’t, the former died 18th February 1834 aged 4 years and 10 months, and the latter died 15th June 1834 aged 4 years and 5 days. In 1969 the Headstone was Upright and the Condition Good.
So William was born April 1829 and Jeremiah born June 1830, what a tragedy.
Ammanda Schutz
30-11-10, 02:41
Julie: Thanks for the information. Wonder why there are no records for the deaths. I can’t find their births in England either. More mystery. A
kiterunner
30-11-10, 07:56
Not really a mystery, Ammanda – they were born before civil registration started in the UK and died before civil registration started in NSW, weren’t they?
tenterfieldjulie
30-11-10, 09:12
Yes 1856 in Australia. I compiled a pre-compulsory-registration BDM register for Tenterfield from church records, newspapers, family bibles and family traditions. The earliest being 1844, this area was only opened up in the the late 1830s. Seeing as how the priest/minister carried his notebook in his saddlebag and the areas were huge, it is simply amazing that any records survived. Tenterfield Catholic records were found in Grafton, Armidale and Ipswich.
Ammanda Schutz
01-12-10, 14:24
Now that I have John’s service record (thanks to Julie) and seeing where the Regiment was deployed I have doubts that he met Amelia du Croix in France. He was not at Waterloo and so she probably is not from Belgium. On the other hand there is a prodigious length of time from his deployment with the Army of Occupation in France, 1815 through part of 1818, until his first child is born in 1827.
It seems more likely to me that he met her in the Caribbean where he served for almost seven years; the entire time the Regiment was deployed there. The 4th then came back to England for a short time in 1826 and went straight on to Portugal from December 1826 to July 1827. John Patrick was born there July 27, 1827.
Perhaps we should be looking for Amelia and a marriage in the French West Indies. That covers a lot of islands but at least we can rule out Haiti.
I have given it a go but no joy yet.
tenterfieldjulie
12-03-11, 04:45
Ammanda I was looking through some photos that I took at the Gray reunion at Elsmore. There were printed sheets on the walls on the McCrohons. Some of these sheets were hard to photograph because they were covered in plastic.
Under UK Military Records it had: John McCrohon joined 3rd/East Kent Regt 1806. Lieutenant 1808. Retired injured as captain on half-pay. Father of John & William? Have you heard anything of this? This could explain how John born 1795 Limerick, ended up enlisting at Cueta aged 15, if his father was in the military based in England.
It also had that the second child of John & Emily, William Dennis was born in Scotland April 1829 and third child, Jeremiah Joseph, born England 10 June 1830.
tenterfieldjulie
20-03-11, 08:46
Well you just think you know something and they something else crops up.
Tonight talking to a relie she tells me that she has a record someone gave her from the IGI for John McCrohon’s baptism (from his military records he was born 1795 in Limerick) it is RC Crondon Park, Essex Name John McCrohon (not sure if the surname is spelt like that) parents John and Margaret, baptism 1 March 1807. All I can think is that either he hadn’t been baptised or they didn’t have a record of his baptism for his confirmation. Can anyone view the original record and see if it gives his age?
HarrysMum
20-03-11, 08:53
Is there some way you can connect the Limerick John with Essex John?
tenterfieldjulie
20-03-11, 08:59
Parents names are the same, John and Margaret. There also was a John McCrohon who was in the East Kent Regiment at that time. I haven’t followed through with checking, but I feel this could be why John Junior was enlisting at Cueta aged 15. I just hoped that the baptism register of this John might say his age which the IGI doesn’t.
HarrysMum
20-03-11, 09:00
Do you know what IGI search it was??? I can’t find anything.
tenterfieldjulie
20-03-11, 09:04
No I don’t unfortunately I tried too. M. isn’t computer literate and said it was from the IGI and what did that mean!! The problem with McCrohon is spelt in all sorts of funny ways – I’ve seen McCrone, McCrohan, even Crone and that is in Australia!!
HarrysMum
20-03-11, 09:14
There are 10 people with John McCrohon born 1795 Limerick in ther GR trees. Have you contacted any of them?
tenterfieldjulie
20-03-11, 09:16
No I should but I get a bit wary after what people have said about the unsubstantiated records that people put on there. I think Ammanda has as she has quoted from Allycat.
HarrysMum
20-03-11, 09:19

Some of the same people have Thomas Gray so probably rellies you already know. Any results you get from anyone are unsubstantiated until you’ve found them yourself so that’s not really a problem.

It’s only an issue when you take what others say as gospel without double checking.

That’s from experience….lol

tenterfieldjulie
20-03-11, 09:22
Yo. When I get to the library I will look see. If Jan H. is on there, I was in correspondence with her years ago and she was very good. As are Ian M and Marcel.
HarrysMum
20-03-11, 09:23
I’ll have a look……are you a paid member??? I don’t think you can send messages unless you are.
tenterfieldjulie
20-03-11, 09:26
No I’m not. If I look it at the Library and see what is on there and who is saying it, I can probably get in contact. Especially as there is a reunion at Easter.
HarrysMum
20-03-11, 09:27

One is a McCrohon and one is a Gray who have John McCrohon.

I can send them a message.

tenterfieldjulie
20-03-11, 09:38
Thanks Lib, I will talk to you tomorrow. A bit too tired now to think up what to say lol
kiterunner
20-03-11, 15:58
That baptism on the IGI is an “extracted record” and it gives his age at baptism as 1.
tenterfieldjulie
20-03-11, 20:21
When he enlisted on 24 August 1810 it gave his age as 15 and under age (he officially didn’t get a pension until he turned 18). It gave his date and place of birth 1795 Limerick and this is on the original handwritten records. On the extracted baptism record if he is “our” John McCrohon his age should read 11 not 1?
HarrysMum
20-03-11, 20:40

It does say 1 Julie. You could always order the original from LDS and have a look.

Did I ask before……………..do you know if John had any siblings?

tenterfieldjulie
20-03-11, 20:42
Yes it is worth a try. How did they spell McCrohon please?
How it could be disproved if a marriage could be found in Essex.
HarrysMum
20-03-11, 20:47

McCrohon. There aren’t any others in that batch, but that’s only baptisms and that one could be on the changeover year for that batch…

Have you looked for a marriage in England?

Ammanda Schutz
20-03-11, 21:36
I looked and found nothing.
According to our Brisbane researcher there was a brother William McCrohon, 1807 but no place of birth. It seems that this is a real connection as William also joined the 4th and went to NSW with his family.
There was a John McCrohan born at Colchester 1814, I think. Fairly close by but I don’t know the significance, if there is one. Perhaps the same family and the younger John died.
McCrohan and McCrohon are always being mixed up so the spelling doesn’t signify.
There is a family tree on Ancestry that has a Margaret Manning married to a John McCrohon at about the right time but I can’t link them to us.
Julie, MS gives the marriage for Emily and John at 1818, no documentation.
HarrysMum
20-03-11, 21:52

Oh Ammanda…don’t you just hate it when someone gives you some info and can’t give you the source????? lol

I’ve had so many on my tree particularly from one person who is determined to connect us to royalty I’m sure. She has this beautiful tree without any sources and that’s because they’re aren’t any…………..lol

I think you need to contact the brisbane person and ask for all the sources. Anybody who has done a tree would expect to be asked for that so I can’t see a problem. Then you need to check all their sources yourself.

I’ve been caught badly by not rechecking another person’s work……

Ammanda Schutz
20-03-11, 23:40
Tell me about it. Down the garden path and back again. I am such a believing soul, gullible is probably a better word, that I have had to be burned really badly to learn the lesson.
Julie knows him and he probably will be at the reunion in April so she can talk to him first hand. However, I take your point. If I can find an email address I will whisk one off.
I sound confident but some folk don’t like their research challenged so I have to tread carefully especially as this is the ‘definitive’ work on the McCrohons.
The good thing about the family is that the name is uncommon. The rotten part is that it is spelled in every conceivable way and then some.
HarrysMum
21-03-11, 01:10

Thanks Ammanda……………….not sourced at all really is it???

The index list is just that…I’d like to see some certs and PRs before I’d say anything.

So John and Amelia marry in 1818………..where was that supposed to be??? If John was in the army, why didn’t he need permissiom to marry??? And if he did marry without permission, wasn’t he supposed to re-marry??

Has anyone found his actual records??? That should have exactly where he was and when.

There’s a 9 year gap between the marriage and the first child. Not sure of the significance of that yet….

A lot of the historical parts are general history. I’ve got very similar in my book on the Moores from Ireland.

I’ll print it out and highlight the parts I’m not sure about I think the I might get a better idea.

Ammanda Schutz
21-03-11, 01:56
Well, you have hit upon some of the issues and in short order.
We have his complete military record and can trace him from his earliest date in Ceuta.
I think he chose the 1818 because it was at the end of the time that John was in France with the occupation army. However, the rest doesn’t make any sense to me. Why wouldn’t she go with him to the West Indies? If she was outcast from her family where else would she go?
If the other marriage, Emily Banham, is anything to go by they started having children right away, as any Catholic couple would. Well, not just Catholic at that time. I think Emily had 9 children with John so there was no time to waste.
I had thought that if Emily DuCroix was on one of the French Islands in the Caribbean, after all they French had lost the war and control of their islands, at least nominally, then he could have met and married her there. I found no records to that end.
When the record in Winchester came to light I thought it more than probable. All the elements fit; John was at Chatham after returning from the West Indies and in between being sent back to Portugal. Their first child was born in Portugal in just over a year.
Also, even if Emily Banham was a widow and DuCroix was her maiden name, as the daughter of ‘some high official’ wouldn’t she be educated. She could not sign her name on the register but marked it with an X.
I also wonder how John got to Ceuta? He was obviously educated, could read and write and was a Quarter Master Sergeant. Maybe his father was already in the Military and the reference Julie found to a John McCrohon in the East Kent 3rd Regiment may be right on. The 3rd fought in Spain and Portugal during the war with Napoleon and perhaps his son was with him. Perhaps at Gibraltar just across from Ceuta. Ceuta is still a Spanish enclave in Morocco and was always an occupied military port.
Well, I am raving now. Off to bed.
Thanks for taking a look.
The
tenterfieldjulie
21-03-11, 02:51
Most of “MS” “History of the McCrohon Family in Australia” is I believe based on documentation, but the sources are not quoted. (He refers to study at State Librariers, LDS, State Archives etc) The part about the runaway marriage is I think is a family story, how they supposedly met her in France and had a runaway marriage. We know now that John McCrohon, 4th Foot, married a Emily Banham at St. Thomas Winchester 23 June 1826 (have copy of the marriage registration). Their son John was supposedly born in Portugal 25 July 1827 according to MS, which would fit with the marriage. Whether the birth information was recorded in a Family Bible, we hope to find out. We have the TNA records of John’s Military Records – when, where he joined 4th Foot etc, his ranks and times and places of service, including seven years in West Indies. Some of this MS seems to refer to, but I can see some errors in assumption. I think it would be better to speak to MS privately. I think he is an older person who did this out of respect for an elderly uncle who was related to him by marriage. He has very generously made this information available with no copyright claimed and fair use for non-profit purposes is permitted. His History comprises over 40 pages and so there is a lot of time and effort put into the McCrohon story.
HarrysMum
21-03-11, 03:03

I think talking to him about his sources would be a good idea Julie. Getting info from LDS is a bit dodgy unless you see the actual film. I must admit to not know about submitted entries when i started this lark and that gave me all sorts of trouble.

I’ve also got bad info from the State Library by using others’ trees and stories. One has a bit of wrong info and the next embellishes it and it goes on.

I wonder if the Ducroix story was along the lines of a tryst rather than an actual marriage. Those things can grow legs if people start talking…..lol.

I don’t think Amelia DuCroix and Emily Banham are the same person. Of course I can’t prove that but there are many things pointing that way.

My ggg grandfather’s marriage of 1818 is documented in his records. He was a sergeant at the time. The records also tell when he took leave etc. Although he was in the WI and other places, he managed to get home to ‘pro-create’ every couple of years.

Maybe if you tell him, you’ve been trying to find certain records and ask if he’d help you, at least you’ll know where he got them from.

tenterfieldjulie
21-03-11, 03:35
Well I found my buried records.
Death Registration of John McCrohon 20 June 1900 at Tingha NSW Born Portugal in Aust 58 years, Parents John McCrohon Quartermaster Sergeant in the army, Mother Emily Ducroi (x, more like t, possibly c). When this John’s son (another John died) his obit said he was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Patrick McCrohon who had migrated to Australia from Ireland.
Then the youngest child of John and Emily – Louis Estall died 3 May 1924 parents John McCrohon Miner and Agnes Decrow? (informant his son)
No wonder things are confused…
I.M. another researcher says in 2000: John – Born St. John’s Parish, Limerick July 1795, Brother William born Jan 1807 Crondon Park, Essex. John christened son of John and Margaret Crondon Park Rc 1 March 1807. Military Service – Returned Winchester 1 April 1826. Emily Ducroix Born France ca 1800 Seamstressi n Parish at time of British occupation 1816. First marriage to – Banham? John and Emily married 23 June 1826 at St. Thomas Rc Winchester.
Ammanda Schutz
21-03-11, 12:23
My head is swimming! Lots of information and I wonder where it leads.
Thanks for digging it out of the coffins Julie. lol
http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/archive/index.php?t-7228.html
http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7228