Constable 1st Class Athol Joseph JOHNSON

Stabbed

Gulgong

26 April, 1958

 

The constable was the Lockup Keeper at Gulgong and was on duty on Anzac Day, 1958. A patron of the local RSL Club, a man named Lester Haley, had become intoxicated and argumentative with other patrons and was escorted from the club. Constable Joe Johnson was asked to supervise Haley’s ejection and did so, however as the offender left the club he turned on the constable with a knife and stabbed him several times. The wounds proved to be fatal and the constable died the following day at the Gulgong Hospital. The offender was later arrested by Detective Constable 1st Class Jim Tutill, and was later convicted of manslaughter and sent to gaol.

The constable was born in 1918 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 21 January, 1946. At the time of his death he was stationed at Gulgong.

Constable 1st Class Neville Patrick JURY

Motor Vehicle Accident

Mayfield

15 September, 1957

On 14 September, 1957 Constable Jury was riding his Police Special Traffic Patrol cycle in Maitland Road, Mayfield. Another vehicle pulled out onto the roadway from in front of a bus, hitting the cycle and causing it to skid into the path of another oncoming vehicle. Constable Jury was also hit by the second vehicle and pinned beneath the bumper bar. He was taken to the Royal Newcastle Hospital suffering fractures and internal injuries, however he died the next day.

The constable was born in 1916 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 4 February, 1946. At the time of his death he was stationed at Mayfield.

Senior Constable James Alfred GREGORY

Heart Attack

Newcastle

21 May, 1957

 

On the morning of 21 May, 1957 Senior Constable Gregory and other police were engaged in the recovery of a body from a beach at the foot of a cliff. The strenuous task included climbing the cliff without the aid of ropes to bring the body to the top. After the job was completed Constable Gregory resumed normal duties before going to a nearby cafe for lunch. He was found a short time later sitting in the gutter in a distressed state, having suffered a heart attack. He was conveyed to the Newcastle Hospital where life was pronounced extinct.

The senior constable was born in 1901 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 25 July, 1928. At the time of his death he was attached to the Newcastle Water Police.

Detective Senior Constable Alexander STRACHAN

Chronic Nephritis

Snowy Mountains

15 March, 1957

 

In 1953 Detective Constable Strachan was performing Consorting Squad duties in the Snowy Mountains due to the large influx of personnel engaged in the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Involvement in a number of difficult investigations, often working in freezing conditions, was to have a serious effect on the detective’s health and on 15 March, 1957 he was admitted to the Mater Hospital, North Sydney suffering from uraemia and chronic nephritis (kidney disease). He died the same day.

The senior constable was born in 1916 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 11 January, 1937.

Constable Reginald Thomas SUTHERLAND

Motor Vehicle Accident

Griffith

20 May, 1954

 

On the evening of 20 May, 1954 Constable Sutherland, a Special Stock Investigator, and Constable 1st Class Howell were travelling in a police jeep from Darlington Point to Griffith. About 6.15pm a truck travelling in the opposite direction veered across the roadway, and although Constable Howell took evasive action, both vehicles collided. Constable Sutherland died later that evening from injuries he sustained in the accident. The driver of the truck was later charged with several offences including Manslaughter and Fail to Stop after Accident.

The constable was born in 1920 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 August, 1948. At the time of his death he was stationed at Wagga.

Inspector Michael O’NEILL

Illness

Sydney

4 February, 1954

‘

The sudden death of Inspector O’Neill was reported in The Argus of 5 February, 1954.

POLICEMAN DIES ON TOUR DUTY: Sydney, Thursday.

A police inspector died today while on duty in Macquarie Street for the opening of State Parliament by the Queen. He was Inspector Michael O’Neill, aged 56. At the time he was in charge of 35 police engaged in controlling the crowd and the traffic before the Queen arrived.He collapsed when allotting police to their positions, at 7.30 a.m. O’Neill was rushed to Sydney Hospital, about 100 yards away, where he died. A police officer said tonight that many police had worked double shifts coping with Royal Tour crowds. He said, “Sydney’s crowds in the last two days have tested police to the utmost.

The inspector was aged about 56 year at the time of his death. Further details are unknown at present.

Constable William George STOWER

Traffic Accident

Kogarah

1 October, 1937

It is not known if this death occurred on or off duty, however it appears likely that it was an off-duty death. The following brief paragraph appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald of the 2 October, 1937.

CONSTABLE’S DEATH.

Constable W. G. Stower, 24, who was stationed at Clarence Street Police Station, died in the St. George Hospital yesterday from a fractured skull, caused when he was thrown from a motor cycle in Park Road, Kogarah, on Thursday night [30^th September]. The wheels of the cycle skidded on the wet road and Stower was found lying unconscious on the side of the road.

The constable was born about 1913 and at the time of his death was stationed at the Clarence Street Police Station. He was also buried at Woronora Cemetery inthe Methodist section.

Constable Edward Thomas MARTIN

Motor Vehicle Accident

Arncliffe

1 April, 1937

The West Australian newspaper dated 2 April, 1937 carried the following brief article relating to the death of Constable Martin. Nothing else is known as yet.

PIERCED BY SHAFT – Death in Collision with Cart.

SYDNEY, April 1 – Constable Edward Thomas Martin (25), of Station Street, Arncliffe was killed this afternoon when his motor cycle and a cart collided in Wollongong Road, Arncliffe. Constable Martin was shockingly injured.  A shaft pierced his chest, severing arteries of the right lung. Constable Martin was on his way home after collecting his pay when he met his death.

The Sydney Morning Herald of 3 April 1937 carried a death notice for Constable Martin, as follows: MARTIN – April 1 1937 (accidentally killed at Arncliffe) Constable Edward Thomas (Eddy) Martin dearly loved son of Sergeant John and Mary Martin of 77 Station Street, Arncliffe and dear brother of Bernie and Ray, aged 25 years. Requiescat in peace.

At the time of his death the constable was 25 years old and was stationed at North Sydney. He was buried at Woronora Catholic Cemetery (Sutherland).

Constable John Thomas SHENNAN

Illness

Murwillumbah

11 May, 1936

The Sydney Morning Herald dated 12 May, 1936 published a brief account of the death of Constable Shennan.

CONSTABLE’S DEATH – MURWILLUMBAH, Monday.

Constable John Thomas Shennan, 34, a member of the Murwillumbah police force, was found with a bullet wound in his head this morning in the lumber room beneath a boarding house at Murwillumbah. A service revolver was lying nearby. A doctor was summoned immediately but Shennan died just after the doctor’s arrival. The constable, who is survived by his wife, had been in ill-health for some time.”

At the time of his death the constable was aged 34 years and was stationed at Murwillumbah.

Fall from Building

Sydney

19 April, 1931

On 30 December, 1926 Sergeant Carmody and Constable Delaney responded to a complaint of suspicious persons at a building at the corner of Elizabeth and Devonshire Streets, Sydney. The sergeant climbed a fire escape ladder at the premises, however as he was doing so he fell, dropping a distance of over six metres. He was taken home where a medical examination discounted any fractures, however it did reveal that he had jarred his spine and injured his back muscles. Over the next couple of years the sergeant’s health failed due to the fall injuries and he was discharged medically unfit on 30 April, 1929. He died two years later.

The Barrier Miner dated 31 December, 1926 reported that “While searching for burglars on a fire escape at Fraser House in Devonshire Street last night Detective Sergeant Carmody slipped and fell to a concrete yard 20 feet below. He suffered injuries to the spine and back, besides wounds on the legs and arms. His condition is critical”.

 

The sergeant was born in 1887 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 January, 1911. At the time of his injury he was stationed at the Regent Street Police Station.