Australian Folklore Unit with Warren Fahey

BUSHRANGERS

MEDALS TOR BRAVERY IN RESISTING AND CAPTURING BUSHRANGERS.

Medals, Gold and Silver, which were ordered by Sir Charles Cowper in 1870, were in 1875 issued by the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales, to the following recipients, in recognition of the bravery displayed by them in conflicts with bushrangers during the years 1863, 1864, and 1866. The gold medals were given to private colonists, and silver medals for distribution among the most meritorious of the constabulary.   On the obverse side is the head of the Queen, with the words “ The Colony of New South Wales,” on the reverse the Australian Coat of Arms, below which is inscribed the name of the recipient of the medal, and a wreath of flowers and foliage of the banksia, the whole being surrounded by the words “ Granted for gallant and faithful services.” The gold medals were struck at the Sydney Mint.

Gold Medals were awarded to :

  • Robert Low, Esq., Mudgee, who shot a bushranger named Heather, near Slapdash, April 7, 1863;
  • Henry Bayliss, P.M., who was dangerously wounded, August 21, 1863, whilst acting as a volunteer in pursuit of the bushranger Morgan, and who is supposed to have shot or caused the death of Morgan’s mate; David Campbell, J.P., who shot bushranger O’Meally, one of Gilbert’s gang, at Goimbia, near Toogong, on the night of November 20, 1863 ;
  • H. M. Keightley, P.M., Wellington, who killed the bushranger Burke, near Rockley, October 26, 1863;
  • William Macleay, of Elizabeth Bay, who resisted and beat off Gilbert’s gang from Plumb’s Inn, near Goulburn, December 19, 1864;
  • J. P. Grenfell, Crown Lands Commissioner, deceased, who was fatally wounded after a desperate encounter with bushrangers near Narramine, December 7, 1866. The town of Grenfell was named in his honour.   The medal was sent to the Agent- General for presentation to Mrs. Grenfell, who now resides in the Isle of Man; to the widow of the late Captain M’Lerie, to mark the services, which he rendered as Inspector-General of Police from Oct 28, 1856 – Oct 6, 1874.

Silver Medals were presented to :

  • Constable John Middleton, who arrested Gardiner under circumstances of great bravery at Fogg’s hut on the Fish River;
  • Sergeant A. B. Walker, who shot “Thunderbolt” near Uralla, May 25, 1870;
  • Mr. Beauvais, innkeeper, Pine Ridge, who defended himself when attacked by an armed bushranger and murderer named Ruther-ford, whom he shot dead.

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