John

DETAILS OF DEATH

In April 1865 Senior Constable Herbert along with Constables Cook and Ambrose and Tracker Peter were searching for the Hall Gang of bushrangers in the bush between Forbes and Canowindra. The bushrangers had earlier robbed a store at Forbes and information had been obtained indicating that they were headed for Canowindra. The police party made camp in the bush near Molong and Senior Constable Herbert announced that he and Constable Ambrose would be leaving the camp to keep watch on a hut where they suspected the gang might be hiding. It was arranged that should either he or Constable Ambrose return during the night he would whistle to alert the camp of their approach. Unfortunately Herbert and Ambrose decided to return during the night but after losing their way in the darkness they approached the police camp from a different direction than expected. Being closer than they believed to the camp they also did not whistle to signal their arrival. Believing the approaching riders to be the bushrangers Constable Cook issued a challenge on two occasions without receiving a reply. On the second occasion his challenge unanswered both he and Peter fired at the sounds in the darkness. As a result Constable Herbert was shot in the groin neck and shoulder. He died about a week later. The Senior Constable was born in 1837 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 1 September 1859. At the time of his death he was stationed in the Western District.