Nerrigundah

Nerrigundah gained a place in history on the night of 9 April 1866, when Tom Clarke and his gang of bushrangers rode into town, leaving their horses at about the position of the letterboxes in my previous images. Then they took over the building central to this image (at that time a store and gold dealership) and a hotel (no longer there) to the right of the image, proceeding to rob the local community.

The Sergeant in charge of the police station was away on patrol, leaving only a new recruit and Constable Miles O'Grady who was confined to bed with a fever. Staggering from his bed, Constable O'Grady said "I will do my duty" as he and the recruit went to confront the bushrangers, two of whom were keeping guard at the hotel. Constable O'Grady fired, killing one bushranger, while the recruit missed. With their single shot pistols needing reloading, the police then began a retreat, but the other bushrangers came from the hotel and one shot Constable O'Grady. The bushrangers then left for the mountains inland. More images in PiPs.

This memorial to Constable O'Grady (foreground) is believed to be the only memorial in Australia to an individual policeman. I think this is an appropriate musical link. HFF, everyone.

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