Wife Alice, care of Newtown Post Office, Newtown, NSW
Religion: C of E
Single / Married: Married
Returned to Australia:
Shot in left eye, Gallipoli Peninsular 12/06/1915
and returned 7 November 1915
[/blockquote]
Awards:
Boer War
Kings South Africa Medal, Queens South Africa Medal.
WW1
1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Born:
1868, Norfolk Island
Died on:
31/12/1953
Place of death:
Norfolk Island
Cause: ?
Age: ?
Funeral date: ?
Funeral location:
Norfolk Island
Buried at:
Norfolk Island
Memorial at: ?
[alert_blue]FLETCHER is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED
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When Fletcher returned to Norfolk Island he was offered his original position in the Police when he enlisted but he realised he could not continue as a Police officer due to his eye injury. He resigned in 1916 and became a ‘farmer’. It is also mentioned that Fletcher is directly related to the members of the crew of the ‘Bounty’ Also in ‘A’ Squadron was Mounted NSW Police Constable Frank Walter MATTHEWS, Gloucester Police Station, NSW, Killed in action, 17/09/1915, Gallipoli Peninsular.
[alert_blue]FRANK is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED
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2nd Lieutenant Alexander Frank BUSKIN, 6th LHR. Killed in action at Bolton’s Ridge, 17/09/1915.
Trooper William Bradley INGRAM, 6th LHR. Killed in action 17/09/1915.
Trooper Frank Walter MATTHEWS, 6th LHR. Killed in action 17/09/1915.
Trooper Lyle Hugh Florian O’NEILL, 6th LHR. Killed in action 17/09/1915.
Captain Rupert Noel RICHARDSON, 6th LHR. Killed in action 17/09/1915.
Trooper David Matthew JACOMBS, 7th LHR. Killed in action 17/09/1915.
Trooper Ernest Ambrose ROBERTS, 7th LHR. Killed in action 17/09/1915.
Just as an aside, his wife applied for a pension in 1918 and was granted a pension for herself and their son, also named Frank Walter Mathews. Frank (Jr) was born in 1915 in the East Maitland District (NSW BDM). At this stage there is no death record of Frank (Jr).
Frank (Sr) enlisted 18/09/1914, killed 17/09/1915 – 364 days. Without getting a birth certificate for Frank (Jr) it is not known whether he was born just before or after Frank (Sr) was killed.
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NSW Government Employees Granted Military Leave, 1914-1918
The below link, from the NSW Government Employees Granted Military Leave, 1914 – 1918 has F. W. MATTHEWS, Ordinary Constable of Gloucester; North Eastern District, Gloucester Station, being KILLED in Action at Gallipoli on the 6 September 1915 – being a conflicting date of death from that of the Light Horse.org.au website.
The below Citation comes from NRS 4481 Glass negatives ( NRS4481_ST6724P ), plus NRS 10946 Police salary registers [3/2995], SR Reel 1974, plus Police Department Annual Report for the year 1915, in Parliamentary Papers 1915-16, Vol.4, p.635, plus Police Department Annual Report for the year 1918, in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1919, Vol.3, p.603, plus Police Department Annual Report for the year ended 1917, in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1918, Vol.3, p.665.
Weekly Times ( Melbourne, Vic. ) Saturday 27 June 1914 page 33 of 56
CLUE TO SUICIDE CONSTABLE’S WORRY
” All of a’work with the nerves, ” as a comrade phrased it, as the result of the escape of a prisoner under his charge, Constable J. Gillanders, St. Kilda watchhousekeeper, shot himself in the head at the inquest which was held on June 20 at the Alfred Hospital.
Mr T. Allen, J.P., returned a finding that Gillanders died from a gunshot wound in the head, self-inflicted.
“In my opinion,” he added, “it was caused through mental worry. There is no evidence to show the state of Gillanders’ mind at the time.”
Sergeant D. Kennedy stated that at 4 p.m. on June 18 Constable Gillanders reported to him that a prisoner named Arthur Waghorn had escaped from the lock-up. The prisoner was re-arrested shortly afterwards. On the same evening witness requested Constable Gillanders to furnish a report regarding the escape.
At 8.45a.m. next day Gillanders did not report for duty, and witness sent Senior-constable Hore to ascertain why he was absent. Hore subsequently informed him that Gillanders complained of nervous prostration, and that he would probably come on duty later in the day.
At about 2 p.m. that day witness requested Constable Matthews to inform Gillanders that he would have to go to the depot hospital, as he had not furnished a medical certificate. Matthews returned, and said Gillanders was not prepared to go to the hospital just then. Gillanders decided to go to the hospital at about 3.30 p.m.
Sergeant Kennedy, continuing, said that when he entered his office on June 19 he found the resignation of Gillanders on the table. He did not know who put it there.
It was also reported that his daughter saw him with the revolver but before she could run to him, he put the weapon to his temple and fired, dying tow hours later in Alfred Hospital.
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Gerard John ROWAN
| 19/09/2015
Gerard John ROWAN
( late of Hursltone Park )
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 11016
Rank: Sergeant – retired
Stations: ?, Business & Technology Services – retirement
Service: From ? to 13 July 2002 = 38 years Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 20 January 1981
1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 27 November 1990
2nd Clasp to National medal – granted 24 March 2000
Born: 10 July 1942 in Nth Sydney
Died on: Saturday 12 September 2015
Cause: ?
Age: 73
Funeral date: Friday 18 September 2015 @ 10.30am
Funeral location: St Patrick’s Catholic Church, 5 Drynan Street, Summer Hill
Buried at: Rookwood Cemetery
[alert_yellow]GERARD is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
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Requiem Mass for the eternal repose of the soul of Gerard Rowan will be celebrated at 10.30am Friday 18th September 2015 at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, 5 Drynan Street Summer Hill. Following Mass, the cortege will proceed to Rookwood Catholic Cemetery.
Harley Gerard DONOHUE
| 19/09/2015
Harley Gerard DONOHUE
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 12918
Rank: Sergeant
Stations: ?, Traffic Branch, Part time diver with Water Police, Hurstville – death
Service: From 11 December 1967 to ?
Awards: National Medal – granted 29 November 1983
1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 16 September 1993
Born: 23 May 1945
Died on: 27 January 1996
Cause: Cancer
Age: 50
Funeral date: ? ? 1996
Funeral location: Woronora Crematorium
Buried at: Cremated
Memorial plaque at Woronora Cemetery
Location
Section
Position
DD REMEMBRANCE PLAQUE MEMORIAL
7
0015
MEMORIAL
Harley Gerard DONOHUE
Harley Gerard DONOHUE
HARLEY GERARD DONOHUE
JOHN DUNCAN, KAREN BRANFIELD, HARLEY DONOHUE
[alert_yellow]HARLEY is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
After 14 days from today an application for a grant of representation will be made to the Supreme Court of Queensland at Brisbane as follows: Deceased:|WILLIAM CHARLES FAHEY| Last Address:|178 Ocean Vista Drive, Maroochy River 4561, Queensland|Address in Will: |178 Ocean Vista Drive, Maroochy River 2561, Queensland|Applicants:|ELIZABETH FAY FAHEY, 178 Ocean Vista Drive, Maroochy River 4561, Queensland.| Grant:|Probate of the Will dated 15 September, 2005.| Caveat:| If you wish to object or to be heard upon the application, you may file a Caveat in the Supreme Court registry mentioned above at any time before the grant is made.| Creditors:|All creditors of the estate are required to
send in particulars of their claim to the applicant's Solicitors within six weeks of the date of publication of this Notice.| Date of Death:|3 November, 2006.| Applicant(s) Solicitors: |Warren Gardiner & Co, Solicitors|| 38 Queen Street, Nambour Qld 4560.|
Location: Sunshine Coast | Published Date: 13 Jan 2007
The Premier, Mr. J. J. Cahill, said yesterday he had called for a report on allegations by Mr. Stefan Iwanowski that police officers had ill-treated him.
Mr. Cahill said he had received a letter from Mr. B. J. Macree, a Sydney solicitor, enclosing a statutory declaration by Mr. Iwanowski, of West Street, Paddington.
Mr. Macree had asked for an extension of the terms of the Studley-Ruxton Royal Commission to include his client’s allegations.
Mr. Cahill said that when he received the report from his officers, he would consider whether action was necessary.
Stefan Iwanowski said in Central Summons Court yesterday that a police sergeant had hit him on the left cheek, and a constable had hit him twice in the stomach.
He said the policemen were Sergeant First-class George Herbert Boyd and Constable William Charles Fahey, both of Darlinghurst.
The Crown by summons charged Iwanowski, of West Street, Paddington, with having used indecent language.
Iwanowski said that the two policemen called at his home about five minutes to midnight on February 17.
The sergeant had said: “What is going on here?” and the constable had said: “You are drunk.” ” Iwanowski said: Then the constable hit me with his fist in my stomach.
“I said: ‘What is the Gestapo tactics to come my place at midnight, disturb my baby and beat me?’
“I will see a solicitor tomorrow and find if you are to come to my place at midnight and beat and do these things like the Gestapo.
“Then the sergeant took me by my hair, pulled me down by the head, and the constable gave me a hit in my stomach with his fist.
“STARTED CRYING“
“I fell down on the chair because I could not get my breath, and I started crying. My baby woke and cried, screaming.
“When the baby started screaming, the sergeant and policeman went to the kitchen.
“I said to them: ‘Constable, I take your number.’ I took up from the table my wife’s pencil, and put the number of the constable on the paper.
“The sergeant said to the constable. ‘Take this —– to the police.’
“My baby was still screaming. “I put my coat on. I didn’t put on shoes or slippers.
“The sergeant started to push me out. After, we walked up the steps. In the front of me was the constable and behind me was the sergeant.”
Mr. K. O’Malley Jones, for Iwanowski: What happened when you went to the police car?
Iwanowski: Some of the police, I don’t know which one, pushed me into the car.
“TAKE A HALF“
Iwanowski, continuing, said that at the police station they told him to get out. The sergeant started pushing him into the police station and kicking his heels.
Iwanowski said: “I started crying. I went into the police station and I said: ‘I have been beaten by police and kicked on my feet, and pulled by my hair.’
“The sergeant said: ‘You are a —– liar. Nobody touched you.’ Then he punched me with his fist.
“Then he started pulling baby from me. My baby was screaming. I said: ‘You don’t take my baby from me. If you take, you take a half.'”
Iwanowski said that Sergeant Boyd took him by the hair and pulled him into the dock. He ordered the constable to take his name, height, and details.
He continued: “He asked me what my profession was. I said, ‘Linesman.’ The sergeant said, ‘Put labourer.’ ”
Mr. O’Malley Jones: Do you remember anything else said before he told you to go home?
Iwanowski: He told me, ‘You are a —— Pole. You are a Communist. They should not let you come to this country. We will teach you how to live in this country.”
Iwanowski said the police started pulling him out of the station by the hair.
NO MARK
To Mr. H. L. Cantor, for the prosecution. Iwanowski said there was no doubt the constable hit him.
Mr. Cantor: Did it leave any mark? Iwanowski: Not in the stomach.
Were you hit anywhere else but in the stomach? – In the police station, in my face.
Did it leave any mark? Pretty sore. It left no mark.
Did he hit you hard? – Yes. That is the sergeant? – Yes. Iwanowski said the sergeant hit him on his left cheek.
[ Sergeant Boyd and Constable Fahey denied during cross-examination by Mr. O’Malley Jones on Thursday that they had pushed, kicked, punched, or pulled Iwanowski’s hair. ]
Mr. H. L. Sargeson adjourned the hearing until 10a.m. on July 9.
Mr. H. L. Cantor ( by the State Crown Solicitor ) for the prosecution: Mr. K. O’Malley Jones ( by B. J. Macree ) for Iwanowski.
Mr. H. L. Sargeson, S.M., in Central Summons Court yesterday, fined Stefan Iwanowski £1 on a charge of using indecent language on February 17.
Iwanowski, a Polish migrant, in evidence earlier in the hearing said that Sergeant George Herbert Boyd and Constable William Charles Fahey had assaulted him.
CLAIMED HE WAS HIT
Iwanowski said Fahey had hit him twice at his home at West Street, Paddington, where, the charge alleged, the language was used.
He said Boyd punched him and pulled his hair at Darlinghurst police station.
Mr. Sargeson said he was satisfied Iwanowski used the words, but added that there were some unsatisfactory features about the case for the prosecution.
It was difficult to understand why Iwanowski was taken to the police station with his baby. It must have been apparent that there would be difficulty in disposing of the baby if Iwanowski was arrested, charged and locked-up.
DELAY
“Another thing is the delay in taking proceedings by way of summons against Iwanowski,” he said.
“I feel that proceedings against Iwanowski were in fact expedited by the prosecution when it was learned that Iwanowski was moving in the matter of the assault alleged by him to have been committed by the police officers concerned.”
Mr. Sargeson said four witnesses – Boyd and Fahey and a Mr. and Mrs. Gray, of West Street, Paddington said they heard Iwanowski use indecent language. He was satisfied they told the truth.
Iwanowski had denied he used indecent language, and complained that he was assaulted by Constable Fahey and Sergeant Boyd.
Iwanowski alleged that Sergeant Boyd struck him on the face, pulled his hair, and trod on his heels as he was entering the police station.
CONFLICT
Mr. Sargeson said, “The witnesses called by Iwanowski didn’t help me in coming to a conclusion.
“Their evidence is only of value in determining the question of the credibility of witnesses for the prosecution.
“The evidence of these witnesses is in conflict in some respects with the witnesses for the prosecution.”
HAD BABY IN HIS ARMS
Sergeant Edward Clyde Davis , of Darlinghurst Police Station said in evidence he was a senior constable on February 17, and on duty as station sergeant.
Early in the morning of February l8, Sergeant Boyd and Constable Fahey brought Iwanowski in the charge room. Iwanowski had a baby in his arms.
Boyd said, ‘This man used indecent language to us, but I can’t lock him up with a baby in his arms.” Iwanowski, said, “Lock me up.”
SAW NO BLOWS
Davis said Boyd told Fahey, “Get his particulars, and we will take out a summons.” Fahey spoke to Iwanowski, and then “Boyd said “You are free to go now, but you will probably get a summons.”
Iwanowski remained in the room speaking in a foreign language.
Davis said he twice told Iwanowski he was free to leave before Iwanowski walked out the door. Iwanowski was highly excited, and was talking loudly.
Davis said he did not see any blows struck, or any force used on Iwanowski.
To Mr. K. O’Malley Jones ( for Iwanowski ) Davis said he had been 26 years in the police force. At this time he had been 10 months at Darlinghurst.
Mr. O’Malley Jones: You are the sergeant who has been referred to by a probationary police constable in the court yesterday?
Davis; I decline to answer. Mr. H. L. Cantor ( for the police ) objected to the question.
Mr. O’Malley Jones: It is not the only question I am going to ask.
QUESTION ALLOWED
Mr. Sargeson, S.M., allowed the question, but told Davis not to answer further questions until be gave him permission.
Davis: I am the sergeant. Mr. O’Malley Jones: And the gist of it is that in relation to that matter you and the probationary constable are diametrically opposed on an important matter?
Mr. Cantor: There are some matters which, even if it were felt they would assist on the witness’s credit, should not be allowed. It is sub judice.
Mr., Sargeson disallowed the question.
Davis said he had not asked Sergeant Boyd or Constable Fahey whether they would begin proceedings against Iwanowski. He could not remember when he was told he would be needed to give evidence, but an inspector, Mr. Mijch, of Darlinghurst, had asked him to write a report.
Mr. O’Malley Jones: Did he say proceedings would be instituted against Iwanowski because he had indicated he was assaulted by the police? Davis: No.
SUMMONS
Davis said he was with Sergeant Smith when Smith served the summons on Iwanowski.
Mr. O’Malley Jones: Would it be quite a common thing for n summons issued on March 16 at the Court of Petty Sessions, Sydney, to be served on the same day from Darlinghurst Police Station?
Davis: It generally takes a couple of days.
Was it indicated to you by anyone in the station that this was a case in which the summons had to be served very quickly? – No.
Constable Atholl John Arndell, of Darlinghurst Police Station, said he was on duty when Sergeant Boyd and Constable Fahey brought Iwanowski into the police station.
He did not see any violence used towards Iwanowski.
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 13 May 1946
Inspector
Stations: ?, Fairfield, 34 Division, O.I.C. – Parramatta District
Service: From ?pre 13 May 1946to ? ? ?
Awards: ?
Born: 10 July 1923 in Sydney, NSW
Died on: 17 September 2009 at Longueville Private Hospital
Cause: ?
Age: 86
Funeral date: Thursday 24 September 2009 @ 10.30am
Funeral location: St Charles Catholic Church, Cnr Charles & Victoria Rd, Ryde, NSW
Buried at: ?
[alert_yellow]GEOFF is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
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It is with the deepest regret that we wish to advise the peaceful passing of Geoff Williamson, former Olympian and Leichhardt’s Vice President, passed away peacefully in Longueville Private Hospital late yesterday the 17th September ( 2009 ) aged 86 years.
Geoffrey joined Leichhardt Rowing Club as a coxswain before the Second World War.
After active War service, Geoff returned to Rowing as an oarsman and became part of Professor Frank Cotton’s contribution to Sports Science in the 1950’s.
Apart from many State Championship wins, Geoff represented New South Wales in the Kings Cup in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956.
He represented Australia in the Olympic Men’s Eight in 1952 (Helsinki) and 1956 (Melbourne) in the Coxed Four. Geoff also represented Australia in the Eights at the Vancouver Empire Games in 1954.
He continued to be a strong supporter of Club rowing and will be fondly remembered as a much respected Life member and Vice President of the Leichhardt Rowing Club.
His career as a Police Officer saw him move through the ranks to “Officer in Charge of the Parramatta District until his retirement many years ago.
Always the gentleman, Geoff worked continuously for Leichhardt Rowing Club and will be sadly missed.
The funeral for Geoff will take place at 10.30am on Thursday, 24th September at St Charles Catholic Church, Corner Charles and Victoria Road Ryde.
The funeral notice will be in the papers on 22nd September.
A formal complaint from a friend of Lyn Dawson that NSW police were failing to investigate her suspicious disappearance from Sydney’s northern beaches has been discovered decades later in a sealed file in state archives.
Susan Strath was so disturbed by the inaction of police that she wrote to the NSW Ombudsman’s office and begged the independent government watchdog to intervene.
Ms Strath’s complaint of 1985, three years after Lyn went missing, documented her alarm that a woman could vanish without officers interviewing work colleagues or friends, or conducting any serious investigation.
She pointed out that shortly before Lyn went missing her husband Chris — a teacher and former star footballer — was widely known to be in an intense affair with a teenage schoolgirl who had been one of his students.
“Her husband was so sure she would not return, his girlfriend was moved in the following week,” she wrote.
“He has now married his schoolgirl lover, has a beautiful home and established family.
“Everything seems too easy. He got exactly what he wanted and his wife, who wasn’t up to standard, has vanished from the face of the earth, having no further contact with family or friends.
“It doesn’t seem possible that a person can be swept under the rug and forgotten.”
The ombudsman’s file on the complaint was discovered by The Australian in storage with NSW State Archives and Records after lengthy investigations for podcast series The Teacher’s Pet and is detailed in a new episode, released today.
The ombudsman’s office had said no trace of the complaint could be found and that records would have been destroyed.
But after archives staff located the file for The Australian, the ombudsman’s office agreed to waive restrictions that would have prevented the documents being released for 90 years from when they were created.
Among the documents was Mr Dawson’s long-lost handwritten statement to police of August 1982, in which he blamed his marital problems on his wife’s credit card spending but did not mention his teenage lover.
Mr Dawson’s statement had disappeared along with the rest of the separate police file in the 1990s and was not available to the former investigating officer, Damian Loone, or to two coroners who examined the case.
Despite Ms Strath’s complaint, neither police nor the ombudsman’s office interviewed Mr Dawson’s schoolgirl lover, Joanne Curtis, or numerous other witnesses including fellow teachers, neighbours, family members and friends at the time.
Senior police who were forwarded the complaint insisted there was a satisfactory investigation when Lyn disappeared and there was nothing to indicate foul play or suspicious circumstances.
It would be another five years before Sydney homicide detectives looked at the case, acting on information from Mr Dawson’s former teenage lover, Ms Curtis, after they split up.
The two coroners later found, in 2001 and 2003, that Mr Dawson murdered his wife. He has not been charged and maintains his innocence.
The sealed ombudsman’s file includes correspondence about Ms Strath’s 1985 complaint, showing Lyn’s disappearance was brought to the attention of the highest levels of the NSW police force.
Sue Thompson, an ombudsman investigator, referred Ms Strath’s complaint directly to then-police commissioner John Avery. The commissioner was kept informed of the progress of inquiries.
“This is a bit of a sensitive complaint. It’s about the alleged disappearance of a woman some three years ago and allegation that the police may have failed to properly investigate,” Ms Thompson wrote in a file note.
Ms Strath noted in her complaint that she last spoke to Lyn on Friday, January 8, 1982, at the childcare centre where they both worked. Lyn and her husband had returned from marriage counselling that day, with Lyn expressing excitement that their marital difficulties would be resolved, she wrote. Lyn disappeared the next day, without another word being heard from her.
“The next day what happened????” Ms Strath wrote.
She noted Lyn’s inability to drive, her exceptional devotion to her two young daughters, then aged four and two, and her love of her Bayview home, which was worth more than $250,000 when she vanished.
Ms Strath also noted Lyn had no interest in religion and didn’t attend church — this was a response to her husband’s claims that she apparently went off with a religious group.
“I would like to know what the police have done in the matter? Why weren’t her workmates interviewed as to her last 24 hours?
“I’m concerned that I was one of the last to see her on the Friday but was never questioned by the police. Can a person just disappear and it be accepted?”
A senior officer, Inspector Geoff Shattles ( # 7398 ), noted in response that Lyn’s parents, Helena and Len Simms, had not “ever hinted” at concerns of foul play.
“Further to this, the brother of the missing person is a senior constable in the NSW police force and he at no time contacted police at this station in regard to any suspicions.”
A chief superintendent wrote that he was “satisfied all avenues of investigation were covered at the time”.
The file shows that as a result of Ms Strath’s complaint, she was visited in 1985 by a detective, who also contacted one of her colleagues at the childcare centre. Inspector Shattles also spoke to Lyn’s mother.
But there was still no questioning of the former schoolgirl lover or many other key witnesses. In the course of its preliminary investigation, the ombudsman’s office had Mr Dawson’s 1982 handwritten statement to police about his wife’s disappearance, in which he lied about going away “to be by myself” over Christmas 1981 when he had gone to Queensland with Ms Curtis.
Mr Dawson at the end of his statement made an unusual comment — that he was “being advised on procedure by Sergeant Brian Gardner( #8841 ), Manly Detectives”.
Mr Gardner was an influential senior figure of the Belrose Rugby League Club, where Mr Dawson and his twin brother Paul were joint captains and coaches. Known to colleagues as “Smacka”, Brian has since died.
Ms Strath believed Mr Dawson’s celebrity status as a former Newtown Jets rugby league star protected him from scrutiny.
Ultimately the ombudsman’s office concluded “no further action is necessary” after informing Ms Strath of the police position.
NSW Ombudsman Michael Barnes yesterday said the office had limited jurisdiction and resources in 1985 and its response was “satisfactory”.
