The unique hardship and character of policing in North Queensland in the 19th and early 20th century is demonstrated by the career and resilience of Native Mounted Police (NMP) officer James Whiteford.
Whiteford, a former stockman, was sworn in on 27 April 1881 at 24 years of age. He was deployed directly from Brisbane to Cooktown for “street and escort duties”. This was quickly followed, not quite 12 months later, by a transfer in 1882 to the NMP camp at Laura as the “camp keeper”. Part of his responsibilities at Laura were to patrol the railway and telegraph lines.
To add to the pace of Whiteford’s new police life, he married just over a year later in May 1883. Of interest, this was only one month prior to the marriage policy being altered for the government of the Native Police Force: Any Officer in the Native Police will, upon marrying, cease to hold office in the Force (Colonial Secretary’s Office, 29th June 1883).
Only two years later, in 1885 Whiteford was made “in charge” of the camp until he was again transferred in 1889 to Coen NMP and then, in the same year, was moved to the new NMP camp at Musgrave. This move marked a slower career period for Whiteford spending around seven years at Musgrave, where he was promoted to Sergeant in May 1896. The home life was busier however, with the Sergeant and his wife producing three children.
In 1897 Sergeant Whiteford contracted Beri beri (a lack of thiamine – vitamin B1). He took two months’ sick leave, his first since joining the NMP in 1881. The health issues didn’t end there with records also showing he contracting whooping cough, low fever, and a burst blood vessel from “retching” during his service. Despite this unenviable record, North Queensland continued to throw up additional challenges when the Musgrave camp was destroyed by a cyclone, most likely Cyclone Mahina, in 1899.
Sergeant James Whiteford and troopers, Cape York Peninsula, c1900.
Image sourced through the Queensland Historical Atlas and courtesy of Jonathan Richards.
After Mahina, Whiteford returned to Coen NMP where he remained for the rest of his career. However, Whiteford’s patience and resilience would still be tested when he applied for promotion to Senior Sergeant in 1901, this was awarded four years later in October 1905. Whilst the promotion was being considered Whiteford was stranded on Knight Island apprehending some local offenders, the first vessel sent to transport him sinking off the Queensland coast. The NMP and North Queensland were not finished with Whiteford yet and in 1907 he fell from his mule, successfully defended a charge of neglect, and in 1910 was thrown from his horse whilst patrolling the Cooktown carnival.
In 1911 Whiteford had finally reached a turning point, with failing health he requested a medical retirement. Whiteford argued he had been acting in a sub-inspector role for over 20 years and requested he be promoted to and retired on a sub-inspector pension. This was refused by the Police Commissioner. Whiteford was medically retired as a Senior Sergeant on 16 August 1911.
Whiteford’s personal file includes numerous comments from colleagues and superiors of his good character and productive working relationships with the people of North Queensland. Whiteford’s career is allegory for the harshness of North Queensland and a testament to Whiteford’s resilience. He passed away in Brisbane in October 1928.
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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing. 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- Character, Hardship and Resilience” 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. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode