Thomas

DETAILS OF DEATH

On Saturday 8 May 1869 Constables Byrne and Beck launched the police boat on the flooded Cowpasture River near Camden. The mail coach from Campbelltown waiting on the far side of the river had been unable to cross. The two Constables rowed across and collected the mail and a number of passengers before attempting to return. Nearing the bank of the river on the return journey the boat suddenly overturned casting the occupants into the water. Constable Byrne unable to swim weakened by rowing on the flooded river and heavily clothed with a cape about his neck sank beneath the surface and was drowned. The Constable was born in 1841 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 25 February 1864. At the time of his death he was stationed at Camden.