Constable Nicholas Glen SMITH & Constable Alistar Royal OSGOOD

Constable Nicholas Glen SMITH

&

Constable Alistar Royal OSGOOD

 

Motor Vehicle Accident

Homebush

28 February, 1939

 

On 28 February, 1939 Constable Smith was a passenger in a Police Public Safety Bureau motor cycle outfit driven by Constable Osgood. Whilst they were in Parramatta Road, Homebush they were pursuing and attempting to stop a motor vehicle when the cycle outfit collided with a heavy truck which had pulled across the roadway in front of them. Both constables sustained fractured skulls in the accident and both died shortly afterwards.

 

The West Australian newspaper of 29 February, 1939 carried the following account of the tragedy.

 

TWO CONSTABLES KILLED – CYCLE CRASHES INTO MEAT WAGGON.

SYDNEY, Feb. 28 – Constables Nicholas Glen Smith (24) and A.R Osgood (26), members of the police safety squad, were killed tonight when their motor cycle and sidecar crashed into the side of a heavy meat waggon in Parramatta Road, Homebush. Both men were hurled with terrific force against the side of the waggon and had their skulls fractured, among other injuries. Constable Smith was killed instantly but Constable Osgood lived until an ambulance took him to hospital. He died before he could be admitted. Witnesses informed the police that the two constables were chasing a motor car along Parramatta Road towards the city. The Police have been unable to discover whether the car was one reported stolen, or if the driver had merely committed a traffic breach – probably speeding.

 

Constable Smith was born in 1914 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 22 November, 1937. At the time of his death he was attached to the Public Safety Bureau.

 

Constable Osgood was born in 1912 and joined the Police Force on 6 January, 1936. At the time of his death he was attached to the Public Safety Bureau.