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1878ArticlesAssaultBuriedCauseCurrently ServingDeceased PoliceFirearmFuneralGenderIncompleteLocationMaleMonumentMurderNSWOf eventOf graveOn DutyPhotosShotStateWall of RemembranceYearYes

Thomas Edward WALLINGS

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Thomas Edward WALLINGS

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  ‘ P ‘ 716 

( ‘P’ = Pre 1862 when NSWPF “Officially” commenced )

Rank: Mounted Constable – 15 July 1855

Senior Constable – appointed 1 March 1862

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 1 June 1868

Senior Sergeant – appointed 1 November 1877

Stations, Molong ( January 1865 ), Mudgee ( September 1869.  Sgt In Charge of Mudgee to Bathurst Gold Escort ), Dubbo – death

ServiceFrom  15 July 1855  to  20 September 1878 = 23+ years Service

Awards?

Born: ? ? 1838 in Dubbo ( although other records state a native of England )

Died on:  Friday 20 September 1878

Cause:  Shot – Murdered

Event location:  Marthaguy Creek, ( near Warren ), NSW

Age: 40

Funeral date:

Funeral location:

Buried at:  Old Dubbo Cemetery, Myall St, Manera Hts, Dubbo, Church of England Portion, Section R2

Memorial location:

Thomas WALLINGS
Thomas WALLINGS

 

INSCRIPTION:<br /> THOMAS WALLINGS<br /> ? in the Police<br /> many years a faithful<br /> public servant<br /> He was shot dead<br /> whilst in the execution<br /> of his duty<br /> at Wombobbie<br /> on the 20th Sep. 1878<br /> aged 40 years<br /> This memorial was erected by the<br /> Government of New South Wales<br /> also<br /> Charles C. WALLINGS<br /> died 17th May 1903<br /> aged 30 years<br /> The Lord gave and the<br /> Lord hath taken away.<br />
INSCRIPTION:
THOMAS WALLINGS
? in the Police
many years a faithful
public servant
He was shot dead
whilst in the execution
of his duty
at Wombobbie
on the 20th Sep. 1878
aged 40 years
This memorial was erected by the
Government of New South Wales
also
Charles C. WALLINGS
died 17th May 1903
aged 30 years
The Lord gave and the
Lord hath taken away.

 

INSCRIPTION: THOMAS WALLINGS ? ? ? He was shot dead ? of ? at ? on the 20th Sep. 1878 aged 40 years ? ? also Charles C. WALLINGS died 17th May 1903 aged 30 years The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away.
INSCRIPTION:
THOMAS WALLINGS
? in the Police
many years a faithful
public servant
He was shot dead
whilst in the execution
of his duty
at Wombobbie
on the 20th Sep. 1878
aged 40 years
This memorial was erected by the
Government of New South Wales
also
Charles C. WALLINGS
died 17th May 1903
aged 30 years
The Lord gave and the
Lord hath taken away.

 

Thomas IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

 

On the night of Thursday 19 September, 1878 Sergeant Wallings, Senior Constable William Souter and Constable John Walsh were searching for a gang of bushrangers ( Captain Midnight & his gang ) when they set up a bush camp near the Wonbobbie Inn, Marthaguy Creek (near Warren).

The following day ( Friday 20 September ) at 6am the three police rode to the inn where they suspected they might find the bushrangers. Constables Souter and Walsh remained on guard outside while Sergeant Wallings approached the inn. Meanwhile, Constable Souter saw a man about 50 metres away carrying a rifle. He rode over to him and was told he would be shot if he came any closer. Souter called to the other police who rode down to him.

Sergeant Wallings then fired a warning shot and told the man to surrender, however the man replied that he himself would fire if the police came any closer. Sergeant Wallings then advanced on the man and pointed his revolver at him. The man then turned suddenly and dropped to one knee. As he did so, he fired at the sergeant, hitting him in the chest. In the confusion the offender ran a short distance away and took cover from the police. A short gun battle took place, however, the offender, being far better armed with a rifle, compared to the police revolvers, managed to escape. The two constables then directed their attention to assisting the wounded sergeant. The wound suffered by Sergeant Wallings ( shot through the heart and lung ) proved to be severe, and he unfortunately passed away almost immediately.

A few weeks later, the Sydney Morning Herald dated 10 October, 1878 reported the death of the murderer, informing its readers that “News has just reached the metropolis that the man who shot Senior Sergeant Wallings at Dubbo has been killed by the police, shortly after he committed the murder. The cold-blooded villain shot Wallings in the execution of his duty. He was pursued by Sub-Inspector Duffy and Constables Latton and Gray of Bourke, in the most unrelenting manner, and traced to the borders of Queensland, where he made a desperate resistance. The police shot at the horse he was riding and fatally wounded the murderer, whose name is said to be George Gibson. This man’s death is one which has not in any way been regretted by the general community. It was such a death as luckily there is not much necessity for now-a-days. The police deserve the congratulations of the public here for their bravery in this instance, which however, is only of a piece with much the New South Wales police have accomplished in the suppression of crimes of this nature. A movement has been initiated for relieving the widow and eight children of Wallings.

The sergeant was born in 1838 and joined the police force on 15 July, 1855. In 1862 he became a member of the newly-formed New South Wales Police Force. At the time of his death he was stationed at Dubbo. The offender was the bushranger “Midnight“.


 

 

10 thoughts on “Thomas Edward WALLINGS

  • Hi everyone, I am Thomas Wallings great-great granddaughter – do you know where Mary Ann Wallings is buried as I am currently visiting all my great-great grandparent’s grave and I do not have her final resting place. Aleta

    Reply
  • Chris Wallings

    Hi Nick and Glen. I think Alan Wallings has it, he showed me some of the material before I came out to visit Nick in the early 2000s. We drove up to Dubbo to visit the grave.

    Reply
    • Thank you Phil.
      This website is pretty much a ‘one man’ effort over several years.

      Reply
  • He was born at Dubbo in 1838. He married Mary Ann Kelly in 1857 at Tamworth. He was promoted from Mounted Constable to Senior Constable on 1 March 1862. He was working and residing at Molong by January 1865 when he was also appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures. Appointed Sergeant 2nd Class 1 June 1868 then 1st Class 1 November 1877. He and his wife resided at the corner of Riddell and Edward Streets before they relocated to Mudgee in September 1869 when he became a Sergeant in charge of the Mudgee to Bathurst gold escort. He was fatally shot in the execution of his duty. He was only 40 years of age and left his wife and children; Edward Thomas (born 1860 Tambaroora), Harriet (1862 Wellington), Thomas Gledhill (1864 Molong), unnamed (1865 Molong), Lily (1868-1947 Molong), unnamed (1870 Mudgee), unnamed (1872 Dubbo), Edwin (1874-1880 Dubbo) and Ernest Alfred (1876-1966 Dubbo), Albert Edward (1879 Dubbo). Mary Ann died aged 76 on 14 June 1918 at her residence 93 Stewart St, Paddington.
    Captain Midnight escaped but was hunted down and shot in the hip several weeks later by Constables Hatton and Gray, near Wapweelah Station, Bourke. His dying words in gaol were, “Oh, that I had my rifle – I’d learn some of you to be merciful!”

    In contrast to his brave grandfather, Gledhill Edward Wallings (presumably a grandson), 45, cook, was declared an habitual criminal in 1937. The judge said there had been hardly any interval between his releases from gaol and his return.

    Reply
    • Nick Wallings

      Lind, you seem to have a comprehensive knowledge in regard to senior Sargent Wallings.
      My late auncle victor did some extensive research regarding the family and my understanding is that he was born in Liverpool uk.
      Would you have any more information, would like to know if my understanding is correct and if not when the wallings family came to Australia.

      Reply
      • Glen Wallings

        Thomas was our great great grandfather

        Reply
        • Glen Wallings

          My dad Victor Wallings did indeed do extensive research and visited The memorial and cleaned it up whilst he was there. Unfortunately I don’t know where all of Dads research ended up

          Reply
          • Chris Wallings

            I think Alan has it.

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