The Queensland Police Museum (QPM) is inviting visitors to explore War and Police, a moving exhibition featuring photographs, documents and historical records involving Queensland Police officers who served in World War I.
The exhibition shines a light on many untold stories including those of officers who left their policing duties to serve their country, offering a unique glimpse into their service, both in uniform and on the frontline.
The exhibition opens today, 28 August and continues through until February, encompassing significant dates such as National Police Remembrance Day and Remembrance Day.
The exhibition will feature more than 30 artefacts including photographs, six replica medals and rare documents which recognise the legacy of the QPS officers.
QPM curator and exhibition co-curator Lisa Jones said museum staff, supported by police historian Dr Anastasia Dukova and military historian Tim Lycett, enjoyed uncovering the historical information as well as the fascinating, and often surprising, personal stories.
Dr Dukova’s book Queensland Police in the Great War: A Compendium was an important resource for the exhibition.
“The exhibition War and Police will help to preserve a vital part of Queensland’s history including honouring Queensland Police officers who served during World War I,” Ms Jones said.
“This exhibition gives visitors the chance to connect with original photographs and documents that bring these individual stories to life and highlight the commitment and sacrifice of those who served.”
As the exhibition reflects on the enduring connection between policing and military service, on display will be a 1915 Queensland Police uniform and a 1915 Australian Imperial Force (AIF) uniform, and a bayonet, loaned by the Army Museum South Queensland, Victoria Barracks.
Ms Jones said the exhibition also told the story of four officers who resigned from the QPS to serve in WWI, and who sadly died on the battlefields – Edward Walsh, Michael Roache, William Burnell and Billy Elsdale.
It also features the previously untold story of Elsdale, the only QPS Aboriginal tracker who resigned to go to war, who died on the Western Front in 1916, just four days after joining his AIF unit.
She said the exhibition also featured a touching letter from Constable William Turner, stationed at Mount Morgan in 1915, who wrote to his father about the pros and cons of joining the AIF. He decided not to go to war but instead focused on serving the community as a police officer.
Ms Jones said the exhibition also touched on the stories of two remarkable QPS officers, Arthur Bock and Donald McDonald, who both enjoyed long and distinguished policing careers following their war service.
“We were amazed by the stories of Bock and McDonald, who were fortunate to make it through the entire war and came back to work for Queensland Police for many more years,” she said.
“Donald Mackintosh McDonald was actually mentioned in Australian Imperial Force despatches, and we have a copy of his mention while we have a photo of Bock in uniform, wearing his military cross.
“We all enjoyed bringing these important stories to light, many for the first time, and for this opportunity to share with the Queensland public so people can learn about the sacrifice of these brave officers.”
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