National Police Memorial

On this day

Constable

Owen Lesley DALEY

YEAR OF DEATH

12 January 1960

JURISDICTION

Tasmania

DETAILS OF DEATH

Constable Daley died on the Lyell Highway about eight miles on the Hobart side of Queenstown from injuries received in a collision between the departmental Landrover he was driving and a semi-trailer petrol wagon. Stationed at Gormanston Constable Daley was on his way to provide an escort for an over-width load from Bronte Park to South Queenstown when he met the semi-trailer which had moved to the incorrect side of the road whilst negotiating a bend. Constable Daley was killed instantly when thrown from his vehicle.

On this day

Constable 1st Class

Eric George BAILEY

YEAR OF DEATH

12 January 1945

JURISDICTION

New South Wales

DETAILS OF DEATH

Shortly after 8pm on 12 January 1945 Constable Bailey spoke to a man dressed in an American Naval Uniform outside the Exchange Hotel Blayney. The Constable told the man that he intended to search him and his belongings regarding his alleged possession of a revolver. The man suddenly produced the revolver and shot Constable Bailey in the stomach. The Constable then took hold of the offender and during the ensuing struggle two more shots were fired and the offender was wounded in the wrist. Three railway employees quickly came to the Constable`s aid and the offender was handcuffed and detained until extra Police arrived. The wound suffered by Constable Bailey proved to be severe and he died on admission to the Orange Base Hospital. He had achieved a rare feat in that he had arrested his own murderer. Allegations were later made suggesting that the offender was a contract killer sent to murder another local Constable Stan Grady who had been enthusiastically investigating sly grog sellers and SP bookies in the area. The offender was said to have inadvertently shot Constable Bailey whom he mistook for Grady who was off duty at the time. When shot Constable Bailey was in Mounted Police uniform and until that day Stan Grady had been the only Mounted Constable in Blayney thus the offender`s error. The offender well-known Sydney criminal Cyril Norman – alias Thomas Couldrey – was convicted and sentenced to death. Constable Bailey was born in 1906 and joined the New South Wales Police Force in 1927. At the time of his death he was stationed at Blayney. He was posthumously promoted to Sergeant 3rd Class and awarded the George Cross and the George Lewis Trophy.

On this day

Constable

Bertram Clifford ROBINSON

YEAR OF DEATH

12 January 1938

JURISDICTION

Victoria

DETAILS OF DEATH

About 10.05 a.m. Tuesday 11 January 1938 Constable Robinson was performing fatigue duties at the Gaming Squad offices at 43 Little Bourke Street Melbourne. He fell to the pavement whilst cleaning a third floor window and died the next day in the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

On this day

Constable

John Charles DONOVAN

YEAR OF DEATH

12 January 1922

JURISDICTION

New South Wales

DETAILS OF DEATH

About 4:30pm, Constable Donovan was in Bathurst Street, Brewarrina returning to the Police Station after conducting inquiries. When about 150 yards from the Police Station, he was struck by lightning. The lightning struck him in the side of the head. He died at the scene.