Commemoration of the Life of Senior Constable Francis Drum and his addition to the NSW Police Force Roll of Honour
Friday the 29th of September is National Police Remembrance Day and for the people of Murringo, this day will forever hold extra special significance.
One of our own, Senior Constable Francis Drum, was inducted today, onto the NSW Police Force Roll of Honour.
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| Police Remembrance Day 2019 Commemoration Booklet |
Senior Constable Francis Drum # 86
As can be seen by his Service Number, Francis Drum was one of the very earliest recruits to the NSW Police. He had previously been a member in the Irish Constabulary. He was born 31st March 1838 in Ballyconnell, County Fermanagh, Ireland the son of Matthew and Susan Drum, he joined the ranks of the NSW Police on the 24th February 1862. He was assigned to Marengo in 1864, remaining here until his tragic death on 12th January 1882 after a fall from his horse. |
| Francis Drum Police Service Register - State Archives Online Index |
He married Mary Agnes McGrory at Binalong in 1867 and they had 6 children – James Matthew (1868), Francis Hugh (1870), John (1871), Margaret Anne (1874), Matthew Thomas (1876) the youngest Patrick (1880) being only 18 months old when his father was tragically killed were all born at Young, excepting Margaret who was born at Gundagai.
Francis was much- loved and respected by the community, so-much-so that when he was buried at Marengo, the residents took up a public subscription within the village, chipping in and paying for his service and a very fitting memorial.
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| Articles from the 'Burrangong Argus' on Drum's sad demise & inquest |
The Commemoration was well attended by local and Area Command police including Superintendent Schilt, Inspector Reeves, fellow officers both on and off duty, along with Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke, Mayor Brian Ingram, members of Murringo First Families Inc. who supplied information and organised a petition to have Drum’s name added to the Honour Roll. Bec Oehm from the Young & District Family History Group. Bec worked tirelessly in her efforts to find a living descendant and she succeeded admirably.
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| Superintendent Chris Schilt, Inspector Jacob Reeves of The Hume Police District with John Richens and Tony Porter of Murringo First Families |
Inspector Reeves read out a Message from Deputy Prime Minister The Hon Michael McCormack MP
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| Message from the Hon Michael McCormack MP |
Leading Snr Constable Patrick Smith of Young who initiated the push to have Drum honoured, was the driver of the project, going above and beyond to get this project to a successful completion. Senior Constable Drum's name will be added to the Wall of Remembrance at the Domain in Sydney and to the National Police Memorial in Sydney.
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| Leading Snr Constable Patrick Smith who was the driving force in having Francis Drum on the Honour Roll |
'Biography of Senior Constable Drum' was read out by
Leading Senior Constable Pat Smith.
"Police
Remembrance Day holds a special significance throughout Australia and the
pacific region. It is a day for Police to pause to honour officers whose lives
have been cut short while performing their duty as a Police Officer. This
important day is also a time to remember Police Officers who have lost their
lives through illness or other circumstances. Today we meet here at this very
location to honour Senior Constable Francis Drum, one of our own, who was
tragically killed in the execution of his duty not far from here on the 12th
January 1882.
Senior Constable
Drum registered number 86 joined the NSW Police Force in 1862 at the very
time the Police Regulation Act was passed by the colonial Parliament and all existing
police forces amalgamated to establish the NSW Police Force. He was one of the
very first of the new, NSW Police Force. He rose to the rank of Senior
Constable and was stationed at various locations throughout the colony
including, Murrumburrah, Young and Cootamundry as it was known then. During his
20 year career in addition to his policing duties, he was appointed as an
Inspector of Slaughter houses, an Acting Clerk of Petty Sessions and also an
authorised officer for the collecting of the electoral roll. He performed duty
in areas which were the frontier, when times were tough and in many cases the
only Government Official in the towns and villages, were the local Police.
In
January 1882 he was the Officer in Charge of a 2 man Police Station
at Marengo, now known as Murringo.
On that
fateful day Senior Constable Drum was not feeling well, suffering the effects
of sunstroke but he told his colleague Constable Thompson, “I’ll be right.” Such
was his commitment and devotion to duty. He was out riding his Police horse in
the execution of his duty collecting the Electoral Roll and crop returns which
was a duty he was lawfully appointed to do. At the time he was riding with a
boundary rider by the name of John McSpadden when a violent rose. Senior
Constable Drum’s horse who was a spirited mare became unmanageable in the storm
and reared up causing his Police hat to fall from his head. The horse then
galloped at full pace for some 300 yards. Senior Constable Drum desperately
tried to control his horse however his attempts were in vain. The horse
careered into a 6 wire fence resulting in the horse landing upon the fallen
officer. The boundary rider immediately went to the aid of Senior Constable
Drum however tragically he was killed instantly from a broken neck.
The
following morning Senior Constable Drum’s body was taken by Constable Thompson
to the Police Station here in Murringo. That afternoon the Coroner, Mr Robinson
and a jury of five held an inquest into his death. Several people were called
to give evidence. The verdict of the jury was that Senior Constable Drum met
his death by falling from his horse and dislocating his neck. The jury also
added that they were of the opinion that the horse was not a fit animal to be
supplied to the Police Force. His death and the subsequent inquest was reported
widely in the press of the day.
Senior
Constable Drum’s funeral took place that evening following the inquest and he
was laid to rest here in the Murringo cemetery. A public subscription was
raised by the good people of Murringo to erect this memorial stone you now over
his grave.
Today we
not only remember Senior Constable Francis Drum but we can now celebrate that
his name has finally been added onto the NSW Police Force Roll of Honour some
137 years after his death. The Honour Roll commemorates those members of the
New South Wales Police Force who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the
execution of their duty. His name will be forever more etched onto the Wall of
Remembrance at the Domain in Sydney and the National Police Memorial in
Canberra.
Senior
Constable Francis Drum we honour you.
Lest we
forget."
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| Leading Senior Constable Patrick Smith showing his respect for Snr Constable Francis Drum |
Guest of honour at the service were Bob Anderson with his wife Maureen, who travelled down from Hazelbrook in the Blue Mountains. Bob is Francis Drum’s great-grandson, the only direct living descendant.
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| Snr Constable Pat Smith, Maureen & Bob Anderson (great-grandson of Francis Drum), Superintendent Chris Schilt & Member for Cootamundra - Steph Cooke |
Father Allen Crowe from Young was the officiating Priest. Many others were also in attendance – a number of local residents and interested people from around the district.
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| Father Allen Crowe |
Floral wreaths were laid by the Bob Anderson – direct descendant of Francis Drum, Steph Cooke – Member for Cootamundra, Brian Ingram – Mayor of Hilltops, Leading Senior Constable Patrick Smith of Young, John Richens and Tony Porter of Murringo First Families Inc., Bec Oehm of YDFHG and Maureen Anderson.
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| Bob laying a wreath for his great grandfather, Francis Drum |
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| Mayor Brian Ingram laying a wreath in remembrance |
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| Shoulder to shoulder - they honour Senior Constable Francis Drum |
Upon completion of the commemoration, Father Crowe and the members of the Police were escorted to the grave of Snr Constable George Rose, a fellow Marengo police Officer who died of Bright’s Disease in 1904. Here, Father Crowe also blessed this grave and the officers paid their respects to one of their own.
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| Father Allen blessing the grave of Snr Constable George Rose |
It was a wonderful day filled with heart warming moments that those who attended will long have in their memory.
May St. Michael the Archangel watch over you always.
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| Senior Constable Francis Drum - Murringo Cemetery |
Lest We Forget
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