Arthur Albert Bock, previously a Labourer from South Australia, joined the Queensland Police as Constable 467 in May 1904. Between 1904 and 1915 Bock served at Roma Street, Charters Towers, Croydon, Toowoomba, Pittsworth and Oxley where the records show he was a competent policeman and a man of good character. After the Gallipoli landing, Bock, then married with three young children enlisted to the A.I.F.
Portrait of Arthur Albert Bock on his wedding day, 1912. Image PM0792 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
Private Bock, on a leave of absence for the Queensland Police, embarked aboard the HMAT Kyarra A55 on the third of January 1916. He served for three years in the 25 Infantry Battalion in Egypt, France and Belgium. He sped up the ranks from Private to Second Lieutenant. He was awarded the Military Cross for his service during the attack on Polygon Wood on the 10 September 1917 during which he sustained wounds to both thighs.
“At Westhoe Ridge, Belgium during the attack on Polygon Wood on 10 September 1917. For conspicuous gallantry while leading his platoon of men up. When he encountered a series of four concrete dugouts, he rushed the entrance of one with a torch in one hand and a revolver in the other, and single handed captured seventeen prisoners. He then continued to lead his platoon with great coolness and courage until severely wounded in both legs. Throughout he set a splendid example of daring and coolness to all ranks.”
Mounted Police at the Brisbane show grounds c1912 – Constable A.A. Bock at left, Constable McPaul at right. Image PM0110 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
He was decorated at Buckingham Palace by H.M. King George V. He returned to Queensland in March of 1918, having been invalided home by war wounds. The following month he resumed duty with the Queensland Police and was stationed at Toogoolawah, Sandgate, Barcaldine, Longreach, Fortitude Valley and Roma Street. In the 1920’s he formed and controlled a staff of plainclothes police at Roma St Headquarters. Bock was also took charge of the Mounted Police Escorts to his Excellency the Governor and Royal Visitors to Queensland ‘34. He was promoted to Sub-Inspector in 1932 and Inspector four years later.
Left to Right: Sub Inspector Charles James Lisle Perrin, OIC Police Depot; Sub Inspector John Smith, Superintendent of Traffic and Licencing Inspector; Sub Inspector Charles Webster Watson, OIC Fortitude Valley District; Commissioner Cecil James Carroll, Inspector Arthur Albert Bock, OIC Brisbane Police District; Inspector James Edward Toohill, Inspector North Queensland; Sub Inspector Florence Michael O’Driscoll, OIC South Coast District. Believed to be outside Parliament House, Brisbane, c1937. Image PM3113 courtesy ‘The Telegraph’.
Bock was awarded two favourable records: The first in 1927 for ‘good work performed in conjunction with other Police in connection with the arrest and conviction of Harry Collins for theft.’ The second in 1928 for ‘good work, in conjunction with other Police, in connection with the case of Rex. V. Nelson, Fox and McCabe, breaking and entering with intent.’ Bock was also granted a reward of ‘£ 25 by the Arson Award Agreement for good work, in conjunction with other Police in connection with the conviction of Mrs. Jane Campbell for arson at Bowen Hills.’ Bock, a noted disciplinarian, retired from the service in 1944, and died in Brisbane in 1966 at the age of 82 he was survived by his widow, two daughters and two sons.
Bock’s daughter Dulcie Jean Peterson (Nee. Bock) was a probationary officer in Queensland Police Service for a year before she left to serve in the Second World War. Sergeant Paterson served three years and 10 months as a Stenographer in the Australian Women’s Army Service. She married Constable Victor Henry Peterson in 1948.
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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available. The article was written by Museum Volunteer and Crime and Policing Historian Dr Anastasia Dukova together with Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.
The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“FROM the VAULT – Arthur Albert Bock” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.
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