Leslie Andrew NASH
Leslie Andrew NASH
New South Wales Police Force
Late of 6 Clarence St, Penshurst, NSW
Regd. # ????
Uniform # 87A or 97A
Rank: Commenced Training at ? Academy on Tuesday 5 April 1921
Probationary Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank: Constable 1st Class
Stations: Parramatta ( 1924 ), Sutherland, Hurstville ( 1928 – 1935 )
Service: From 5 April 1921 to 15 April 1935 = 14 years, 0 months, 10 days Service
Awards: ?
Born: 22 December 1898 in Parkes, NSW
Died: Monday 15 April 1935
Cause: Illness – Suicide- service revolver
Age: 36 years, 3 months, 24 days
Event location: Hurstville Police Station
Funeral date: Tuesday 16 April 1935
Funeral location: St Declan’s Church, Penshurst @ 2.30pm
Buried at: Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland
Grave Location: Roman Catholic Monumental Section 3 – Plot: 0493
Coroners Inquest: Tuesday 30 April 1935
LESLIE is NOT mentioned on the National Police Wall of Remembrance ( 2021 ) * BUT SHOULD BE
Constable Nash is thought to have been shot to death, possibly while on duty, on 15 April, 1935. It was thought that he had committed suicide however little is known about this incident and to some extent it remains a mystery.
The Hurstville Propeller newspaper dated 18 April, 1935 published the following article.
CONSTABLE FOUND SHOT AT HURSTVILLE POLICE STATION.
First-Class Constable Leslie Andrew Nash, station officer at the Hurstville Police Station, was found dead at the station early on Monday morning. Constable Nash commenced duty at 5 a.m. Constable Harvey left the station and when he returned Nash was missing. A search revealed his body in the bathroom attached to the station. Nash’s service revolver was nearby.
The Sydney Morning Herald of 16 April, 1935 added a bit more to the story.
POLICEMAN FOUND SHOT. Constable Leslie Andrew Nash, 38, was found dead in the bathroom at the Hurstville Police Station yesterday morning with a bullet wound in his head. A revolver was found nearby. Nash was to have sat for an examination yesterday morning and had been in ill-health for some time. For the last eight years, Nash, who was a first class constable with 14 years service, had been stationed at Hurstville and was well liked and respected in the district. He had previously been stationed at Sutherland. He is survived by a widow and five children.
The constable was born in 1897 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 5 April, 1921. At the time of his death he was stationed at Hurstville.
Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners’ Advocate
Tuesday 30 April 1935 P9
WORRIED OVER LECTURES
Constable Committed Suicide
SYDNEY, Monday,
Forgetting what he had been told at lectures, Constable Leslie Nash, 37, committed suicide at Hurstville Police Station on April 15.
At the inquest today, Constable James Harvey said that Nash told him that he was worrying over a departmental examination that day, and had forgotten what he had been told.
Returning a verdict of suicide, the Coroner said that the case was very sad.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article139251811.txt
Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 – 1861; 1863 – 1889; 1891 – 1954),
Monday 15 April 1935, page 1
CONSTABLE SUICIDES
Strain of ill-Health Too Great
Sydney, Monday.
Constable Leslie Andrew Nash (38), was found dead at the Hurstville Police Station early this morning with a gun shot wound in the head.
He was acting as station officer. It appears that the man, who had been in ill health, had been told that he would have to undergo a serious operation. Some time later he was missing, and a search resulted in the discovery of his body in the bathroom attached to the station, with a revolver lying nearby.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article192714831.txt
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954),
Monday 15 April 1935, page 4
CONSTABLE FOUND DEAD AT STATION
Advised of Operation
SYDNEY, Monday. – Shot in the head,.
Constable Leslie Andrew Nash. aged 38, was today found dead at the Hurstville Police Station, where he had performed duty as station officer.
Nash, who has been in ill health and had been told that he would have to undergo a serious operation, began duty at 5 a.m. He asked Constable Harvey to go on an errand, and when Harvey returned Nash was missing.
A search revealed his body in the bath room attached to the station. His service revolver was nearby.
Nash left a widow and four children.
He had been in the force for 14 years and was a first-class constable.
Today he was to have sat for an examination, which his inspector said he would have passed without the slightest difficulty.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article128816003.txt
The Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday 16 April 1935 p 9
NA8H.- H.A.C.B.S. St. DECLAN’S BRANCH, No. 659.- The Officers and Members of the above Branch are requested to attend the Funeral of their late Bro.. LESLIE A. NASH: to leave St. Declan’s Catholic Church. Penshurst, THIS DAY. at 2.30 p.m., for Woronora Cemetery. By road.
W. J. MEACHMAN. Tres.
R. J. MADDEN. Sec.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article17166023.txt
Further reading: https://dev.australianpolice.com.au/woronora-cemetery-wall-of-remembrance/
The Coroners Inquest returned a verdict of “Effects of a bullet wound in his head, wilfully self inflicted“
Inquest was concluded on 29 April 1935.
In the attached photo, his Uniform # is 87A or 97A.
The ‘ A ‘ used to depict the District that the member was attached to. ‘ A ‘ District was Sydney – so he may, at the time of the photo being taken, have been stationed at one of the Sydney CBD Stations.
NSWBDM
Birth = 6089/1898 Father = Patrick Mother = Amelia District = Parkes
Marriage = 2105/1925 Bride = McDonnell or MacDonnell District = Kempsey
Death = 7008/1935 Father = Patrick Mother = Amelia District = Hurstville
Leslie Andrew Nash (1898 – 1935)
Ancestors 
Biography
Leslie was born in 1898, the son of Patrick and Amelia, Leslie married on 10 Jan 1925 to Catherine McDonnell. Leslie was a First Class Constable Leslie passed away 15 Apr 1935 (aged 36)
Sources
- NSW BDM
- BIRTH NASH LESLIE A 6089/1898 PATRICK AMELIA PARKES
- MARRIAGE 2105/1925 NASH LESLIE A MCDONNELL CATHERINE KEMPSEY
- DEATH NASH LESLIE A 7008/1935 PATRICK AMELIA HURSTVILLE
- RYERSON INDEX
- NASH Leslie Andrew Death notice 15APR1935 Death 37 at Hurstville, late of Penshurst Sydney Morning Herald 16APR1935
- The Sydney Morning Herald NSW 1842 – 1954
Tue 16 Apr 1935 DEATH NASH-April 15, 1835, suddenly, at Hurstville, Leslie Andrew, of 6 Clarence-street, Penshurst, dearly beloved husband of Catherine and father of Pat, Francis , Alma, John and Peter aged 37 years. Requiescat in pace.
The Sydney Morning Herald NSW 1842 – 1954 Tue 16 Apr 1935 Page 9 FUNERAL NASH.-The Relatives and Friends of Mrs. CATHERINE NA8H and FAMILY are kindly Invited to attend the Funeral of her dearly beloved HUSBAND and their FATHER. First Class Constable Leslie Andrew Nash: which will leave St. Declan’s Church. Penshurst, THIS TUESDAY, at 2.30 p.m., for the Catholic Cemetery. Woronora. Mrs. P. KIRBY and SON. LTD.. Leadlng Funeral Directors. phone, M2221-2. 263 Elizabeth-street, Sydney.
NASH.-‘The Friends of Mr. WILLIAM ROSS are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of his friend, the Late Mr. Leslie A. Nash: lo leave St. Declan’s Church. Penshurst, THIS DAY (Tues day. For further details please see above notice.
NASH.- H.A.C.B.S. St. DECLAN’S BRANCH, No. 659.-The Officers and Members of the above Branch are requested to attend the Funeral of their late Bro.. LESLIE A. NASH: to leave St. Declan’s Catholic Church. Penshurst, THIS DAY. at 2.30 p.m., for Woronora Cemetery. By road. W. J. MEACHMAN. Tres. R. J. MADDEN. Sec.
- NASH Leslie Andrew Death notice 16APR1935 Death at Hurstville Sydney Morning Herald 22APR1935
- The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954)
Mon 22 Apr 1935 Page 8 Family Notices
- DEATH
NASH.—April 16 (suddenly), at Hurstville, Les- lie Andrew, beloved brother, brother-in-law, and darling uncle of Bob, Rene, and Aileen.
- Death aged 37 at Hurstville, late of Penshurst
- BURIAL Woronora Memorial Park
Sutherland, Sutherland Shire, New South Wales, Australia PLOT RC 3 0493
- MEMORIAL ID 180629133
Leslie Andrew Nash (1898-1935) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
Please note Leslie’s date of birth was 22 December 1898; he was born in Parkes
My father died on 15/4/1935–was buried on 16/4/1935–the coroner determined that he had committed suicide. the coroner made his decision 14 days later on 30/4/1935. Was the matter fully investigated; a copy of the coronial report would help to answer this question.
Hi Peter,
You, as a relative, should be able to apply to the NSW Coroners Officer, for a copy of the Coronial papers.
If you do go down that path, I would appreciate a copy to go with Leslie’s Memorial Post.
Do you know where your father is buried? I can’t find anything on-line about that location.
regards
Cal
I am interested in further information regarding my maternal grandfather; I would also be interested in having his name added to the Walls of Remembrance in the Domain, Sydney, NSW and at Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland, NSW. Regards, Bernadette O’Connor
Hi Bernadette
You would have to contact the Commissioners Office to place a request to have Leslie mentioned on the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance. I don’t know what the criteria is though.
As for the Woronora Cemetery Wall – you would mention that in the same communication with the Commissioner’s Office and you might also try the Officer In Charge at Sutherland Police Station. He / She might be able to put you in the right direction.
I have also amended his date of birth on his Memorial page and added a little bit more information that I have found.
regards
Greg Callander
Bernadette , do you already have the book”” from Dublin to Parkes”
It is the Nash family book.
If not let me know and i will mail you what i have on Leslie, he is also a relie of mine.
Hi Patricia and Bernadette,
Alyssa Nash here, I am Joseph Nash’s daughter. I would like to know more about my great grand father Leslie Andrew Nash.
Hope we can could connect in the near future.