Dearly beloved husband of Shirley. Loved father and father-in-law of Warwick and Alana, Damian and Jenny, Bryson and Donna. Cherished grandfather and great grandfather to their children. Will also be sadly missed by all his extended family and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial for the life of Rex will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 1 Chapel Lane, Baulkham Hills on Wednesday 2nd August, 2017 commencing at 11:00am. Following the service the cortege will proceed to Castlebrook Memorial Park Cemetery, 712 Windsor Road, Rouse Hill.
In lieu of flowers donations to NSW Police Legacy would be appreciated.
A Mass of Christian Burial for the life of Rex will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 1 Chapel Lane, Baulkham Hills
Wednesday 2nd August, 2017 commencing at 11:00am.
Following the service the cortege will proceed to Castlebrook Memorial Park Cemetery, 712 Windsor Road, Rouse Hill.
2137592 CAPT Rex James Anderson
24 May 1938 – 27 July 2017
Aged 79 Years
It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of
2137592 CAPT Rex James Anderson
on Thursday 27 July 2017.
Rex was called up for National Service in the late 1950’s and
after his initial training was enlisted into the CMF for two
years obligatory service. Rex served in 2 Div MP Coy and in
1970 he was seconded into the ARA as a specialist investigator
with the then SIB. Rex was sent to Vietnam with the SIB on
3 Dec 1970 till 2 Dec 1971. At the end of his secondment, Rex
returned to the NSW Police Force where he served until his
retirement as a Superintendent. Rex was a staunch member
of the MPAA and a strong supporter.
Rex was a thorough gentleman who was always willing to nurture,
advise and guide young investigators and to lend a helping hand
wherever required. He will be sadly missed.
Dearly beloved husband of Shirley. Loved father and father-in-law of Warwick and Alana, Damian and Jenny, Bryson and Donna. Cherished grandfather and great grandfather to their children. Will also be sadly missed by all his extended family and friends.
Rex and Shirley at their 55th Wedding Anniversary on 29 November 2013.
Retired Police Commissioner Ken Moroney with Nick Pavlov & Rex Anderson on 20 October 2015
Rex on 19 June 2016
Rex on the 13 May 2015 Col Kelson behind him with glasses on
Ronald Wayne KING
| 06/08/2017
Ronald Wayne KING
Late of Boronia House, North St Marys, NSW
New South Wales Police Force
Redfern Police Academy Class 105
Regd. # 11712
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 1 November 1965
Constable – appointed 1 November 1966
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed 1 November 1974
Sergeant – appointed 30 June 1981
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 1 July 1987
Retirement
Final Rank: ?
Stations: ?, Redfern Police Academy – Drill, Weapons & Special Training Section ( 1960’s – 70’s ), Parramatta ( 18 Division ) – Retirement
Service: From? ? pre November 1965? to 4 April 1991= 25+years Service
Age at Retirement: 54 years, 11 months, 30 days
Time in Retirement: 26 years, 3 months, 26 days
Awards: There are two Ronald Wayne KING’s on It’s An Honour website; One being a Warrant Officer Class 2, the other being a Policeman. I don’t know if Ron was still a Serving Member of the Army during his Policing career.
General Service Medal – 1962 – Clasp – South Vietnam
General Service Medal – Year ? – Borneo Bar ( Served as a Commando )
Born: Sunday 5 April 1936
Died on: Sunday 30 July 2017 during the evening
Age: 81 years, 3 months, 25 days
Cause: Natural causes
Event location: Boronia House, St Marys, NSW
Event date: Sunday 30 July 2017
Funeral date: Monday 7 August 2017 @ 1pm
Funeral location: Pinegrove Memorial Park Northern Chapel, Kington Street Minchinbury, NSW
Buried at: Memories Garden, Pinegrove Memorial Park, Minchinbury, NSW
Memorial located at: ?
Ron KING wearing the Infantry Combat Badge ( ICB ) under which is the General Service Ribbon (Cyprus 1963 – 1964 ), then General Service Ribbon 1962 ( Clasp – Vietnam ), Reserve Force Ribbon, National Ribbon with Clasp, UN-UNFICYP ( Police Overseas Service Ribbon – Cyprus )
RON is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
Funeral location:
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
At the time of his death Constable Raymond, Senior Sergeant John Healey ( # ‘P’20 ), and Constables Andrew Kilpatrick ( # ‘P’ 54 ) and Edward Mitchell ( # ‘P’1215 ) were escorting eleven prisoners to Darlinghurst Gaol where they were to help with building works. When the wagon in which they were travelling reached Bargo Brush (now Pheasant’s Nest) the prisoners attacked their escort in an escape bid. In the ensuing brawl one of the prisoners (James Crookwell) managed to seize a police revolver. He fired at Sergeant Healey however the bullet struck Constable Raymond in the face, killing him instantly. The constable’s first name is sometimes recorded as Edward.
On 20 April, 1866 an official inquiry into the “murderous assault by prisoners on the police under whose charge they were being brought from Berrima Gaol to Sydney” took place at Darlinghurst Gaol, before Captain Cloete, the Water Police Magistrate. In evidence, Senior Sergeant Healey gave an intimate account of the circumstances of the murder.
“We were proceeding towards Sydney, and about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, when within about ten miles from Picton I heard a shout in the coach, and at the same moment I was seized from behind by both shoulders by two men; I made a spring forward and fell off the coach; I jumped up and went round to the near side of the coach; I saw prisoners Weaver, Slattery, and Lee take hold of Constable Mitchell; they were trying to wrest his arms from him; they were all standing up in the coach; prisoners Berriman, Crookwell and Owens had hold of Constable Kilpatrick on the same side of the coach, but at the back seat; they were trying to wrest his carbine from him; Crookwell had hold of his throat; Berriman and Owens had hold of his carbine; the prisoner Forster, was standing up in the centre of the coach; I presented my rifle, and told the prisoners if they did not let go I would fire; they did not let go; I pulled the trigger, and the cap snapped; I then seized my rifle by the barrel and made a blow at Smith, who was still struggling with Mitchell ; I hit the coach, and broke the stock of the rifle; I then saw most of the prisoners rush to the off side of the coach; I was still on the near side; when I got round I saw that Constable Raymond had got out of the coach and was standing alongside it; when I got up to the coach, I looked in and saw Crookwell with a revolver in his right hand, and holding Kilpatrick’s throat with his left hand; I said to him, “Put down that revolver, or I’ll blow your brains out”; prisoner Lee was shouting out to the others, “Shoot the b-s’. Weaver cried out, “Shoot the b–sergeant;” Berriman was shouting out, “Fire, fire;”‘ directly I said to Crookwell I would blow his brains out, he turned round and said to me, “you b-,” at the same moment he fired; Raymond was standing in front of me, between me and the horses; and Crookwell was standing at the back part of the coach’; I heard something like a bullet pass me, and I immediately fired; I think I hit Slattery; as soon as the shot had been fired by Crookwell, I saw the blood gush from Raymond’s nose; Raymond turned half round and fell on his face.
At this time Constables Mitchell and Kilpatrick were both struggling with prisoners in the coach; I then saw Owens had got out of the coach and was running away; I followed him, and called upon him to stand; he refused; I fired; he immediately fell down and rolled over, and cried out, ” I’m shot, for God’s sake do not fire any more.”; I did not fire again; I went up to him and brought him back to the coach; when I got back to the coach, Mitchell and Kilpatrick had got out, and were standing by the side of the coach; Crookwell was holding up a revolver, and cried out twice, “I surrender”. Several of the prisoners also cried out that they would surrender; I did not hear any other shots fired; I made Owens get into the coach, and handcuffed himself; I noticed blood was coming from Slattery and Bland; two or three civilians then came up, one of whom was a clergyman, who assisted Mr. Whatmore to put the body of Raymond, in the boot of the coach; Raymond, up to this time, had not moved from the place where he had fallen”.
The constable was born in 1838 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 June, 1862. At the time of his death he was stationed in the Sydney Metropolitan District.
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1875),
Tuesday 17 April 1866, page 1
RAYMOND — On the 14th April, on the Southern Road, near Picton, from a gun-shot wound, inflicted by a prisoner while under escort, William Raymond, aged 28 years, a constable of the New South Wales police force, a native of Bishops-gate, London, England.
EXAMINATION OF FIVE PRISONERS AS BEING ACCESSORY TO THE MURDER OF CONSTABLE RAYMOND.
Our readers will remember that eleven prisoners were concerned in the desperate ? ( fight ) at Bargo Brush on Saturday last.
One of those, James Crookwell, was committed, on Monday, by the Coroner, at Picton to take, his trial at the next assizes for the murder of Constable Raymond. Three of the prisoners were wounded, Smith in the elbow, when attempting to snatch the revolver from sergeant Zglenitski ; Slattery near the kidney, when in the act of biting constable Mitchell‘s nose, and attempting to deprive him of his firearms ; and Bland was shot in the side and arm while trying to seize constable Mitchell’s rifle. These three prisoners are in the gaol hospital, and were not in a condition to be removed, Bland being in a somewhat precarious state. Hindmarsh and Webster, who do not appear to have taken any conspicuous part in the assault, will most likely be called by the Crown for the prosecution.
The remaining five prisoners were placed under examination yesterday, in the upper room of the debtors’ prison, Darlinghurst gaol, before the Water Police Magistrate, Captain Cloete.
The names of the prisoners are John Foster, William Lee, Henry Weaver, Thomas Berriman, and John Owens. They were brought into the room in the order named, in prison dress, and leg-ironed.
Foster is a strong young man, of about 24 years of age, and has a determined look about him. Lee, who acted as spokesman, is about, an inch taller than Foster, being 5 feet 7, aged 38, and apparently very familiar with gaols, and the customary preliminaries to them. Weaver is young, sulky, tall, and such a man as can be easily persuaded to anything. Berriman is a little compact, swarthy young man about 28 years of age. Owens is something like Foster, but more intelligent. These five, of themselves, appear almost a match for the escort whom they assaulted.
They were formally charged by senior-sergeant Healey, of the Berrima police, with being accessories to the murder of the late constable Raymond, near Bargo Brush, on Saturday, the 14th April instant.
Prisoner Lee : Your Worship, may I address you before anything further is stated? will you order all the witnesses out of court ? and I should like a piece of paper and a pencil to take notes.
The Magistrate said he would comply with the request, and the prisoner was supplied with paper and pencil.
Mr Williams, Crown Solicitor, then conducted the examination, as follows:-
John Healy deposed: I am a senior sergeant of police, stationed at Berrima.
I left Berrima about 9 o’clock on Saturday morning last, having previously attended the gaol at Berrima, and received in custody eleven prisoners, to be escorted from Berrima to Darlinghurst gaol, Sydney.
The names of the prisoners were, William Lee, Thomas Berriman, John Foster, Henry Weaver, John Owens, Michael Slattery, Hindmarsh, Crookwell, Bland, Smith, and Webster.
The five prisoners now before the Court were among them.
I had with me constables Kilpatrick, Mitchell, and Raymond.
The prisoners were placed in one of Cobb’s coaches, outside the gaol door. The three constables, myself, the driver, and a Mr Whatmore accompanied the coach. I sat on the left of Mr Whatmore, who sat next to the coach driver on the box. Constable Mitchell was placed with his back towards the box, on the near side of the first seat, there being four seats inside the Coach, Constable Raymond was on one of the centre seats on the off side facing the box. Constable Kilpatrick was on the oft, or back seat, facing Mitchell, but two seats between them.
Constable Raymond, Mitchell and myself, were armed with breach loading rifles and revolvers. Constable Kilpatrick had a small carbine and revolver, all were loaded. In this way we proceeded towards Sydney.
When about ten miles from Picton, and at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, I heard a cry like ” Hurrah ” in the conch. At the same moment I was seized from behind by both shoulders. The cry seemed to be a general cry. When I found hands forcibly upon me and an effort made to pull me back, I sprang forward, and jumped off the coach, and fell.
On recovering, I went round the near side of the coach. I then saw the prisoners Weaver, Smith, Lee, Slattery, and I think Bland surrounding and struggling with constable Mitchell. They were trying to wrest his firearms from him. They were all standing up in a cluster round him in the coach, Berriman, Crookwell and Owens, I saw had hold of constable Kilpatrick : he was on the back seat of the coach, on the same side. They were trying to wrest his carbine from him. Crookwell had hold of Kilpatrick‘s throat ; Berriman and Owens had hold of his carbine. Foster was standing up in the centre of the coach. I did not see him do anything. I did not then see constable Raymond. I was standing on the near side of the coach, with my back to the horses, and presented my revolver, and said to the prisoners Crookwell, Owens and Berriman, if they did not let go I would fire. I pulled the trigger of my rifle and the cap snapped. I then seized it by the barrel, and in striking at Smith, the stock caught the frame of the coach and broke the rifle. I saw the main body of the prisoners rush to the off-side of the coach. When I got round to face them, I then saw that constable Raymond had got out ; he had stumbled and was standing facing the coach near the hind wheel. When I came to Raymond I saw Crookwell with a revolver in his right hand. He had hold of constable Kilpatrick‘s throat with his left. I said to him ” Put down that revolver, or I’ll blow your brains out.” Prisoner Lee was hallowing out: ” Shoot the b—gers. ” Weaver cried out, ” Shoot the b—dy sergeant, ” Berriman cried out, ” Fire ! fire ! ” Directly I said to Crookwell, put down that revolver, or I’ll blow your brains out, ” he turned partly round presented the revolver towards me saying, ” You b–ger, ” at the same time firing.
At this time constable Raymond was on my right. I was between Crookwell and Raymond. I saw the explosion, and felt the lead ball whiz past my face. I returned the fire instantly with my revolver, and I believe I hit Slattery. As soon as Crookwell fired I saw the blood rushing from Raymond’s nose. He wheeled round, and tell forward, dead.
At this time the prisoners were still struggling with constables Mitchell and Kilpatrick, I observed Owens jump from the other side of the coach and run away. I followed, and told him to stand. He did not, and I fired. He immediately fell on his face on the road, and cried out ” I’m shot, for God’s sake don’t fire any more. ” I went up to him and brought him back to the coach. He was not shot.
When I got back to the coach constables Mitchell and Kilpatrick had got out of the coach. I noticed Crookwell holding up the revolver, and heard him crying out ” I surrender ! ” Several of the other prisoners were also calling out ” I surrender !” I could not tell whether any other shots were fired at this time.
I made Owens get into the coach and handcuff himself, and also the other prisoners we’re made to re-seat themselves. I then observed blood coming from Slattery and Bland. Two or three civilians came up then, one was a clergyman and they assisted Mr Whatmore and the driver to lift the body of constable Raymond on the Boot of the coach.
Raymond had never moved from the time he was shot.
After we had got Raymond on the boot of the coach, we three Constables, walked by the side of the coach until we came within about six miles of Picton, when we were met by the sergeant and a constable from the Picton police;
We proceeded on to Picton, secured the prisoners in the watch-house, and placed the body of constable William Raymond in the courthouse. He was quite dead.
When I jumped off the coach and recovered myself, I saw Hindmarsh holding up one hand and saying ” I have nothing to do with this. ” I saw Webster standing up in the coach; So far as I saw, Webster was quiet.
When we left Berrima the prisoners were handcuffed by one hand to a chain, and had leg-irons on. I produced the transmission warrant for the removal of the prisoners from Berrima to Darlinghurst. I handed this warrant over with the prisoners at Picton.
The shot that Crookwell fired was shot in the direction of Raymond.
The prisoners declined to ask any questions.
Andrew Kilpatrick deposed: I am a constable stationed at Berrima. On the 14th April I went to Berrima gaol, in company with senior-sergeant Healey and two other constables. The sergeant received charge of eleven prisoners. The five prisoners now before the Court were of that number. The sergeant was sitting on the box. I and the other constables were inside the coach. I sat on the back seat, Raymond in the centre, and Mitchell on the front seat.
When we came to within three miles of the Bargo River, On the Sydney side of Anderson’s public-house, a prisoner named Crookwell, sitting by my side, gave a shout, saying, ” Now, give it to the b–gers. ” Crookwell seized hold of my carbine, as did also prisoners Berriman and Owens, and endeavoured to wrest it from me. Crookwell then let go, and seized my revolver from the case at my waist belt.
Senior sergeant Healy came round to my side, and I shouted for him to shoot this fellow Crookwell. At this time Crookwell had just got the revolver. The other two had hold of my carbine. The sergeant presented his rifle at Crookwell, and it missed fire. He then clubbed the rifle, made a blow but struck an iron bar in the coach. He ( Healey ) then ran to the other side of the coach, at the same time drawing his revolver. Just as he got round, constable Raymond had just got a fall from a stumbling of the coach. As Raymond was straightening himself up, the sergeant came between him and Crookwell, and told Crookwell to put down the revolver. Crookwell made use of some savage expressions and fired. I saw Raymond fall and observed the blood gashing from his nose. It was with my revolver Crookwell shot him. The sergeant immediately fired in return. I cannot say which prisoner was struck, but one was. After Crookwell fired he turned to me and said ” If you don’t leave go of the carbine I’ll shoot you. ” I said, ” Shoot way. I’ll not let go. ”
He snapped the revolver at breast. As it did not explode he struck my right hand with the revolver. I then jumped out of the coach with my carbine, when I saw sergeant bringing Owens back. I could not see how constable Mitchell was getting on. When the sergeant brought Owens back, the prisoners all called ” Surrender ! we surrender ! ” and sat down in the coach, when the sergeant ordered them to put on the handcuffs. The sergeant and myself were in uniform at the time. I only observed Crookwell and Owens had been un-handcuffed. Could not say whether any of the others had been un-handcuffed.
Crookwell, Owens, Berriman and Weaver, were particularly active about me and and tried to disarm me. I heard Weaver call out ” Shoot the sergeant. “. This was when Crookwell had the revolver. Slattery also called out ” Shoot the b—dy sergeant. ”
The prisoners appeared to me to be acting in concert, and for the general purpose of effecting their escape.
When Slattery called out ” Shoot the b—dy sergeant, ” it was after Raymond had been shot by Crookwell.
I saw the body of Raymond afterwards. It was quite dead.
Prisoner Lee: Your Worship, I think it is stepping a little beyond the bounds of justice for the gentlemen prosecuting to be whispering to the sergeant who has given his evidence. I know that gentleman is conducting the case for the Crown, and he will take care to get out enough from the respective witnesses when under examination.
Mr Williams said he was asking no question but such as was proper, and taken no unfair advantage.
Mr Cloete: I will see that no injustice is done you. The prisoners declined to ask any questions.
Edward W. Mitchell; deposed: I am a mounted constable, stationed at Berrima, and formed one of an escort from Berrima to Sydney, in charge of senior sergeant Healey. The prisoners were Foster, Lee, Bland, Smith, Weaver, Slattery, Hindmarsh, Berriman, Webster, Crookwell and Owners. We were all in of Cobb and Co.’s coaches, the sergeant on the box. I, Raymond and Mitchell were inside the coach. I sat with my back to the box with two prisoners on my left. Raymond was on the third seat on my left front, with three prisoners on his left. Kilpatrick was on the fourth seat, facing me, with two prisoners on his right. Crookwell sat next to Kilpatrick.
When about 400 yards on the Sydney side of Anderson’s public-house; the prisoners made a sudden rush ; some stood up. I saw two of the prisoners jump up and put their hands above the cloth covering of the coach, and seized the sergeant and endeavoured to pull him backward into the coach. Slattery and Weaver were the two men.
The sergeant got away from them. Simultaneously with seizing the sergeant, three of the prisoners seized me. Foster, Lee and Smith seized me. Smith caught me by the throat. Foster endeavoured to force me back, as nears as I can recollect, by throwing his body on me. Lee took hold of the rifle and endeavoured to disarm me. While I was struggling with these prisoners, I saw sergeant Healey coming round the side of the coach. He covered Smith and Lee with his rifle. I heard the cap snap, and the butt of the rifle swing against the coach.
A minute or so after I said ” By G—, if you don’t let go, I’ll fire ! ” They did not let go, and I fired. The rifle was pointed towards the prisoner, Bland, who, at this time, had hold of the rifle, with the others. Bland was wounded on the side and arm by the contents of my rifle. Immediately after this I was seized by the prisoners Weaver and Slattery. Slattery seized me by the throat, and by the hair of my head, and got my nose to his mouth when at that moment, he received a ? and staggered back. Weaver caught me by the body ? ? maintained hold of the rifle. While I was struggling with the remaining three, Foster took hold of my left arm, and endeavoured to pull it away from the pouch which contained my revolver. I was holding and covering my revolver pouch. Lee and Smith made an effort to pull the revolver out of the pouch, but they did not succeed.
About half a minute after Slattery was shot, I heard a remark that some one was wounded. A number of them then called out ” We’ll surrender. ” I was so occupied with the prisoners near me that I could not see what constable Raymond was doing. I just caught a glimpse of Owen escaping from the hind wheel of the coach. I did not notice Hindmarsh, nor Webster; they were away from me. After they called out ” We’ll surrender, ” I got out of the coach, and ran round to the other side, when I there saw constable Raymond lying dead on his face. I observed a gunshot wound on the left side of his nose, just below the eye. I immediately re-loaded my rifle.
The body of constable Raymond was put on the footboard. The prisoners were secured in the coach. We proceeded to Picton and on the way met Senior sergeant Zglenitski, and another constable.
We placed the prisoners in the Picton watch house, and the body of constable Raymond in the Court house. The prisoners were secured at Berrima on a marching chain by handcuffs, and each was leg ironed. The only man I saw free from the chain was Owens. In this attempt to escape the prisoners to me appeared to act in concert, as if they were one man. The prisoners declined to ask questions.
Police sergeant Zglenitski and two other witnesses having to be examined, the further hearing of the case was adjourned until Monday, 30th Instant, at 2 o’clock. o’clock.
The official inquiry into the charge brought by sergeant Healey against Hugh M. Bland and Michael Slattery, of being accessories to the murder of constable William Raymond, near Bargo Brush, on the 11th of April last, was resumed before the Water Police Magistrate, Mr Cloete, in the debtors’ prison at Darlinghurst Gaol, yesterday afternoon.
The inquiry into the case against these two prisoners was commenced at the same place on Monday last, and the evidence taken on that occasion was reported in our issue of yesterday. The remainder of the evidence was taken yesterday and both prisoners were committed for trial. The evidence given was as follows:-
John Frederick Webster, alias Timothy Fuller, a prisoner under sentence, was called and said I was one of the eleven prisoners removed from Berrima gaol to Darlinghurst gaol, under charge of senior sergeant Healey, on the 14th April last , the names of the other prisoners were, James Crookwell, Thomas Berriman, William Lee, Peter Hindmarsh, John Owen, Henry Weaver, John Foster, Michael Slattery, James Smith, and Hugh Montgomery Bland ; I was an assistant warder in Berrima gaol, and on the 14th I was called out of the yard and ironed in the presence of the gaoler, thence I was taken back to my cell, and after breakfast brought out and searched , the other prisoners were then ironed and on the chain , I was also handcuffed to the chain , we were marched out and placed in Cobb’s coach ; there were three policemen beside the sergeant in charge of us, and another young man accompanied us, after going a few miles the coach stopped, and the young man took the fourth horse back to Berrima ; we then went on to Rush’s, and thence, after changing horses, to Bargo, where we again changed horses, we were there ordered out of the coach, and marched into a little yard to get our dinner ; while we were at dinner (which was brought to us by the police), I observed Crookwell, Owen, Berriman, and Smith, with two handcuff keys, and they were trying their handcuffs. Berriman produced one of the keys I don’t know who brought the other. I heard Crookwell and Owen say they could undo their handcuffs. Smith said they were going to rush the police, to choke them, and take their arms from them, and then to make their escape, both he and Crookwell asked me if I would take part in the rush ; I said ” no, I have only twenty months to do, but if I had twenty years to do I would not join you ” ; Smith then called me ” bl–dy dog ” and coward, and threatened to rip me open if I spoke one word, at this time he had a double bladed clasp knife in his hand cutting some bread and meat, I told him I would not have anything to do with it, and I never spoke one word afterwards ; Crookwell afterwards said, addressing Forster, Slattery, and Weaver, ” how is it going to be? ” they said they would be willing the first chance they got after they were in the coach again ; Crookwell, addressing Slattery, asked, ” Is Bland going to be in it ?” Slattery replied that it was no use to ask him, as he had only six weeks to serve, and therefore it was not likely he would join them ; I heard Lee ask Bland if he would be one to rush the police and take their arms from them, and he replied, ” No, he would not on any consideration,” and he should be a free man in six weeks’ time. Crookwell then asked Berriman and Owen, if they knew which of the police they were to assist in taking the arms from, and Owen said, ” I know the man I have to choke. ” Berriman said “You choke him and I’ll take his revolver, and Slattery added, ” I’ll take his rifle. The whole of the prisoners heard what was going on ; Foster said he would make one to pull the Sergeant in off the box of the coach. Lee said, “I will make another” Smith said he would choke the man sitting on the front seat of the coach and take his arms from him ; Hindmarsh said he would assist Crookwell all he could ; Weaver said he would assist in holding the Sergeant down in the coach ; we were about three quarters of an hour in the yard, the sergeant and one of the the police were about eight yards from us in a little shed ; another constable was behind us, the other side of a water hole, and the fourth in front of us near the fence, between four and five yards from us ; I heard Crookwell, Slattery, and Smith, ask the sergeant if he would be kind enough to allow them to take their coats off and he consenting they were taken off ; after this we got into the coach and started on our journey ; we were sitting in the coach the same as before, with the exception of Lee and Foster, who exchanged seats ; we proceeded for about three or four miles on the road, when on turning my head round I saw Crookwell and Owen ; Crookwell was pointing to the near side of the coach, and calling constable Kilpatrick’s attention to something while Owen was taking his handcuffs off with a handcuff key ; I then saw Owen try Crookwell’s handcuffs ; I turned my eye towards the front of the coach and felt the chain to which we were ironed fall quite slack ; I saw John Owen standing up in the coach ; all of a sudden he whipped his arms around the neck of the constable who was afterwards shot, and sang out ” Now then, Tommy and Jimmy ;” Berriman instantly made a snatch at the constable’s revolver, and I tried to stop him ; I struck him and tried to keep his hands off ; Slattery, who was sitting in front of the constable who was afterwards shot caught hold of him to pull him towards him, and tried to get hold of his rifle, but the constable held his rifle at arms length outside the coach, and Slattery could not got hold of it ; at this time I had hold of Berriman with my right hand, and received a blow under the ear – I don’t know who struck me – I was knocked down in the body of the coach ; the policeman got away from Berriman, Owen, and Slattery, and got out of the coach ; when he got on the ground he held his rifle, pointing it towards Crookwell, and said if they did not surrender he would fire at them ; the sergeant stood alongside of him some few feet apart ; the constable was nearer the hinder part of the coach and somewhat behind the sergeant ; I turned my head and saw Crookwell and Hindmarsh struggling with a constable who sat on the hinder part of the coach ; Crookwell had hold of the constable’s revolver, trying to pull it out of his hand ; Hindmarsh had hold of one of the constables legs ; I heard Lee and Smith sing out, ” Shoot the —– sergeant first ; I recognised their voices ; I looked round and saw the sergeant with a rifle in his hand, and he was pointing it towards Crookwell ; he ordered the men to surrender, or he would shoot them ; Hindmarsh, whose chain I had hold of, struck me on the head, and threatened to kill me ; I then let go his chain ; Crookwell, having got possession of the constable’s pistol, pointed it at the sergeant, and said, ” You b—– b——, I’ll shoot you ;” I saw Crookwell fire a shot in the direction of the sergeant, and I saw the policeman who had got out of the coach fall the moment the shot was fired. The sergeant snapped his carbine at Crookwell, and then he ( the sergeant ) rushed upon the side of the oath, but I, being crushed down by the prisoners, did not to what he did ; when I got up, I saw too sergeant away from the coach, and I heard him shout out, ” Stand, or I’ll fire ; ” at this time Owen was running away towards the Bargo River ; the sergeant fired, and Owen fell, saying he was shot ; I heard some other shots fired — one, I believe, inside the coach on the off side ; before Crookwell fired the shot, Smith, Slattery, and Weaver had hold of one of the police, and were trying to get his arms from him ; they were also trying to throw him over the side of the coach ; he sung out to them to let go, or he would shoot some of them ; one shot was fired, and I saw Bland fall, before he was shot he was sitting in the front of the coach, on the off side ; before he was shot, he said ” oh my God, sergeant, don’t shoot me ;” Bland was not interfering in any way in this matter ; shortly after Bland was that I heard the sergeant sing out ” surrender, ” I will shoot you ; when the sergeant caught Owen, be brought him back and put him into the coach, when Slattery, Smith, and Weavers were struggling with the constable I heard Slattery say ” I’ll bite your bl–dy nose off ;” just before Owen was put back into the coach, and immediately after Slattery had threatened to bite the constable’s nose off, a shot was fired which wounded Slattery ; Slattery sung out ” I am shot ;” sergeant Healey said ” then will you surrender ;” Slattery replied ” yes.” Crookwell said it was no use trying any more, it was better to surrender – he had done his best ; Smith said ” we may as well try again, they can do nothing but hang us. ”
Bland said, ” My God, men, keep quiet, ” and immediately he fell back in a faint ; I heard Smith and Lee sing out during the affray to shoot the sergeant ; I wish to mention that at the first commencement of the row Foster, Weaver, and Lee made a snatch at the sergeant, and tore his coat, but he just pod oil and ran round to the near side of the coach ; I held up my hand to him, and said, ” Sergeant, for God’s sake, don t shoot me, for I have nothing to do with it ; ” it was then that I received a blow on my head ; after the row I saw a clergyman and an elderly gentleman come and assist to put the body of the dead constable into the boot of the coach ; when we proceeded on our journey the sergeant and the two constables walked by the side of the coach ; when we were on our way Smith, Lee, and Weaver said, ” The sergeant shot the constable himself ;” shortly afterwards we were met by a sergeant and policemen from Picton, who joined our escort ; Bland was calling for water, and one of the constables brought some in my hat ; after being met by the other sergeant and constable, Lee and Smith called to them to bring some water for Bland, and the sergeant who came from Picton said, ” As soon as I can get water he shall have some. ” Smith said, ” I know you, you b—dy dog, if I could get hold of you I would give you water ;” Smith had one leg out of the coach, and he made a snatch at the sergeants revolver, and the sergeant jumped back ; the sergeant told him if he did not stop in the coach he would shoot him ; he came up again and Smith made a second attempt to got hold of the revolver, and immediately upon the attempt being made the sergeant fired and shot him in the arm ; at the same time Lee tried to get out of the coach on the other side, and the constable who came from Picton, cocked his gun, and told him to sit down ; Lee said he could not sit down, but he said, if he could got held of that gun he would make him sit down ; after getting to Picton and being placed in the lock-up, Owen, Berriman, Lee and Smith, wanted to choke me, saying that I would be an informer, but Hindmarsh, Weaver and Foster said they would not have time as the police would on top of them, and it would only make matters worse.
By the Water Police Magistrate ; It was after the policeman was shot that Bland was shot ; I could see Bland all the time the row was going on ; he remained sitting until a little before he was shot.
By the prisoner Bland ; I should think it was between two and three minutes after the constable was shot before you were shot. I did not hear you make use of an expression to the police, except this, ” For Gods sake, sergeant, don’t shoot me. ” I can swear you did not say ” Shoot the —- sergeant ;” you were shot after the struggle occurred between Kilpatrick, Lee, and Slattery ; it was impossible for Kilpatrick to see you while the struggle was going on.
By the prisoner Slattery ; I have travelled that road with a dray, and also under escort before ; I made my escape from the police on that road, and after being out of the way for three years I was arrested on another charge and sentenced to seven years hard labour on the roads.
The Water Police Magistrate cautioned the prisoners in the usual way as to anything that they might say, but both declined to say anything. Mr Cloete said he had not the slightest hesitation in regard to Slattery, but with reference to Bland, the only evidence against him was that by constable Kilpatrick, who stated that he heard this prisoner say ” Shoot the sergeant. ” Under all the circumstances, he was of opinion that the constable had made a mistake ; but that was a matter entirely for a jury. He should, therefore, commit both prisoners for trial Both prisoners were then committed for trial at the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court, and the proceedings terminated.
This poor bugger was exhumed to prove he was shot by the criminal and not by an offsider.
THE BARGO BRUSH MURDER. — EXHUMATION OF CONSTABLE RAYMOND’S BODY.
It may be remembered by most of our readers that Crookwell, and Slattery in particular, when sentence of death was being passed upon them, and four others, stoutly denied that a revolver bullet killed Raymond, but that it was a ball from senior-sergeant Healey’s rifle that killed him.
This was a point of material importance as regarded the death of Raymond, because several witnesses for the Crown swore he was shot by Crookwell with a revolver, while the prisoners in concert avowed that he was killed by Henley’s rifle.
Yesterday forenoon Dr. Aaron, and Dr. Scouler, of Picton, who first examined the body, were commissioned by the Attorney-General to exhume the body from the grave in the Newtown Cemetery, to examine the ball, and to give a written report whether that ball belonged to a rifle or to a revolver.
Drs. Scouler, and Aaron, accompanied by an inspector of police, and Mr. Fosberry, chief clerk to the Inspector-General, had the body taken up, and the examination conducted with much care.
They first examined the skull, but before any opening was effected, Dr. Scouler was permitted to again place his finger in the wound, at the end of which the bullet was expected to be lodged.
The fleshy integuments were found to be severed, and decomposed; but Dr. Scouler pulled out a large piece of flattened lead, altered from its assumed original shape by coming in contact with a bone of the skull near the right temple.
From the external wound nothing could be gathered, and it was therefore decided to open the skull. Beside the first piece of lead two other smaller pieces were now discovered, and the doctors had to resort to medical scales and weights to decide as to the size of the bullet.
They found that, judging from its weight, the bullet had been fired from a revolver; that a portion of the lead had a groove mark upon it; and that the barrel of the carbine used by senior-sergeant Healey had no groove, but that the revolver taken from constable Kilpatrick, and used by Crookwell, was grooved.
The lead taken from Raymond’s skull was weighed to half a grain in very nice scales, sealed up in an envelope, and handed to the Crown Solicitor.
So far as the medical testimony is concerned, it is against the prisoners and in favour of the police.
A transcript of his Death Certificate:
NSW DEATH REGISTRATION TRANSCRIPTION
REF NO -1866/6230
NAME:- WILLIAM RAYMOND
DATE OF DEATH:- 14/4/1866
PLACE:- BARGO NSW
OCCUPATION:- CONSTABLE
SEX:- MALE
AGE:- 28
PLACE OF BIRTH:- BISHOPS GATE, LONDON, ENGLAND
TIME IN AUSTRALIA COLONIES:- ABOUT 16 YEARS IN NSW
FATHER:- WILLIAM RAYMOND
OCCUPATION:- TAILOR
MOTHER:- HARRIET BIRD
PLACE OF MARRIAGE:- UNMARRIED
AGE AT MARRIAGE:-
NAME OF SPOUSE:-
CHILDREN OF MARRIAGE:-
INFORMANT:- J W ANTILL, JP, CORONER:- JARVIS FIELD
CAUSE OF DEATH:- CORONER’S VERDICT:- WILFULLY MURDERED BY BEING SHOT IN THE HEAD
LENGTH OF ILLNESS:- SUDDEN DEATH
MEDICAL ATTENDANT:- NONE
DATE LAST SEEN:-
DATE OF BURIAL:- 16 Apr 1866
PLACE OF BURIAL:- CAMPERDOWN
MINISTER:- REV THOMAS SMITH, CHURCH OF ENGLAND
WITNESSES:- HENRY SYKES & JOSEPH NINESS
Presumed to have come out to Australia about 1850 with his mother, Harriet, who had married John Miller in London in 1850. He would then have been about 9 or 10 years old. However, no shipping record found. Date of arrival consistent with stated time in colony of NSW in death registration.
And a newspaper item that I don’t think you have that includes a notice from probably his mother. His step father, John Miller, was a Merchant Seaman and probably had died by then. But we’ve never found a record of his death. I assume that’s why he isn’t mentioned in the death notice. His natural father, also William Raymond, died in London a couple of months after he ( son ) was born and his mother then married John Miller in London in 1850. So until he was about 12 he grew up in London with a single mum. Must have been hard on them both.
Sydney Mail 21 Apr 1866
DEATHS
MILLER – April 14th, on the Southern Rd, near Picton, from a gunshot wound inflicted by a prisoner while under escort, William Raymond, aged 28 years, a constable of the New South Wales Police Force, and the beloved son of Mrs Miller, of Brisbane-street, Glebe, beloved and regretted by a large circle of friends.
RAYMOND – April 14th, on the Southern Rd, near Picton, from a gun-shot wound inflicted by a prisoner while under escort, William Raymond, aged 28 years, a constable of the New South Wales Police Force, a native of Bishopsgate, London, England. London papers please copy.
THE LATE CONSTABLE RAYMOND’S FUNERAL. —The remains of the late constable Raymond, who was shot by a prisoner at Bargo Brush on Saturday, were removed from the police depot, Sydney, to their last resting place, Newtown Cemetery, on Monday afternoon.
The relatives of deceased followed the hearse in mourning coaches, and coaches were also provided for intimate friends of the deceased’s parents.
About one hundred policemen, in full dress uniform, formed the procession, and the cortege moved slowly on to the place of interment.
The Rev. Thomas Smith, of St Barnabas’, officiated, and delivered an oration, over the grave of deceased.
The procession then returned to the police depot and separated.
13800
BN13845
Raymond
William
14 Apr 1866
28
6230/1866
Spencer Henry WALKLATE
| 06/08/2017
Spencer Henry WALKLATE
aka Spence
Late of Bondi Junction
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # ????
Rank: Constable
Stations: Regent St – # 2 Division,
Service: From 3 July 1940to 16 December 1943 ( Resigned to join Army in WWII )=3+years Service
Concerning the murder of NSW Police Constable Spencer Henry Walklate and others – Muschu Island in the Japanese occupied Territory of Papua & New Guinea – April 1945.
by Detective Senior Sergeant Garry Nowlan
On the 150th anniversary of the NSW Police Force many former and retired Police Officers who have contributed so richly to our history have been remembered. However, we rarely mention the achievements of Police Officers in times of war. Many NSW Police Officers have served during many wars, deployments and peacekeeping operations over many years and some have paid the supreme sacrifice.
This is the story of one of them.
Spencer Henry Walklate was born at Brushgrove on the Clarence River near Maclean in northern NSW on the 11th January 1918. He was enrolled and educated at the nearby Wardell Public School in 1923. Spencer attended Church, Methodist Sunday School and was a fit and healthy country kid who excelled at sport. After leaving school he became a grocery salesman and purveyor of small- goods. He later met a Grenfell girl named Linda Maude O’Keefe who was to become the love of his life. They married at Gunnedah on the 31 January 1938 and settled down to start a family.
But, these were uncertain times and war clouds gathered over Europe. A fragile peace had existed with Germany since the end of WW1 but that was shattered when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939. When Britain declared war on Germany and her allies Australia and all the other Commonwealth Nations also went to war. Many young Australian men went off to fight in Europe the Middle East and North Africa.
Life was good in quiet country NSW for a young man with a new wife and a bright future. However, due to events abroad, Spencer became unsettled and through a strong sense of duty to country, joined the 33rd Militia Battalion at Gunnedah, where he underwent basic military training.
Meanwhile, Japan watched events in Europe unfold with interest. Japan had until the 19th century been a very
isolationist society with little contact from the outside world.
Then, in 1860 Japan formed an unlikely but long standing cultural and intellectual association with Germany. But, due to conflicting political aspirations over China, Japan declared war on Germany and fought on the British side during WW1. An uneasy peace existed for the next decade or so but in 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria and fought a long and bloody war against China, committing many atrocities.
The conflict expanded Japanese military power in the region and it’s troops soon became battle hardened, experienced combat veterans. By the mid 1930’s a rising Japan had formed a strong military alliance with an increasingly aggressive Germany and became part of the Axis Alliance along with Mussolini’s Fascist Italy. The ultimate aim of this pact was world domination.
On observing Hitler’s early successes in Europe, Japan a small country with limited resources, cast it’s eyes south.
To the rich resources of land, agriculture, oil, rubber, iron ore and coal. And their aspirations turned to South East Asia, and beyond. The U.S. had remained neutral for the first 2 years of WW2 but they had a powerful naval presence in the pacific based at Pearl Harbour, which threatened Japanese ambitions. So, on 7 December 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Simultaneously and through a series of coordinated, vicious attacks Japan invaded the Philippines, and moved quickly south through Indo-China taking Burma,
Thailand, Vietnam and Malaya. Fortress Singapore fell on 15 February 1942 after one week of bitter fighting and 130,000 Commonwealth troops
entered the hell of Japanese captivity.
This included over 22,000 Australian troops mainly from the 8th Division.
Just 4 days later on 19 February 1942 Darwin was bombed by a massive Japanese force destroying much of the town and many Allied ships in Darwin Harbour. The attack was carried out by the same bomber group which attacked Pearl Harbour, however more bombs were dropped on Darwin than at Pearl Harbour. Australia would be attacked and bombed by the Japanese on 63 occasions. This was followed up with the raid in Sydney harbour on 31 May 1942 by 3 midget Japanese submarines. Sydney and Newcastle were shelled by Japanese submarines and Allied shipping was sunk off the eastern coast of Australia.
The Japanese invaded Rabaul massacring 130 Australian POW’s at Tol Plantation and began building an airfield on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands to provide a base from which to further isolate and attack Australia. By July 1942 the Japanese occupied the Mandated Territory of Papua & New Guinea, Timor, Nauru, and the Solomon Islands and also held many other islands just to our north.
These were the darkest days for Australia and the Japanese advance south seemed unstoppable. Due to the imminent threat to Australia, Prime Minister Curtin defied Winston Churchill and brought Australian troops home from the Middle East and North Africa to defend Australia. The battle on the Kokoda Track was still raging, when in September 1942 Japanese land forces were for the first time stopped and defeated by Australian troops at the battle of Milne Bay. The tide had turned. Then the slow and painful slog through mud, swamp and jungle began, to push the Japanese back. To borrow the words of Winston Churchill, “This was not the end. It was not even the beginning of the end. But it was the end of the beginning.” It looked for the first time like the Battle for Australia could be won.
Meanwhile, Spencer Walklate observed events from afar. He had decided to move closer to the action and he and Linda left the bush and moved to Sydney taking up residence at Bondi Junction. Again through a sense of duty he decided to join the NSW Police Force at the age of 22 years so he could do his bit to defend the homeland. He joined the NSW Police Force on 3rd July 1940 and after initial training at the Burke Street Police Academy Redfern, was posted as a Probationary Constable to No 2 Division Regent Street. He performed wartime General Duties and was no doubt disturbed by world events, particularly the Darwin air raids and Japanese Submarine attacks on Sydney Harbour.
Spencer had developed into a fine, solidly built, very large and physically fit young man.
In addition to his demanding role as Constable of Police pounding the beat around Central Railway Station, Broadway and Paddy’s Market, he had developed into a first class footballer. He joined St. George Football Club and in 1943 played 15 first grade games as a forward scoring 2 tries and 3 goals. He was also a strong swimmer and in his spare time was a Bondi Surf Life Saver. Spencer Walklate was a big man of many talents. Just the kind of man you might need when your country was fighting for it’s very existence In June 1942 the Australian Military formed a Special Forces unit for clandestine commando operations behind enemy lines. Their main role was reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, sabotage and supporting resistance efforts in occupied territories. It was a secret force named
simply ‘Z’ Special Unit. The unit was administered through Special Operations Executive (SOE) Australia and was made up entirely of volunteers. It’s recruits came from various army and naval units who volunteered for ‘Special’ service in extremely high risk and dangerous operation’s.
They trained in a variety of secret training camps including Camp Z in Broken Bay, Z Experimental Station in Cairns and there was a commando school on Fraser Island. In June 1943 a ‘Z’ Special Unit commando team based on Magnetic Island staged a mock raid in Townsville Harbour by placing dummy limpet mines on allied shipping. When the mines were discovered it caused a furore as the navy thought the mines were real. The commander of the unit was arrested and subject to disciplinary action. But, the lessons learned here were later used in the highly successful Operation Jaywick raid by ‘Z’ Special Unit in Singapore Harbour, where 39,000 tons of enemy shipping was destroyed by limpet mines.
By late 1943 Constable Walklate was in a state of personal crisis. He did not want to leave his young wife or his job, but could find no other option.
His country was at war and he had army training. He knew men who were going off to fight. Not to go was unthinkable.
At the time the Police Force was designated a reserved occupation. Police were not permitted to join the military forces as it was deemed just as important for them to remain at home to keep the peace, defend the homeland and protect critical infrastructure. But, as so many Police were resigning to enlist, the rule was later relaxed and Police were allowed to enlist and return to the Force at the end of their military deployment.
So, Spencer made the only decision he could. In order to enlist he resigned from the NSW Police Force on 16th December 1943 and joined the AIF at Paddington on 31 December. On 5 January 1944 Spencer Henry Walklate Serial No NX202843 marched into 3rd Australian Army Recruit Training Battalion. He was 25 years of age.
Private Walklate‘s Police Training and leadership abilities held him in good stead and 3 months later he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 16 April. On 16 July 1944 Lance Corporal Walklate attended and successfully completed the jungle warfare course at the Australian Jungle Warfare Training Centre, Canungra. But, as in peacetime Spencer Walklate excelled and wanted to be among the best. So, on 4 August he volunteered for, and was accepted into ‘Z’ Special Unit. As this was a highly specialised unit he had to accept reduction to the rank of Private. But, after gaining all his skills and proficiency levels on 29 October 1944 his rank was reinstated to Lance Corporal.
Due to the level of secrecy involved, not much is known of his service over the next four months however it is highly likely he attended one or more of the ‘Z’ Special Unit training camps for specialised training in espionage and battle survival techniques. He departed Australia in secrecy for war service in the occupied Territory of Papua & New Guinea on 21 February 1945. He did not know he would never see Australia or his beloved wife Linda again.
Lance Corporal Spencer Walklate was posted to Group ‘C’ – ‘Z’ Special Unit in Lae where he trained in secret with other members of the group. It is not known what Spencer Walklate did or where he went for the next several weeks.
But, what is known is that he was about to enter the history books as taking part in one of the boldest, most heroic and tragic commando raids behind enemy lines in the South West Pacific theatre of war. Operation Copper.
Of course the name is a mere co-incidence, but the irony is not lost on the astute reader.
By April 1945 the allies were well and truly winning the war. In Europe the Russians were advancing on Berlin and Hitler would commit suicide within weeks. The Japanese had lost the war but were in denial and were being pushed back to Japan or decimated island by island. General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Allied Commander in the South West Pacific, was island hopping eager to complete his self fulfilling prophesy of, “I shall return” to the Philippines. And he did not care how many Australians had to die in order for him to fulfil it. As the Japanese had already proved they would rather die than surrender, the Americans were by-passing Japanese held islands in their rush north. MacArthur, determined to have all the glory for America had relegated the Australian troops, who were
the first to ever stop the Japanese and who had done the lion’s share of the fighting in New Guinea, to clearing up the stranded Japanese remnants. But, this was no easy task as the Japanese had been on some of these islands for years. They had established strong defences and built food gardens to enable them to survive and were willing to fight to the death to hold their ground.
And so it was that plans were made for an Australian invasion of Wewak on the north coast of New Guinea where the Japanese were stranded in strength, with nowhere else to go. Many diggers after the war would say that many a good man was lost and most of these operations were unnecessary as the Japanese could have just been left to starve and ‘wither on the vine’.
Intelligence reports indicated that there were two big 140mm naval guns situated on Muschu Island which commanded the coastline where the invasion was to take place and could wreak havoc on Australian invasion troops and shipping. Muschu was a small nondescript tropical island, like thousands of other small tropical islands, situated just 4kms off the coast near Wewak. Surrounded by coral reefs it was flat around the fringes, with scattered rocky coves, spectacular lagoons and beaches. It was hilly in the middle with a couple of isolated native villages and covered in dense tropical jungle. It was also the home for 700 very hostile Japanese soldiers. ‘Z’ Special Unit and Lance Corporal Spencer Walklate, were given the task of locating and disabling the guns on Muschu Island.
The following members of the Group ‘C’ – ‘Z’ Special Unit raiding party were assembled and briefed at Aitape on 8 April 1945:
Lt. Thomas Barnes, Lt. Alan Gubbay, Sergeant Max Weber, Signalman Michael Hagger, Private John Chandler, Private Ron Eagleton, Sapper Edward ‘Mick’ Dennis and Lance Corporal Spencer Henry Walklate. ‘Mick’ Dennis and ‘Spence’ Walklate had already become best mates and both had close familial connections with the NSW Police Force. ‘Mick‘ had been an unarmed combat instructor with the NSW Police Force before the war. His sister, Clare Dennis, was a 1932 Olympic 200 metre breaststroke swimming Gold Medallist, who was married to George Golding, a NSW Police Detective and 1930 Empire Games track and field Bronze Medallist. His father Alexander Dennis was a Police Prosecutor in the NSW Police Force at Burwood.
During the Aitape briefing the team was provided with maps, prismatic compasses, aerial photographs, secret wireless codes and intelligence reports on their area of operations. They would be inserted into the area by Naval Patrol Boat and would then paddle to the island by folding canvas kyak-like boats called ‘folboats’. Each man carried a 9mm automatic Sten SMG backed up by a .38 calibre Smith and Wesson Model 10 revolver. The raiding party was also issued with three 9mm ‘Welrods’ which were a silenced bolt action repeating pistol also known as ‘The Assassins Gun’. Other equipment included the Fairbairn Sykes commando fighting knife, two radio transmitters, walkie talkies, Very lights (flares), signal mirrors and rations for 24 hours. The mission was simple. Get in, capture a
Japanese prisoner for interrogation, find the guns, disable them if possible, contact the naval patrol boat by wireless and get out.
The night of 11 April 1945 was selected as it was a dark, moonless night with favourable tides. That afternoon the raiding party boarded Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML) 1231 at Aitape and was conveyed under cover of darkness on the 8 hour, 150 kms journey to within 5 kms of Muschu Island. At 2130 hrs they disembarked the patrol boat in four folboats, two men paddling in each and set off into enemy held territory. And into the lion’s den.
As the men’s night vision kicked in all eyes strained on the dark brooding mass ahead. The only sight that pierced the darkness was the luminous trail left in the rippling wake of the boats as they carved their way through the calm tropical waters. The only sound that broke the silence was the dip of paddles as they sliced the still black water, the slap of the waves against the flimsy canvas hulls of the tiny boats, and the faintly suppressed groans of straining men as they pulled the fragile craft closer. The eerie blackness was occasionally violated by the phosphorescent flash made by some unseen creature lurking in the murky depths below
the sweating, determined men. On they went through the still, balmy, tropical night towards the dark foreboding shadow of the unseen enemy’s lair.
Then disaster struck. At 2230 hrs the folboats hit an uncharted reef and capsized. The party managed to recover the boats but much of the party’s weapons and
equipment was saturated or lost in the black churning water. Two hours later 8 tired, wet and bedraggled men dragged themselves to shore where the party slept fitfully 15 metres inland.
At 0500 hrs on 12 April they stood to. Weapons at the ready clutched in tense, sweating hands, eyes straining through the thick jungle foliage and ears fine-tuned to pick up the slightest hostile sound. When no enemy activity was detected they concealed the boats 50 metres inland in dense undergrowth and set up a base camp some 100 metres further inland where the wireless transmitter and equipment was concealed.
The team then moved east for 30 minutes where they located two well oiled Juki machine guns in firing positions covering the beach. They dismantled the guns and threw them into the sea. The party continued across the island and found strong enemy posts every 50 metres along the coast with a network of trenches and connecting tracks behind. A further four machine guns were located and dismantled. A food garden and some enemy occupied huts were located. There were some bomb craters in this area and here they obtained fresh rain water for the first time.
That afternoon they captured a Japanese soldier who was bound and gagged.
They then tried to find their way back to their base camp but got lost. Taking the wrong track they came upon a Japanese camp. They diverted around the camp and on some cliffs found several gun positions.
They made contact with two Japanese near some huts and both were shot dead with the silenced ‘Welrods’.
They then moved back east and finally found the naval gun positions they were looking for. Grid references were taken so the guns could be destroyed by allied aircraft and with the mission nearly accomplished they began to make their way back to base camp.
But, again disaster struck. As they passed near a Japanese patrol the prisoner slipped his gag and called out alerting the enemy. The prisoner was immediately shot and the party went to ground. There was a strong Japanese presence on the island and by now they were alerted to the presence of the raiders and several hundred Japanese were out in force searching for the Australians. That evening they moved back to the folboats but found they had been discovered by the Japanese and an ambush had been set nearby with a machine gun covering the boats. The party then withdrew, made a fresh base camp and now with no wireless transmitters had to plan their getaway.
They decided to try for the mainland so constructed a raft from logs and at 2000 hrs put to sea but the raft smashed to pieces on a coral reef. This time they lost the remainder of their weapons and equipment and the only man to retain his weapon and pack was Sapper Dennis. It would save his life and enable him to live to tell the story of what happened next.
They returned to the island and after much debate decided by democratic vote to break up into two groups. One group of four men being Sergeant Weber, Private Chandler, Signalman Hagger and Sapper Dennis, favoured remaining on the island and would try to recover a wireless transmitter to contact the rescue boat. The other group comprising Lt Barnes, Lt Gubbay, Private Eagleton and Lance Corporal Spencer Walklate, favoured putting to sea on separate logs to try to make it to nearby Kairiru Island and signal patrolling allied reconnaissance aircraft with mirrors. The men said their goodbyes, shook hands and wished each other luck.
Spencer Walklate and his party then set to sea and the last time he or his mates were seen alive by friendly eyes was as they paddled quietly off into the darkness. Four tiny, bedraggled figures bobbing along on coconut logs carried on the unpredictable currents of the Solomon Sea. Into the vast, enemy held, shark infested unknown.
The story of what happened to Spencer Walklate and his mates cannot be told without reference to the extraordinary tale of survival by Sapper Dennis. The Dennis party moved inland and rested. They spent the 13/14 April observing the movements of the Japanese and watching for signals.
At 0600 hrs on 15 April they moved back to their original base and recovered one of the wireless transmitters. While moving back to a safe position to set up the radio they were ambushed by a Japanese patrol. Sapper Dennis shot two Japanese with his sten gun and the party split up discarding the wireless set in the scrub. Dennis was unable to locate the rest of the party throughout the day. He returned to the bomb crater to get fresh water but found it sour and bitter to the taste. The Japanese were poisoning the water holes to deny the intruders water. Dennis then moved west and in an encounter near a hut shot one Japanese. He then surprised a Japanese Patrol of four and shot one wounding several others. He hid for the night in the scrub and heard Japanese patrols moving around and heard shots near the beach.
Having given up hope of finding the rest of the party he continued west and found a Japanese machine gun in position but unattended so he toppled it over a cliff. He slept in a sago forest and could hear and see the Japanese searching for him. As per mission objectives he continued to record the details and grid references of all Japanese positions, strengths and infrastructure in his note book.
On 16 April he reached the west coast of the island near Muschu Bay and decided to try for the mainland. He found a suitable plank on a wrecked Japanese barge and hid it.
He remained in the area until night and returning to the plank found it had been removed back to the barge. He retrieved the plank and then paddled for 10 hours through shark infested waters and battled strong ocean currents until making the mainland two hours before dawn. He rested, then on 17 April set off north west towards what he hoped were the Australian lines. He evaded Japanese patrols but was observed by two Japanese and shot one.
He later encountered another four man Japanese patrol and shot two. He then surprised two Japanese but his SMG misfired.
The Japanese were so frightened one lost his rifle and they both ran away.
He continued west for 20 kms through enemy territory until 1400 hrs on 20 April when he contacted a patrol of the 2/7th Australian Commando Company. His ordeal was over and the details of his intelligence debrief conducted at Aitape on 21 April 1945 form the basis for this narrative.
Sapper ‘Mick’ Dennis, former NSW Police unarmed combat instructor, was awarded the Military Medal for this extraordinary feat of courage and endurance.
But what of the other 7 men of Operation Copper?
The war ended just 4 months later with the dropping of the atomic bombs ‘Little Boy’ and ‘Fat Man’ at Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August 1945 respectively. After cessation of hostilities the Australian military commenced it’s War Crimes investigations and trials into Japanese atrocities. Muschu Island was converted to an internment camp for Japanese POW’s and Japanese officers and soldiers were interviewed to establish what happened to missing allied servicemen and women. But, the Japanese were often untruthful, uncooperative and sought to cover up the truth for fear of being tried and executed as war criminals. It had been a long and bloody war and most Allied Governments just wanted to forget about it. The Americans were even less enthusiastic to pursue high level war criminals as General MacArthur was given the task to re build post-war Japan and he used high ranking Japanese officers and officials, many of whom were war criminals, in the process. So, many war criminals escaped justice, as was to be the case for the missing men of Operation Copper.
In 1945/46 war crimes investigators interviewed senior Japanese officers on Muschu Island re the fate of the Operation Copper men. They were told that the three men from the Dennis party were ambushed and killed while trying to operate a radio set. However, natives had reported seeing the mutilated bodies of these men on Muschu in April 1945. While the Japanese claimed the bodies had been damaged by artillery shells, Sapper Dennis has always disagreed with this. He believes his three mates were captured, tortured and murdered by the Japanese.
The mutilated bodies could indicate they were cannibalised which was a common practice by the Japanese in New Guinea during WW2. After the war the remains of the bodies of Sergeant Weber, Private Chandler and Signalman Hagger were recovered from a shallow grave and re-buried at Wewak. They were later exhumed and moved to Lae war cemetery. At least one body appeared to have been decapitated and another was shot through the head.
But what of Spencer Walklate and his 3 mates, who set off into the unknown so long ago on coconut logs?
The Australian Army concluded in 1946 the party was drowned at sea or taken by sharks. But, many years after the war, with the declassification of military documents, new information became available and has shed fresh light on what happened.
It is now known that natives on nearby Kairiru Island told military investigators that up to three Australian’s came ashore on Kairiru in April 1945 and were executed by the Japanese. The Japanese denied this claim stating that two airmen did come ashore but they died of sickness and disease two days later. The native claims were ignored and never followed up at the time.
But, recently Australian Army documents have surfaced containing eye witness accounts of the murder of two Australian soldiers on Kairiru Island, including an account by the Japanese officer who carried out the executions.
According to these primary source documents between April-June (sic) 1945 a very large Australian ‘airman’, perfectly fitting the description of Spencer Walklate, was captured on Kairiru. ‘Z’ Special Unit operatives would have used a cover story if captured as espionage was punishable by summary execution, while ordinary servicemen were entitled to protection under the Japanese Code of Military Law. (Japan was not a signatory to the Geneva Convention). So, claiming to be an airman shot down or crash landing in the vicinity made perfect sense.
It is also known that checks of military war dairies indicate that no Australian airmen were lost in that location at that time. The Australian POW referred to in this document is almost certainly Spencer Henry Walklate.
Following is the disturbing firsthand account of his beheading murder, sourced from official Australian Department of Army War Crimes Archives and extracts taken from an interview with Ensign OAWAGA Waichi of the Japanese Imperial Navy, who was stationed on Muschu Island in 1945.
OAWAGA Waichi (states): During the first part of June 1945, an Australian airman was brought to headquarters from the north coast. At about 1300 Medical Officer MARUYAMA came to the sick bay and I received the order:
“Petty Officer OAGAWA, execute him.”
Thereupon I went to the scene of the action. At a spot about 100 yards away in the direction of headquarters a large Australian airman, blindfolded and wearing Japanese summer clothing, was being held with his arms behind his back by a guard detail of the sixth squad. He was kneeling on both knees in front of a hole in the ground. I approached Ensign FUMIYA, the chief of the guards, and reported:
“I have come upon orders from the medical officer.”
“Hurry and execute him.” (HYAKU Kire) I was ordered, so I borrowed the sword from the NCO who had come for liaison purposes and decapitated (the prisoner). With only a single stroke of the sword, he fell forward and died.
At this time there were present from headquarters the Staff Engineer Officer, Secretary KAWADA, Medical Ensign OMOTEZAKA, Supervisor Petty Officer (medical) SUZUKI and Leading Seaman MACHI.
Besides these there were fifteen to twenty officers and guards.
The corpse was buried on the spot under the direction of Ensign FUMIY A.
The same grim, barbaric ritual was repeated 10 days later with the capture and murder of a second member of the Operation Copper party. However, the precise identity of this soldier is not known and he was heavily drugged with Narcopon (Opium) prior to execution.
OAWAGA Waichi (states): “ About ten days had passed since the first incident when again an Australian airman was brought to headquarters from the north coast. At about 1500 I received the order from the medical officer:
‘Execute him with an injection of one CC of Narcopon.’
Thereupon I took one CC hypodermic needle and one CC of narcopon from the dispensary and went to the scene of the action. Lt (s.g) AMENOMORI and Secretary KAWADA were investigating in the finance room.
A fatigue detail was digging a hole. In about two hours the investigation was finished and an Australian of average stature, blindfolded and wearing Japanese summer clothes, was lead out by the guards. His hands were held behind his back and he was made to kneel in front of the hole.
The medical officer ordered me:
‘Give him the injection’ (CHUSHA SHIRO), so I injected one CC of Narcopon into the lower part of the left shoulder blade. Then I borrowed a sword from Superior Petty Officer KAWANO. About fifteen to twenty minutes after the injection the order:
‘Execute him’ (KIRE) was given, so I raised the sword over my head and brought it down, decapitating (the prisoner).
The Australian fell forward and died. Under the direction of Ensign FUMIYA, the corpse was buried on the spot.”
It appears that possibly one other member of the Walklate party met a similar fate with the fourth probably lost at sea.
Surprisingly, no Japanese solder was ever charged with war crimes regarding the murders of the Operation Copper men, in spite of this compelling evidence. The information provided by Sapper Dennis, the sole survivor of the Operation Copper raid, was used in the planning for the successful invasion of Wewak and the subsequent defeat of the Japanese which ended the Japanese occupation in New Guinea.
And so ends the heroic but tragic story of the men of Operation Copper and of the murder of Spencer Henry Walklate. Athlete, elite sportsman, football star, surf life saver, soldier, commando, POW, war hero, loving husband and NSW Constable of Police. Executed without trial by war criminals, he lies in an unmarked grave, in a lonely foreign place, on a tiny god forsaken island no one has ever heard of. Postscript:
Each ANZAC Day, Edward Thomas ‘Mick’ Dennis MM, rises early.
He polishes his shoes, dresses in his best suit and carefully pins the shining row of bronze and silver medals with their brightly coloured ribands on the left breast of his jacket just above the pocket. The RSL badge and Returned From Active Service badge complete the ritual. Then, arming himself with his walking cane, he shuffles off to the dawn service. Rain, hail or shine, he has done it dutifully for 69 years. At 96 it is getting harder, but he knows he has to go. As he stands for The Last Post, on weakened, shaky legs, he remembers. He remembers the happy, smiling, youthful faces of his mates. He remembers them just the way they were, then. As if frozen still in time. Their bodies not wasted by age or sickness or despair. They have become ageless. He remembers Muschu Island, his mate ‘Spence’ Walklate and what they did there so long ago. And for a brief moment he stiffens and somehow grows taller. A tear comes to his eye. He wipes it with his handkerchief and with head bowed, shuffles slowly off home.
Until next year.
In a final irony, the naval guns at Muschu Island were never fired in anger and remained silent during the campaign.
The Japanese commander was afraid if they were used the Allies would be alerted to their position and they would be destroyed by superior allied air power. They are still there today. Lest We Forget.
Stations: ?, Manning River – Taree, Major’s Creek Gold Fields ( 1851 as a Sgt ), Sergeant’s Point – Little River ( Braidwood District ) – ( 9 years to Retirement )
SMITH. — The Friends of the deceased Mr. RICHARD SMITH, late of Sergeant’s Point, Little River, Braidwood, are kindly invited to attend his Funeral; to move from Iona, Fernhill, Canterbury, THIS MONDAY, at 1.45, for the Ashfield Station, thence to the Necropolis.
Mrs. P. KIRBY and SON
Undertakers,
113 Miller-street, N. Syd.
.
SMITH. — The Friends of Messrs. T. WILLIAM,
JOHN and CORNELIUS SMITH are kindly invited to attend the funeral of their dearly beloved FATHER, Richard Smith to move from Iona, Fern Hill Canterbury THIS MONDAY at 1 45 pm for Ashfield Station thence to the Necrópolis
Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 – 1907),
Wednesday 10 June 1903, page 26
Lived 107 Years.
THE LATE MR. RICHARD SMITH.
Though so many people are living at the present time that it cannot be claimed that there is anything exceptionally remarkable about the mere fact that a man continues to exist, still the older we get the harder it is to keep going. When, therefore, a man reaches his hundredth year, the occurrence is an extremely rare one, as was demonstrated by the fact that the last census only resulted in the discovery of sixteen persons in all New South Wales whose ages exceeded 100. But even of centenarians only a very small percentage attain the great age of the late Mr. Richard Smith, who died on May 30 at Canterbury, as reported in last issue of the “Town and Country Journal,” aged 107 years.
Though, probably, the oldest man in New South Wales, Mr. Smith retained his faculties to an astonishing degree almost up to the time of his death. Some interesting personal details concerning the life of this veteran of veterans were afforded by Mr. J. R. Smith, of “Willathran,” Vernon-street, Woollahra, the deceased gentleman’s eldest son.
A native of Wiltshire, England, where he was born in 1796, he began life amid the surroundings of a farm, and his youth and early manhood were spent in agricultural pursuits. Many of his relatives, however, had joined the army, and he followed their example. That was upwards of
NINETY YEARS AGO.
He enlisted in the 50th Regiment, known as “The Blind Half-Hundred.”
The Late Mr. Richard Smith, aged 107 Years.
When he came to Australia as a member of the 12th Regiment, in 1835, he was approaching what is usually termed middle-age, and had fifteen years‘ military ‘service to his credit, though William IV. was still King of England, and the late Queen Victoria – then Princess Victoria – was still a girl of 16.
“Shortly after his arrival here,” said his son. “he was chosen for duty as one of the governor’s orderlies. In the course of a year or two he went over to the police service. The force at that time was very differently constituted to what is the case now, and it was under a commissioner. I remember that he has sometimes spoken of a terrible drought which occurred here in 1837, and at that time he was doing police duty on the Manning River.”
“For over 23 years, or right up till 1860, he remained connected with the police force,” said Mr. J. R. Smith, “at the end of which time he retired, being then 64 years of age. His retirement was not, however, due to his years, for he was still very vigorous. He merely left the police because he wished
TO OPEN A HOTEL,
notwithstanding the fact that if he had remained in the force another year or so, he would have been entitled to a pension of 8s 6d per day.”
“It’s a good thing for the country that he didn’t serve the other year,” said the reporter. “Let’s see – 8s 6d per day since 1861 – that means that he would have drawn something like £6000 or £7000 before he died,” .
“Yes,” said Mr. Smith, “I suppose so. But he was drawing another pension right up to the time of his death, for his fifteen years’ military service, performed before he joined the police at all.”
“He qualified for that 66 years ago, then?” said the reporter.
“Well, not exactly. You see he wasn’t eligible for it, under the regulations, until he was 66 years of age, and. as a matter of fact, he didn’t get it until at least fourteen years after that.”
Mr. Smith said that his late father, as was only to he expected, had a wonderful store of knowledge respecting incidents of the early days, and would frequently talk of his adventures with bushrangers and other lawless characters whom he encountered in the curse of his police duties.
“On one occasion he told me,” said he, “a party of police, of whom he was one, was out in pursuit of a gang, who had just previously
STUCK UP A POLICE MAGISTRATE
and others. The approach of the attacking party was at first unobserved, and one of the desperadoes was seen to be parading before the fire, greatly to the amusement of the others, in the magistrate’s frock coat, silk hat, and goggles, which had been stolen. Not obeying the order of their pursuers to surrender, one or two of the gang were shot, and the rest captured.”
“Another incident I remember him telling me about occurred, I believe, he said, somewhere up in the direction of Maitland. An old couple had a visitor – the man’s brother, just out from England – staying with them, and, while he was out strolling one day, half a dozen bushrangers surrounded the place. As they did so the brother returned, and the crowd, seizing him unaware, pushed him in front of them in a rush at the door, thinking that the man Inside would not shoot. He, however, unaware that his brother was there, fired, and shot him dead. This attack was thought at the time to have been the work of convicts, but the guilty ones, when caught, were discovered to have been free men.”
“On one occasion he was one of an escort, which brought down five prisoners from Goulburn bushrangers – who were afterwards hanged on Church Hill. One of the condemned men, after being pinioned, asked for, and was granted leave to examine and select which of the five ropes that had been provided he should be hanged with.
“I think,” said Mr. Smith, “that my father was the first policeman sent out to the gold fields. In 1851 he was sent to Major’s Creek, as the sergeant in charge of nine men. Sergeant’s Point, Little River
IN THE BRAIDWOOD DISTRICT
was called after him. He remained there until his retirement from the force, nine years later.”
“He and the late Inspector Hogg, of Braidwood, who died some years ago at a ripe old age. were close friends all their lives out here, they both enlisted in the army in England on the same day.”
“When did your father retire from active work?” asked the reporter.
“He remained at Braidwood as an hotelkeeper for about 16 years,” was the reply, “and then he removed to the Queanbeyan district, where he lived for from 12 to 15 years, afterwards removing to Sydney. While he was in the Queanbeyan district, he was still able, I believe, to do a day’s ploughing with almost any man, although he was between 80 and 90 years old – In fact, I have heard an offer made to match him to plough against anybody. He had learned all about farm work, as I said before, previous to joining the army, and had not forgotten it.”
In reply to questions, Mr. Smith said that his father, who had not married until what, in most people, would be termed “late in life” ( though with him it proved to be comparatively early ), had left surviving him six sons and one daughter. Three of the sons reside at present in Sydney, the other two, besides himself, being Messrs. Cornelius and William Smith, both of whom live at Fern Hill, Canterbury, where their aged father died.
There were 21 grandchildren of whose existence he was aware, though he could not quite say how many children his brothers and sister had as they were in other countries. He did not think there were any great-grandchildren. One of his own sons, Mr. Harry Smith, besides being a very successful swimmer, had twice been champion long-distance runner of New South Wales, and was chosen by Simonetti, the sculptor, as the model for the figures surrounding the statue of Governor Phillip.
“Were there any other instances of remarkable longevity in your father’s family?” Mr. Smith was asked.
“I can tell you very little about that,” was his answer; “though I know that when we last heard of one of his brothers, many years ago, he was 96 years of age. I don’t know at what age his father died.”
“Was there anything exceptional about your father’s mode of living? Was he a teetotaler, or a smoker, and did he have any peculiarities in his ideas as regards diet?”
“No; nothing very particular, except for the rather strange circumstances that he abjured tobacco and spirits.
WHEN HE WAS 100 YEARS OF AGE.
He had been an inveterate smoker all his life. In fact, I well remember, when I was a youth, that he would often get up two, or three times in the night to have a smoke; but, just about seven years ago, he threw his pipe away, gave away some tobacco he had, and he never smoked again.”
The reporter wondered how long the old man might have lived had he not given up his pipe.
“He had always been fond of a glass, too,” continued Mr. Smith, “but he gave up spirits at the same time, and never touched them afterwards.”
“As for his diet, he would eat anything. I never heard him complain of digestive troubles In my life, and it is, I think, a remarkable fact that after he died it was found that every tooth in his head was
PERFECTLY SOUND;
he had not lost one. I have been fortunate in that respect too, up to the present; for I have not lost one of my teeth yet.”
“His eyesight was also excellent, right up to the time of his death. He never wore glasses, at any time.”
“Since removing from Queanbeyan to Sydney, some 12 or 14 years ago,” said Mr. Smith, in reply to another question, “my father has resided, at various times, at Church-street, Camperdown; at Ross-street, Forest Lodge ; at Parramatta-road ; at Balmain-road, Leichhardt; and at North Sydney and Greenwich. He only removed to Canterbury a few weeks before his death.”
“He was quite active up till about five years ago, and used to take upon himself all the care of my brothers’ horses and waggons, and they were doing a pretty extensive business, too. And, although he was not so active latterly, he retained his faculties surprisingly well.”
“Was he a big man?” the reporter Inquired.
“No; his height was only about 5ft 8in,” was the reply.
“There is one thing I may mention,” said Mr. Smith, in conclusion, “and that is, my father always went to bed very early, and was always a very early riser.”
The above story was basically reproduced on Saturday 6 June 1903 in the Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal but with the added text from the Editor B.D. about SMITH.
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 – 1954),
Saturday 6 June 1903, page 2
Death of a Centenarian.
The above account does not agree in several particulars with what is known by several oil residents of the district regarding the Sergeant Smith after whom Sergeant’s Point, on the Mongarlowe River, was named.
In the first place the Sergeant Smith who came here at the breaking out of the goldfields, and who was a contemporary of the later Inspector Hogg, of Braidwood, was a much younger man than the Mr Richard Smith above referred to and died we believe, several years since.
The Sergeant Smith of Mongarlowe never kept a public house in Braidwood.
Another Smith, the late Mr Edward Smith, who died some years ago, leaving a large family well known in Braidwood, Mr A. Smith, of this town, being one of the sons, also the late Mr. S. Smith, kept a public house here for a short time some forty years since, but of course it cannot be him.
However, we are not disposed to be too critical as to his identity or at all desirous of disclaiming as one of our old identities one who has lived to such a good round age.
It is certainly very singular that the deceased’s eldest son should err so much in his recollection of his father’s history, but all the same, there is a mistake somewhere. — Ed. B.D.
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 – 1954),
Wednesday 10 June 1903, page 2
The Death of Mr. SMITH. –
With reference to the death of Mr. Richard Smith, of Canterbury, near Sydney, at the age of 107 years, reported in your last issue, the ‘old hands‘ We quite endorse your remarks that he was not the Sergeant Smith who formerly occupied a position in the district, Mr W. B. Bruce, who knew the Sergeant Smith with whom Mr. Richard Smith is evidently confounded intimately, informs us that the former gentleman was drowned in the Moruya river some years ago.
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 – 1954),
Saturday 20 June 1903, page 2
LOCAL NEWS.
The Late Sergeant Smith.—
In a letter in another column Mr Hennessy sets the matter at rest about which some doubts have been expressed as to the late Mr. Richard Smith who died at Camperdown, near Sydney, at the age of 107 being identical with the Police Sergeant of that name after whom Sergeant’s Point at Little River was named.
Other persons in the district besides the writer referred to have informed us that they knew the deceased when he was stationed at Little River and held the rank of Sergeant, and when he afterwards kept the public house there under the sign of the Rising Sun, which it still bears.
Mr. J, D. Cargill, of Budawang, was one of those who knew him well in 1859. This was after be had retired from the police, when he must have been over 60 years of age. He afterwards with his family removed to Budawang, where he took a farm and resided for ten years, his wife dying while he was there, she being buried in the Church of England Cemetery as her tombstone at the present time testifies.
He afterwards with his three sons moved to Rob Roy station in the Queanbeyan district, and some years later they went to Canterbury where the old gentlemen died.
Mr. R. Geelao, who was then in the police, also knew him well at Little River, as did Mr Peter Wedd, of Durran Durra, and other old residents.
The Sergeant Smith referred to by Mr. Bruce as having been drowned some time since in the Moruya River was the officer in charge at Nelligen for several years, who on his retirement from the police went to live at Moruya.
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 – 1954),
Saturday 20 June 1903, page 2
Original Correspondence.
[ To the Editor of the Dispatch.]
Sir, — In your issue of June 6th you express a doubt that the late Sergeant Smith who recently died at the ripe age of 107 was ever stationed at Little River. Your Araluen correspondent follows on in the same strain. I think I can supply you with a few facts that will remove all doubts as to the Sergeant Smith alluded to being in charge of the police station at Little River.
I think it was late in 1856 I went with a- party of men to a rush that had taken place at Little River some time previous to that date. We found on arrival at Sergeant’s Point the late D. Barrett, who died some time since in the Braidwood Hospital, keeping an hotel.
Opposite the pub, was a store kept by E. McEvoy, brother-in-law to Barrett. Lower down on the river bank was another store, kept by the late W. J. Bennison. Pat. Bollard also kept a butcher’s shop on the Point.
Sergeant Smith was the officer in charge of the police station. Under Smith was a trooper named Charlie Walmsley, who, I believe, some time after rose to the rank of sergeant and was for some time in charge of the police station at Araluen.
One member of our party was a young man named Lane, a native of Windsor. Lane‘s father had been a member of the N.S.W. Mounted Police for a great number of years, and had only retired from active service just about the time young Lane started for the diggings.
Judge of young Lane‘s surprise when he met Sergeant Smith at Little River, for he knew the sergeant to be a staunch friend of his father’s, for they bad been comrades in many a fierce encounter with blacks and bushrangers, and it is more than probable that when the bushranger dressed up in the police magistrate’s rig-out, was creating some amusement for his companions in crime.
Lane‘s father was one of the approaching body of police that put an end to the fun.
Like Sergeant Smith‘s son, Lane tells of encounters with bushrangers that he had heard from his father’s lips.
One encounter of which he has heard his father speak was with the notorious Jack Donoghoe, whose heroic fight single handed with the police was celebrated in song.
When deserted by his four companions Donoghoe took up a position under cover and awaited the attack, the police bever fashion separated and sought shelter also, both parties blazed away for some time without drawing blood.
Amongst the troopers engaged in the affray was a young recruit anxious to get his name up, the young trooper fired rapidly and bad fired all his ammunition, with the exception of one charge, when loading his pistol with the last charge, he called out to his nearest companion that he was about to fire the last shot, having exhausted his stock of ammunition.
Just then Donoghoe, trying to get a view of the enemy, exposed his head. The young trooper fired, and the bullet crashed through the bushranger’s brain.
In a future communication later on I will detail the circumstances under which Donoghoe was driven into the bush to take up arms against law and order.
I dare say, I saw Sergeant Smith, three or four times every week for 12 months. I never spoke to the old man, I, at that time, being a boy entering my teens.
Another ‘mentioned’ Brother is Roger. It is not known if Roger was in the Police.
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # Q 7644
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 )
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.
The funeral on Saturday afternoon of First-class Sergeant Patrick Stephen Leonard, senior public prosecutor at the Central Police Court, was one of the largest ever seen at Randwick. The funeral took place from the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, after Requiem Mass, which was celebrated by the Rev. Father O’Loughlin, M.S.C. The cortege, which was about a mile long, was headed by squads of police and firemen.
The chief mourners were Messrs. Charles, Thomas, and Roger Leonard (brothers), Misses Annie and Cissie Leonard and Mrs. Delahunty (sisters), and Miss Mary Agnes Roche. The pall-bearers were Inspector Maze, Sergeants Roser, Dean, Jones, McDougall, Twiss, and Maher. Others present included Messrs. J. Dooley ( Speaker of the Legislative Assembly ), C. C. Lazzarini ( Chief Secretary ), S. G. Cruise ( representing Mr. W. J. McKell ( Minister for Justice ), A. Bishop ( representing the Crown Law Department ), J. Tyrrill, M.L.C., R. Greig, M.L.A. ( Chairman of Committees ), R. O’Halloran, and S. R. Alldis, Ms L.A., Inspector Spyer ( representing Mr. J. Mitchell, Commissioner of Police ), Superintendent T. Mankey ( Chief of C.I.D.), Inspectors . Lynch, Devlin, Lindfield, Delaney, Mackay and Kersley, Detective Sergeants Lynch, Coombes, Jones ( of South Africa ), Kennedy, Smith, Miller and Sergeant Nicholls ; Station Officer Beare ( Fire Brigades Hospital Carnival and Art Union Committee ) Mr. W. J. Camphin, S.M., Alderman L’Estrange ( Mayor of Mascot ), Mulcahy .( Mayor of Waterloo ), and R. H. McDonald ( Redfern ), Messrs. R. D. Meagher, W. M. Niland, J. C. J. Ryan, and T. Arkins; Constables Carroll, Ashfield, Detective Gallagher, Sergeants T. O’Brien, Law, and Philpott, ex Sergeants Duncan, Hay, Toohey and Hayes; ex-Inspector Fullarton, Messrs. B. Fortescue ( secretary, Police Association of which deceased was a foundation member ), C. Thackeray ( editor, ‘Police News’ ), R. Moyes, J. J. Hartnett, G. H. Brown, P. Ryan J. Morrissey, T. Windrum, W. Carey ( secretary A.L.P. ), E. Ward, E. Roche, F. Conroy ( vice-president A.L.P. ), H. Kirkland, C. J. Rafferty ( assistant secretary, Royal Agricultural Society ), G. Butler Gye ( representing “Evening News” ), R. Higgins, Captain Hansen, T. Birrell, A. Westphal, C. Tate, W. Adlum, P. O’Loughlin ( president of the Catholic Club ), S. A. Williams ( treasurer of the club ), P. Burns ( vice-president ), C. G. Griffiths ( hon. secretary ), H. Washington ( manager ), A. H. Pope, J. Fraser, A. Agnew ( Gehring and Co.); W. Campbell, J. McCann, W. J. McEncroe, W. Weekes, W. Paterson, W. McCarthy, A. Sharp P. Sharp, R. Campbell, J. McGrath, J. Ryan J. S. Ogan, W. McNamara ( secretary, Friendly Society Dispensary ),. J. Voney, B. Acton, G. Workman, H. Moroney, M. Swiney, J. Sheehan, E. McDonald B. Mahoney, F. Farrell ( hon. . secretary, Catholic Returned Soldiers’ Association ), J. Killeen, F. Conroy, J. Williams ( Dewar and Co.), A. McNiven, F. Haron, L. R. Mordant, P. Fennessy, and R. Allen.
LEONARD.- A Requiem Mass for the Repose of the Soul of the late SENIOR SERGEANT PATRICK STEPHEN LEONARD will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Randwick, THIS ( Saturday ) MORNING, at 9 o’clock.
LEONARD. – The Friends of Miss MARY AGNES ROCHE, of Rose-street, Darlington, are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of Patrick Leonard; to leave Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Randwick. THIS ( Saturday ) AFTERNOON, at 2.30, for Randwick Cemetery.
The death of Sergeant Patrick Leonard, chief police prosecutor at the Central Police Court, occurred suddenly yesterday morning, from pneumonia, at his residence in Milford street, Randwick. Sergeant Leonard was 50 years of age.
Mr. Jennings, C.S.M., and Messrs. W. Parker and Lionel Dare, on behalf of the legal profession, paid sincere tributes to the late police officer.
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 )
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: Is mentioned as a Senior Constable on 16 Jan 1907 being transferred from Enngonia
Is mentioned as a First Class Sergeant at Taree on 28 January 1918
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Monday 16 April 1928, page 10
DEATHS
LEONARD. – April 15, 1928, at his residence, Hill-street, Queenscliffe, Manly, Lawrence Blake Leonard ( late of Taree Police ), dearly beloved husband of Catherine Leonard, and loved father of Mollie, Valerie, and Vincent, aged 55 years.
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Monday 16 April 1928, page 9
FUNERALS.
LEONARD. – The Relatives and Friends of Mrs. CATHERINE LEONARD, MOLLIE, VALERIE, and VINCENT LEONARD, of Hill-street, Queenscliffe, Manly, are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of her late beloved HUSBAND and their FATHER, Lawrence Blake Leonard ; to leave our Private Mortuary, 92 Corso, Manly, TO-MORROW MORNING (Tuesday), at 11o’clock, for the Catholic Cemetery, Manly.
T. WAUGH and CO.,
Funeral Directors.
Tele., Manly 42.
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Catherine LEONARD – wife of Lawrence ( Laurence in the Grave Register of Roman Catholic Section of Cemetery ) appears to be buried in the same Plot. Catherine was buried on 8 December 1950, aged 77.
The death is announced of Mr Larry Leonard, 54, of a paralytic stroke.
Mr. Leonard was a native of Bungonia, and some years ago joined the police force, being later elevated to the rank of sergeant.
Failing health necessitated his retirement from the force. A widow and three children, the eldest of whom is 18 years and the youngest 11 years, survive him.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 26 October 1923 (No.129), page 4830
SHIRE OF MANNING.
NOTICE is hereby given that Sergeant Walter John Moroney, of Taree, has been appointed an inspector under the Cattle Slaughtering and Diseased Animals and Meat Act, 1902, within the Manning Shire, vice Sergeant Lawrence Blake Leonard, transferred,— such appointment to take effect from 10th July, 1923.
Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 – 1940), Thursday 9 August 1923, page 4
DISTRICT NEWS Bungonia (From Our Correspondent.)
Sergeant Larry Leonard, brother of Mr. Jim Leonard, Jerrara, and Mrs. G. Broadhead, Inverary, is dangerously ill in a Sydney hospital, and no hope of his recovery is entertained.
His complaint is hemorrhage.
Mr. Leonard has been ailing for some considerable time.
Lately he was in charge of the police station at Taree.
From there he was transferred to Walgett, and it was expected that a change would do him good. Instead he gradually became worse.
His last hope was to proceed to Sydney to undergo an operation.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 29 June 1923 (No.73), page 2871
[ 7866 ] Office of the Director-General of Public Health, Sydney, 29th June, 1923.
IT is hereby notified, for public information, that the undermentioned persons have been duly authorised by the Board of Health as Inspectors under section 50 of the Cattle Slaughtering and Diseased Animals and Meat Act, 1902: — As from 19th June, 1923 —
Sergeant Lawrence Blake Leonard, Walgett.
Sergeant Claude Montague Kemp, Armidale.
Sergeant James Thomas Manns, Bogan Gate.
Sergeant William Loftus, Campbelltown.
Sergeant William John Poidevin, Casino.
Dr. Eric William Beresford Woods, Government Medical Officer, Hay.
Dr. Arthur John Mollison, Government Medical Officer, Molong.
IT is hereby notified, for public information, that the undermentioned person has been duly appointed by the Board of Health as Local Authority under section 17 (1) (b) of the Public Health Act, 1902: — As from 19th June, 1923—
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Wednesday 16 July 1913 (No.112), page 4377
[181] Department of Labour and Industry, 48 Young-street, Sydney, 9th July, 1913.
SHEARERS’ ACCOMMODATION ACT.
HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to appoint the undermentioned Police Officers to be Inspectors to carry out the provisions of the Shearers’ Accommodation Act in the districts specified in connection with their respective names.
W. A. HOLMAN.
Acting Sub-Inspector Peter Joseph Nies; Station—Walgett
Police District — Walgett.
Sergeant Lawrence Blake Leonard ; Station — Nyngan ; Police
Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 – 1940), Thursday 24 May 1894, page 4
NOTES FROM BUNGONIA.
Cricket
…………
In the second innings of Bungonia, Larry Leonard played a stylish game for his quota of 18 (not out); also the veteran, C. R. Styles, made some nice strokes.
Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales (Taree, NSW : 1898 – 1954), Wednesday 19 January 1921, page 5
Inquest
On Thursday morning Mr. G. B. Morris (coroner) held an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Frank Leonard, son of Sergeant L. B. and Mrs. Leonard, of Taree police station, which occurred while bathing at Shallow Island baths on the afternoon of Thursday, December 30 last.
Lawrence Blake Leonard ( Sergeant of Police at Taree, and father of the deceased ) said deceased was 13 years of age. Deceased and his younger brother had been In the habit of going swimming for some little time prior to his death. They always left about 3 p.m. and returned about 5 p.m. They were very punctual in this.
They informed him that Frank could ‘paddle.’ Witness last saw him alive at 2 p.m. on the 30th ultimo.
The same afternoon, at about .3.30. Mr. A. T. Saxby came and informed him that one of the boys had been drowned at Shallow Island baths.
Witness immediately went to the baths and there saw deceased. He was lying in the dressing shed and efforts were being made to resuscitate him.
Dr. Muscio arrived a few minutes after and pronounced life extinct.
Cecil Manning Shoesmith, fisherman, said that between 3.30 and 4.30 on the afternoon of the 30th ultimo some boys informed him that Frank Leonard had been drowned at Shallow Island. They said he had been under water about ten minutes. He searched for the body and felt it with a pole. He held the pole against the body and a boy about 16 years of age climbed down the pole and brought the body to the surface. Witness thought the body had been in the water for about 15 minutes.
Where the body was found was some 30ft. from the steps of the baths and at a depth of about 7ft. At the steps the depth was about 4ft., and gradually deepened as it went out.
Witness and his father immediately took steps to resuscitate the deceased, and continued to do so until Dr. Muscio arrived, about 20 minutes later, when he pronounced life extinct.
Constable Alford then took the body to deceased’s home.
Dr. Muscio said be was called to Shallow Island about 4 p.m.
Witness attempted artificial respiration, but on closer examination he found that life was extinct. The cause of death was drowning.
Deceased appeared to have been in normal health.
Gordon Vincent Clune, schoolboy, eight years of age, said he remembered the 30th ultimo. He was at the Shallow Island baths and saw Frank Leonard there, in the water, near the steps of the baths. He kept climbing up the steps and diving into the water a lot of times. The last time he dived in he put his hands together and speared a long way into the water, and he went under again. Witness saw him go under three times, and then he did not come up again. Witness thought he was trying to swim under water; but when he did not come up again, witness called out to the other boys, who were swimming there. They dived down but could not find him.
Mr. Shoesmith then dived in, but as he could not find the body he got a pole with which he found deceased, and he was brought to the surface. Frank was under water ten minutes or more. Witness could only swim a little ; he did not think Frank could swim.
The coroner found that the cause of death was asphyxia, from accidental drowning.
Thank you for the page on Lawrence Blake Leonard. I thought you might be interested to know he had a brother in the NSW Police & another in the Queensland Police. I understand William was posted to Moulamein, Broken Hill and then Albury. The following is copied from Trove : Western Herald 1 July 1903
Constable William Leonard, brother of Constable J. B. Leonard, of Enngonia, died on Friday last at the Hospital, Albury, from pneumonia. Deceased was a married man and about 37 years of age. Very general sympathy is extended to both Mr and Mrs Leonard, who have each lost a brother within a few days, and also to the young widow and remainder of the family.
William had married Emily Theresa Stevens in Moulamein.
A third brother, Joseph Blake Leonard, joined the Queensland Police. This is from the Daily Mercury, Mackay (Trove) 1939
Many friends will regret the passing of Mr. Joseph Blake Leonard, who was a retired Sergeant of Police, death taking place in Brisbane on Monday last. The late Mr. Leonard spent many years in Mackay, and after serving a short period in the North, went to Gayndah. After his retirement Mr. and Mrs. Leonard built a home at Ashgrove, where Mrs. Leonard died in 1938. Their son, Blake, survives them.
The three were the children of James Leonard, (an assisted emigrant from Woodford Galway in 1850) and his wife Catherine Blake. All three were born at Jerrara, Goulburn, New South Wales. James was a farmer.
Memorial located at: A Memorial plaque is located at the Bowral Police Station. This plaque was unveiled and dedicated by John Faye – Premier of NSW on 14 July 1992
Richard directing traffic in Bowral in the 1980’s
[alert_yellow]RICHARD 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.
Richard was diagnosed with multiple Myeloma on the 27/11/91 and worked up until close to his death.
He was married to Sandra and had four daughters…Karen, Susan, Kerrie-Lyn ( who is currently a serving Sgt at Bowral Police Station with 27 years service ) and Gina .
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Sergeant Richard Reko
27.6.92
Loved & missed every day
Sandra and your loving family
Published in Southern Highland News on June 28, 2017
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Sandra REKO, widow of Richard, passed away – surrounded by their daughters, on Sunday 22 October 2017, aged 73.
May they both Rest in Eternal Peace.
REKO, Sandra Ann
Passed away surrounded by her family 22nd October, 2017.
Loving wife of Richard (Dec).
Dearly loved mother of Karen & Ian, Susan & David, Kerrie-Lyn and Gina.
A much loved grandmother, great grandmother, sister, sister in law, aunty, great aunty and friend.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Service for Sandra to be held at St Stephens Anglican Church, Main Street Mittagong on Friday 27th October, 2017 Commencing at 2.00pm.
Interment will follow at Welby Cemetery.
02 4861 7351
Published in Southern Highland News on Oct. 25, 2017
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Edward SEWELL
| 06/08/2017
Edward SEWELL
Late of ?
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # ???
Rank: Constable 1st Class
Stations: ?, Bathurst ( entire Service )
Service: From? ? 1853to 18 January 1892= 39years Service
Awards: No find on It’s An Honour
Born: ? January 1832 in Ireland
Died on: Thursday 11 February 1892
Age: 60
Cause: Influenza – On Duty
Event location: Piper St, Bathurst
Event date: ? October 1891 ( contracted influenza )
Funeral date: Sunday 14 February 1892
Funeral location: ?
Buried at: ?
Memorial located at: ?
[alert_yellow]SEWELL 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.
Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 – 1904), Wednesday 20 April 1892, page 2
The Late Constable Sewell. — We are glad to learn from Mr. Superintendent Sanderson that Miss Sewell has received £225 from the Police Superannuation Fund, into which her late brother paid contributions for so many years before his death. The payment was made before the paragraph referring to the late Constable Sewell appeared in the Free Press, but the person from whom the circumstances upon which that paragraph was based were obtained could not have been apprised of the fact.
Ex-residents of Bathurst will hear with much regret of the death of Constable Sewell. As he had attained his 60th year, he, early in January, retired from the services but; has not drawn any pay; Constable Sewell was the oldest officer in the police force in the west, and was as greatly respected as he was widely known.
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW : 1876 – 1954) , Monday 22 February 1892, page 4
CONSTABLE EDWARD SEWELL, who for nearly 40 years figured in the police court at Bathurst, died last week. A few months ago he was taken ill with the influenza, and only last month retired from the force on superannuation.
Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 – 1904), Friday 12 February 1892, page 2
Death of Constable Sewell.—
The friends of Constable Sewell will hear with surprise and regret of his death. The deceased contracted influenza in October last, and for a long while was prostrated with the disease. One of his sisters also took ill at the time and died, and this had a depressing effect upon him. And after being confined to his room for a number of weeks, he recovered sufficiently to walk down town, but he was then very feeble, and was not able to again resume duty.
As be had attained his 60th year, he, early in January, retired from the service, but has not drawn any pay.
Constable Sewell was the oldest officer in the police force in the west, and was as greatly respected as he was widely known.
Not only did he year after year do his duty faithfully in the street as one of the foot police, but in the Supreme Court his face and voice wore familiar to every judge and court official and attendant during the last quarter of a century.
He was respected by his superior officers, but did not attain to anything like prominence in the force, never having risen above the rank of first-class constable.
His sister, Miss Sewell, alone survives him, and the public greatly sympathise with her in the bereavements which she has been called upon to pass through recently.
National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 – 1954), Friday 12 February 1892, page 3
SUDDEN DEATH OF CONSTABLE SEWELL
About seven o’clock last evening Constable Sewell, who was the oldest police constable in the Bathurst District, died at his residence in Piper-street. It will be remembered that in October last the deceased was stricken down with influenza, and since then had been confined in his house through relapses. He was nursed by his sister, Miss Sewell, and attended by Dr. Spencer, who did all he could to alleviate his sufferings.
On January 18 be retired from the force, after being in the service for upwards of 30 years. Constable Sewell, who joined the New South Wales Police in 1853, was, perhaps, the senior member in the colony.
He entered the ranks in Bathurst as a private constable, and during the whole of that period had been on duty in the town.
At Assize time he was always a prominent figure in the Circuit Court, attending on the Judge and swearing in the witnesses. It was really in the performance of that duty that he caught the influenza in October last, as he was taken ill during the last sittings, when the Chief Justice (Sir Frederick Darley) presided.
When the railway was opened to Bathurst, in 1869, by the Acting-Governor (Sir Alfred Stephen), Constable Sewell was on duty, and being well-known to Sir Alfred, was accosted in the street and a kindly word of recognition exchanged. During his recent and last illness, Sir. Alfred wrote expressing his sympathy and enquiring after his health.
Sewell. who was a man of unobtrusive habits, never pushed himself forward, but simply performed his duty, and it is due to that fact that he failed to rise above the rank of a first-class constable.
Having in January last reached the age of 60 years, he had retired from the force, and consequently become entitled to his pension of full pay ; but he had not drawn one penny up to the time of his death, so that although he had paid into the Superannuation Fund since its establishment he had received no benefit: Miss Sewell was, we believe, dependant upon him, and if her brother had not retired a few weeks ago, would have been, according to the regulations, entitled to compensation from the Superannuation Fund.
It is understood that representations will be made to the proper quarters in this matter.
The deceased was spoken highly of by his superior officers on the Bathurst station, and his comrades were all shocked last evening when it became known that he had passed away.
He was a native of Ireland and entered the police at 21 years of age. The funeral, we understand, will take place on Sunday.
National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 – 1954), Saturday 7 November 1891, page 3
THE INFLUENZA.
Notwithstanding the abatement of influenza in the number of cases, the epidemic is still very prevalent in our midst, and it is with deep regret we record the death of Miss Sewell from its effect. Deceased was a devoted sister, and the respect in which she was held was testified by the large number who attended her funeral yesterday afternoon.
Her brother, Constable Sewell, is still seriously ill, and his friends fear that the terrible effect which his sister’s death has had upon him will not strengthen his chances of recovery.
Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 – 1904), Thursday 13 August 1891, page 3
Brief Mention.
The melodious voice of Constable Sewell was again heard in the court this morning. As he proceeded to administer the oath to a Chinese interpreter his hearers were reminded of the prominent place he took at one time in the higher courts.
Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 – 1904), Wednesday 15 May 1861, page 2
Bathurst Police Court
MONDAY. May 13th (Before Dr. Palmer, P.M., Thomas Lee and G. F. Wise. Esqrs., J.Ps.) DRUNKENNESS.
Edward Orris was brought before the Bench by Constable Sewell, charged with the above offence. Fined 40s. and 1s. costs; in default, 48 hours’ incarceration.
