Australian Police

Australian Police

The Thin Blue Line – Australian Police

Police Deaths in NSW – 1788 to 1996 (11)

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In Remembrance of those Police Officers who gave their life

MARTIN, Frederick George
Constable
26 November, 1953.

On the evening of the 26 November, 1953, Constable Martin and Constable Bacon were returning to the Belmont Police Station following attendance at the Newcastle Court that day. Constable Bacon was driving his private car, and Constable Martin was asleep in the front passenger seat. On the Pacific Highway at South Belmont Constable Bacon lost control of the vehicle, which skidded, left the road and overturned. As a result, both were taken to the Royal Newcastle Hospital. Unfortunately, Constable Martin had sustained severe head injuries and died later that night.
The Constable was born in 1921 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 16 April, 1950. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Burwood.

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SUTHERLAND, Reginald Thomas
Constable
20 May, 1954.

On the evening of 20 May, 1954 Constable Sutherland, a Special Stock Investigator, and Constable 1st Class Howell were travelling in a Police jeep from Darlington Point to Griffith. About 6.15pm a truck travelling in the opposite direction veered across the roadway, and although Constable Howell took evasive action, both vehicles collided. Constable Sutherland died later that evening from injuries he sustained in the accident. The driver of the truck, who did not stop after the accident, was later charged with several offences including Manslaughter and Fail to Stop after Accident.
The Constable was born in 1920 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 August, 1948. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Wagga.

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SEWELL, Cecil Edwin
Constable
2 June, 1954.

On 1 June, 1954 Constable Sewell was riding a Police solo motor cycle in Woodville Road, Merrylands. About 4.45pm the Constable became involved in the pursuit of a motor vehicle. As the pursuit neared the intersection of Farnell Street, an elderly man alighted from a bus, ran out onto the roadway and was struck by Constable Sewell’s motor cycle. Both men sustained severe injuries and were conveyed to the Parramatta District Hospital. The pedestrian was found to be dead on arrival, and Constable Sewell died the following morning.
The Constable was born in 1927 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 August, 1948. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Parramatta.

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DILKS, Edward Henry
Constable
21 October, 1954.

On the afternoon of 21 October, 1954 Constable Dilks and District Licensing Inspector Sergeant Whelan were returning to Cowra from an inspection at Brocklesby. Just north of the Hopefield Silos the rear, offside tyre on their vehicle blew out, causing the vehicle to swerve, leave the roadway and overturn. Both occupants were thrown from the vehicle. Constable Dilks was killed instantly. Sergeant Whelan was admitted to hospital with severe injuries.
The Constable was born in 1926 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 18 October, 1948. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Cowra.

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ORROCK, Bernard Alfred
Constable
26 February, 1955.

On 26 February, 1955, Constable Orrock, a member of the Sydney Water Police, was performing flood rescue duties in the Maitland area. Whilst travelling with Army and Air Force personal in an Army Duck toward the Louth Park area, the wireless aerial on the Duck struck live high tension power lines. As a result, Constable Orrock and two Army Signallers were killed. The cause of death was asphyxiation caused by electrocution. He was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Gallantry and a Bronze Medal from the Royal Shipwreck and Humane Society for his actions in floods that ultimately led to his death.
The Constable was born in 1930 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 22 January, 1951. At the time of his death, he was attached to the Sydney Water Police.

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ELLIS, Cecil William James
Sergeant 2nd Class
29 April, 1956.

On the evening of the 18 April, 1956 Sergeant Ellis and Sergeant Fitzpatrick arrested two men in Liverpool Street, Sydney. The offenders were then marched off toward Central Police Station, one to be charged with drunkenness, and the other with indecent language. Nearing the courtyard of the Police Station the offender detained for indecent language began to resist violently, punching and kicking the Police. After being subdued and taken inside, the offender continued to climb out of the dock and attempt to assault any Police near enough to him. The assault, followed by the effort of constantly restraining the offender exhausted Sergeant Ellis, and the following day he was suffering from severe chest pains. He was placed on sick report on 20 April, and unfortunately died of a coronary occlusion nine days later.
The Sergeant was born in 1898 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 February, 1927. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Central Police Station.

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NASH, Allen William
Sergeant 3rd Class
22 August, 1956.

On 16 August, 1956 the Sergeant was on duty at the Port Kembla Police Station. Following the receipt of a message of shots fired at a Primbee dwelling occupied by a woman and two children, Sergeant Nash left to attend to the complaint. Upon arrival he found the offender Russin near the back verandah of the house and spoke to him. The offender, however, simply raised the rifle he was carrying and shot the Sergeant. The bullet unfortunately passed through Sergeant Nash’s abdomen, damaging his spine and causing him to drop his pistol. With his right arm paralysed, Sergeant Nash picked up the pistol with his left hand and, although in great pain, managed to fire two shots. One shot hit the offender in the hands, and the other penetrated the heart, killing him. Sergeant Nash was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Gallantry, the Peter Mitchell Trophy, and the George Lewis Trophy.
The Sergeant was born in 1916 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 July, 1939. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Port Kembla.

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STRACHAN, Alexander
Detective Senior Constable
15 March, 1957.

In 1953 Detective Constable Strachan was performing Consorting Squad duties in the Snowy Mountains due to the large influx of personal engaged in the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Involvement in a number of difficult investigations, often working in freezing conditions, was to have a serious effect on the Detective’s health, and on the 15 March, 1957 he was admitted to the Mater Hospital, North Sydney, suffering from uraemia and chronic nephritis (kidney disease). He died the same day.
The Senior Constable was born in 1916 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 11 January, 1937.

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DODDS, Trevor William
Constable 1st Class
16 May, 1957.
On 16 May, 1957, Constable Dodds was riding a Police Special Traffic Patrol solo motor cycle from Goulburn to Bowral Court. On the Hume Highway at Paddy’s River, just north of Marulan, the cycle hit a patch of oil and water, skidded and left the roadway, colliding with trees. As a result, the Constable sustained fatal injuries.
The Constable was born in 1925 and joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Cadet on 15 November, 1943. He was sworn in on 12 November, 1946. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Goulburn.

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GREGORY, James Alfred
Senior Constable
21 May, 1957.
On the morning of 21 May, 1957 Senior Constable Gregory of the Newcastle Water Police was, with a number of other Police, engaged in the recovery of a body from a beach at the foot of a cliff. The work was extremely strenuous and included climbing the cliff, without the aid of ropes, to bring the body to the top. After the job was completed, Senior Constable Gregory resumed his normal duties before going to a nearby cafe for lunch. He was found a short time later sitting in the gutter in a distressed state and, despite receiving assistance, he collapsed. He was conveyed to the Newcastle Hospital where life was pronounced extinct. The cause of death was recorded as coronary sclerosis.
The Senior Constable was born in 1901 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 25 July, 1928. At the time of his death, he was attached to the Newcastle Water Police.

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