Exposure
Sydney
8 October, 1864
Constable Moffatt of the Murray Police Patrol died at the Sydney Infirmary from “rheumatism caused by exposure“. This was the cumulative effect of many cold and wet nights spent camping in the bush while carrying out his police duties.
The constable was born in 1837 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 22 July, 1862. At the time of his death he was stationed in the Murray District (Albury).
Constable Charles BARTON Horse Accident Carcoar 2 April, 1852 Constable Barton died on 2 April, 1852 from head injuries received when he was thrown from his horse while on duty at Carcoar. Colonial Secretary’s Letters 1852 reveal that the police troop horse Honesty had a habit of bucking and on the day of the…
Constable Henry RUCKER Drowned Newcastle 19 October, 1863 The constable was drowned whilst attempting to cross a tributary of Lake Macquarie. He was one of a group of police searching for a number of offenders who had earlier robbed James Williams’ jewellery store in Hunter Street, Newcastle. While endeavouring to cross the creek the…
Constable 1st Class William HIRD Assault – Axe Canterbury 13 August, 1885 On the evening of the 13 August, 1885 the constable challenged a group of drunken Kempsey Park labourers near the bridge over the Cooks River at Canterbury. The group were returning to camp following a day on the grog in the city…
Acting Sergeant James McDONALD Exposure Sydney 24 June, 1851 The acting sergeant was described as having died from ‘indisposition arising from cold in the discharge of his duties’ after ‘a protracted illness’(probably exposure). It was later also recorded that he had ‘died from illness contracted in the service’ and had ‘died whilst serving in…
Sergeant JIPP Assault – Brawl Hill End 1853 The sergeant was apparently killed in a brawl at a Hill End gold miner’s camp in 1853 and was buried on the spot at a place which later became the Hill End Racecourse. A stringybark tree at the site was blazed and inscribed with the sergeant’s…
Trooper Peter WHITE Illness Muswellbrook 27 December, 1844 On 27 December, 1844 Trooper White shot himself in the Muswellbrook Mounted Police Barracks. Apparently he was considerably upset following the earlier escape of a prisoner (then a criminal offence for police). Two days earlier, on Christmas Day, the officer-in-charge of the Mounted Police at…