Constable McGrath was a Police Hero that lost his life investigating a Break in at the Trades hall in Carlton. He was born inGarden Flat in Marysborough Victoria and originally served as a Fireman before joining the Victorian Police in 1900. He served in St Kilda North Melbourne and then at Russell Street.
It is unbeleivabe that when night shift police called for re inforcements McGrath and other Police turned up at the Trades hall with no torches.He entered the building through a window and made his way with two other constables to the first floor.When he found a lignt switch and turned it on, shots were fired and Constable McGrath was mortally wounded.Nine Police were awarded bravery Medals and one Hundred pounds reward.
The funeral was held two days later and thousands of people paved the way to his burial in Coburg Cemetary.His widow Annie had two children
Four months later his murderer was hanged at the old Melbourne Gaol after losing an appeal.His name was John Jackson.The others that were caught were sentenced to prison terms.
One of the worst aspects of this is that a Police hero like Constable Edward McGrath has a very neglected grave that doesnt even have a headstone.He is part of our history and his ultimate sacrifice as well as his wife and two childrens is long forgotten.
Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
you died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spread out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.
∼A police officer killed while on duty. In the early hours of Tuesday, 1 October, he and other police officers went to the Trades Hall in Lygon Street, Carlton, after it was reported that a burglary was in progress. The police entered the building and found that an attempt had been made to open a safe. Two offenders were confronted in a passage-way, one of whom fired a number of shots which fatally wounded Con McGrath. The gunman, John Jackson, was later arrested at the scene after further shots had been fired. Jackson was convicted of McGrath's murder and was hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol. He was the last person in Victoria to be executed for the murder of a police officer.
It is unbeleivabe that when night shift police called for re inforcements McGrath and other Police turned up at the Trades hall with no torches.He entered the building through a window and made his way with two other constables to the first floor.When he found a lignt switch and turned it on, shots were fired and Constable McGrath was mortally wounded.Nine Police were awarded bravery Medals and one Hundred pounds reward.
The funeral was held two days later and thousands of people paved the way to his burial in Coburg Cemetary.His widow Annie had two children
Four months later his murderer was hanged at the old Melbourne Gaol after losing an appeal.His name was John Jackson.The others that were caught were sentenced to prison terms.
One of the worst aspects of this is that a Police hero like Constable Edward McGrath has a very neglected grave that doesnt even have a headstone.He is part of our history and his ultimate sacrifice as well as his wife and two childrens is long forgotten.
Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
you died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spread out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.
∼A police officer killed while on duty. In the early hours of Tuesday, 1 October, he and other police officers went to the Trades Hall in Lygon Street, Carlton, after it was reported that a burglary was in progress. The police entered the building and found that an attempt had been made to open a safe. Two offenders were confronted in a passage-way, one of whom fired a number of shots which fatally wounded Con McGrath. The gunman, John Jackson, was later arrested at the scene after further shots had been fired. Jackson was convicted of McGrath's murder and was hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol. He was the last person in Victoria to be executed for the murder of a police officer.
Constable McGrath was a Police Hero that lost his life investigating a Break in at the Trades hall in Carlton. He was born inGarden Flat in Marysborough Victoria and originally served as a Fireman before joining the Victorian Police in 1900. He served in St Kilda North Melbourne and then at Russell Street.
It is unbeleivabe that when night shift police called for re inforcements McGrath and other Police turned up at the Trades hall with no torches.He entered the building through a window and made his way with two other constables to the first floor.When he found a lignt switch and turned it on, shots were fired and Constable McGrath was mortally wounded.Nine Police were awarded bravery Medals and one Hundred pounds reward.
The funeral was held two days later and thousands of people paved the way to his burial in Coburg Cemetary.His widow Annie had two children
Four months later his murderer was hanged at the old Melbourne Gaol after losing an appeal.His name was John Jackson.The others that were caught were sentenced to prison terms.
One of the worst aspects of this is that a Police hero like Constable Edward McGrath has a very neglected grave that doesnt even have a headstone.He is part of our history and his ultimate sacrifice as well as his wife and two childrens is long forgotten.
Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
you died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spread out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.
∼A police officer killed while on duty. In the early hours of Tuesday, 1 October, he and other police officers went to the Trades Hall in Lygon Street, Carlton, after it was reported that a burglary was in progress. The police entered the building and found that an attempt had been made to open a safe. Two offenders were confronted in a passage-way, one of whom fired a number of shots which fatally wounded Con McGrath. The gunman, John Jackson, was later arrested at the scene after further shots had been fired. Jackson was convicted of McGrath's murder and was hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol. He was the last person in Victoria to be executed for the murder of a police officer.
It is unbeleivabe that when night shift police called for re inforcements McGrath and other Police turned up at the Trades hall with no torches.He entered the building through a window and made his way with two other constables to the first floor.When he found a lignt switch and turned it on, shots were fired and Constable McGrath was mortally wounded.Nine Police were awarded bravery Medals and one Hundred pounds reward.
The funeral was held two days later and thousands of people paved the way to his burial in Coburg Cemetary.His widow Annie had two children
Four months later his murderer was hanged at the old Melbourne Gaol after losing an appeal.His name was John Jackson.The others that were caught were sentenced to prison terms.
One of the worst aspects of this is that a Police hero like Constable Edward McGrath has a very neglected grave that doesnt even have a headstone.He is part of our history and his ultimate sacrifice as well as his wife and two childrens is long forgotten.
Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
you died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spread out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.
∼A police officer killed while on duty. In the early hours of Tuesday, 1 October, he and other police officers went to the Trades Hall in Lygon Street, Carlton, after it was reported that a burglary was in progress. The police entered the building and found that an attempt had been made to open a safe. Two offenders were confronted in a passage-way, one of whom fired a number of shots which fatally wounded Con McGrath. The gunman, John Jackson, was later arrested at the scene after further shots had been fired. Jackson was convicted of McGrath's murder and was hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol. He was the last person in Victoria to be executed for the murder of a police officer.
Inscription
Police Constable
DAVID EDWARD McGRATH
Slain in the line of duty 1st. Oct. 1915
1873 - 1915
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