15/11/2025
Today we Remember
Sergeant 2nd Class Edmund PARRY
Gundagai Police
Shot - 16 November, 1864
Resting Place – Gundagai Cemetery, Gundagai
(Credit to Beyond Courage)
On 16 November, 1864 Sergeant Parry, Sub Inspector O'Neill and Constable Roche formed the mounted police es**rt 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 3pm as the coach approached the township of Jugiong, the es**rt 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 fatally shot. The Goulburn Herald and Chronicle of 23 November, 1864 printed the coronial evidence given by Constable James McLaughlin in relation to the murder.
"James McLaughlin deposed: “I am a constable in the police force of New South Wales; I was proceeding this morning from Gundagai to Jugiong, to the station at the latter place, to which I had been transferred; about half-past twelve o'clock, as I was about four miles and a half from Jugiong, three men who I believe were Ben Hall, Dunn, and Johnny Gilbert, came up and called out, "Bail up!" They were armed; I let go a pack-horse which I was leading, and drew my revolver; I fired several times at them; they fired three shots at me whilst I was drawing my revolver; I fired until my stock of ammunition in the revolver was spent; I was then obliged to surrender, and to follow them into the bush; there were some people there, who were also stuck-up; the bushrangers said they were waiting for the coach; by-and-by the coach came along; one of the bushrangers said "There's some traps with it." They seemed to be going off, but one of them said, "No, there's only two; let's mob them." They galloped down to meet the police; there were two members of the police force there, Mr. Sub-inspector O'Neill and Sergeant Parry; these two came up the hill at a cantor, in pursuit of the bushrangers; the bushrangers met them, and several shots were exchanged; I saw all three of the bushrangers fire upon the police; I saw Sergeant Parry fire at these men; I saw him fall from his horse; Gilbert came up to where I was, and said to me, "How would you like a cove like me after you; see what that ------ fool has got for not standing." At the same time, he pointed or looked towards the deceased; he added, "He's the first man I ever shot; I don't like to shoot a man, but I can't help the unfortunate man now." I asked him to let me go down and see what I could do for Parry; he said, "Yes, go down and see what you can do for the unfortunate man." When I got down to him he was quite dead; I have examined the body, and I see that there is a gunshot wound, the entrance of which is at his left shoulder and it goes right through his right breast; I believe from the appearance of the wound, that it was made by a revolver ball; I did not see Gilbert shoot Parry.”
The Australian News for Home Readers dated 19 December, 1864 carried the results of the inquest, informing its readers that “An inquest was held before Mr Rose, at Jugiong, on the body of the brave sergeant of police, when the jury returned the following verdict: 'That on the 16th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1864, at a spot about four miles to the south of Jugiong, in the colony of New South Wales, the deceased Edmund Parry did die from the effects of a gunshot wound, at that time and in that place wickedly, maliciously, and feloniously inflicted upon him by one John Gilbert, and that two other certain persons, named Benjamin Hall and John Dunn, were then and there unlawfully aiding and abetting the said John Gilbert in so feloniously destroying the life of the said Edmund Parry.”
The murderer Gilbert and accomplice Hall would later be shot dead by police in separate incidents, while Dunn (who would murder Constable Samuel Nelson at Collector less than two months after this incident) was destined to be hanged for his crimes.
The sergeant was born in 1832 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 5 May, 1862. He was made a full constable on 1 July, 1862, a Detective 3rd Class on 4 March, 1863, and finally, the New South Wales Police Gazette of 28 September, 1864 records that on 1 March, 1864 he was promoted to sergeant 2nd class. At the time of his death he was stationed at Gundagai. He is listed in the official New South Wales Police Honour Roll.
