Police Troopers of the Outback edited by Jim Sykes and Allan L Peters

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Ex library copy with all external stickers removed. Protective plastic covering. Partial date due slip on inside page.

Police Troopers of old were a unique breed in the early years of Australia's colonies as they were frequently assigned to previously unexplored regions. They became masters of survival in what has often been described as one of the harshest and uncompromising environments in the world.

Their tasks were many and varied. They accompanied and shared their skills with explorers, and they pursued and captured horse thieves and murderers, often placing their own lives in peril.

Police Troopers of the Outback, while illustrating the formation of one of the world's oldest organised police forces, contains many stories of high adventure, humour and heartache that all formed part of the everyday life of the trooper.

Also included are some of the unfortunate deaths on duty of troopers such as John Charles Shirley, and other members of his party, who died of thirst whilst searching for a man incorrectly reported as missing.

There is a factual account of the infamous Sundown murder case of the 1950s written by the chief investigating officer, Chas Hopkins.

Often experienced bush policemen needed the help of loyal trackers, but on one occasion it was an Indigenous prisoner named 'Neighbour', who at the risk of his own life plunged into raging floodwaters to save his captor, Mounted Constable William F. Johns, from drowning. 'Neighbour' was consequently awarded the Albert Medal for bravery. (back cover)