Edmund

DETAILS OF DEATH

On the afternoon of 16 November 1864 Sergeant Parry Sub Inspector O’Neill and Constable Roche formed the Mounted Police Escort for the Gundagai mail coach on its journey to Yass. Roche was seated beside the coach driver Gundagai Police Magistrate Mr Rose was inside the coach and Parry and O’Neill followed on horseback. Shortly before three o’clock as the coach approached the township of Jugiong the escort was attacked by bushrangers Hall Dunn and Gilbert. Sub Inspector O’Neill closed with Dunn and Hall and when he had emptied his rifle he hurled the weapon at Hall striking him on the head. He then drew his revolver and fired at Dunn. Meanwhile Parry and Gilbert fired on each other with the bushranger calling on the Sergeant to surrender. Parry continued to fight until he was shot in the head. Falling from his horse Parry was dead within minutes. The offenders then plundered the mailbags the coach was carrying. The Sergeant was born in 1832 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 5 May 1862. At the time of his death he was stationed at Gundagai.