The series ‘Plucky Courage’ features the heroics of policeman in the early 20th century when they captured runaway horses pulling conveyances through city streets… but more importantly, it also gives us a snapshot into their lives, during a time of change, when innovative, mechanically powered contraptions using electric, steam and internal combustion engines, started appearing on Queensland roads and thoroughfares. Records do not show why the horses bolted, but one can only imagine the potential for havoc as horses contended with these noisy contraptions in traffic.
During this time in history, stories abounded in the press of runaway horse teams pulling everything from a sulky to a lorry. The blog ‘Plucky Courage’ Part 1, features Constable Henry Lockwood Smith’s heroic efforts to catch a team of driverless draught horses that were galloping through the streets off South Brisbane, with a lorry in tow; while Constable John Herbert in ‘Plucky Courage’ Part 3, caught a runaway draught horse pulling a cart.
Part 2 features another traffic accident averted by the quick thinking of a police officer, when Acting Sergeant Thomas Guthrie, ‘pluckily stopped’ a pony and sulky from careening through Brisbane city streets… though his only accolade appears to be a mention in the daily press.
This blog is dedicated to police officers, past and present, who like Thomas, have performed countless acts of bravery without fanfare or favour.
Another runaway ‘pluckily stopped’
Stories of the colourful Irishman’s life came to light when information was passed to the Queensland Police Museum by his descendants. This information, together with newspapers articles, his personnel file, and gazetted regulations from that time, allow us to piece together a snapshot of his life, illuminating the hardship many police officers and their families suffered in the early 20th century.
Whilst travelling by tram from the city to the police station in Fortitude Valley in 1909, Acting-Sergeant Guthrie saw a driverless pony and sulky bolting from the nearby intersection at Warren Street. Whether or not he should have, Thomas Guthrie jumped from the tram and gave pursuit as described in the press:
‘… and rushing at the runaway from behind, managed to secure the reins, and speedily brought the pony to a standstill,’ (somewhere near Wickham Street).
It may not have been the high drama of Henry Lockwood Smith’s rescue efforts, but this was no mean feat, because Acting-Sergeant Guthrie had broken his ankle a year earlier when thrown from police horse ‘Zoe,’ an injury that plagued him for life and ultimately forced early retirement in 1914.We can construe that the injured Thomas Guthrie displayed great fortitude and dedication to duty when he jumped off that tram and ‘pluckily stopped’ the runaway horse and sulky.
The lad from County Clare
Thomas Guthrie hailed from Fanore, County Clare, in Ireland. The 18-year-old immigrated to Australia aboard the ‘Glamis,’ in 1881, then resided in Toowoomba with his parents. After working as a labourer on the railways, Thomas applied to the Queensland Police Force on 5th January 1887, and was sworn as a Constable with Queensland Police Force on 15th March 1887.
Whilst stationed at Toowoomba in 1890, his father passed away. His good character was evidenced when in correspondence to his superiors that same year, Thomas petitioned to live with his mother and ‘very delicate’ sister in Toowoomba, because he was their sole means of support – see copy of letter. Thomas latter married Miss Annie O’Mara from Warwick in 1892, five years after commencing with the Police Force.
Police Regulations – Permission to Marry
The five-year waiting period for marriage was no coincidence. The minimum period for bachelors to seek permission to marry after entering the police force in the early 20th century, wavered between four and five years, depending on the general orders of that time. There were dire consequences for those who ‘flagrantly disregarded’ General Orders as stated below:
‘…bringing himself into such a position that marriage becomes a duty to him and others, will be discharged from the Force, and having been so discharged will, on no account, be allowed to rejoin.’ [General Order 725]
Tale of the two C’s…
Later in his career, whilst serving as Acting Sergeant and Officer-in-Charge at the Aramac Police Station in 1902, Thomas Guthrie was the subject of a petition taken against him by the townspeople for being, ‘too officious… overzealous in the discharge of his duties… generally wanting in tack and discretion…’ and ‘that he looks upon the world to consist of two C’s, constables and criminals.’
A counter petition was taken with a letter stating: ‘the criminal class set up an agitation against him (Guthrie) with a view to his removal, trusting to get his place filled with a man of less energy and more suitable to their business.’
After a series of investigations, Thomas was cleared of any wrong doings in the discharge of his duties. As the Inspector stated, ‘The Aramac Police do their work well. Transferring Acting Sergeant Guthrie would not be for the benefit of the district, and from what I can learn, the respectable portion of the community find no fault with the Acting Sergeant or his work.’
This was not a happy time for the Guthrie family, but life improved when Thomas was finally transferred to the seaside community of Cleveland in 1905, that was, until he was serving a summon one day and was bucked off police horse ‘Zoe.’
Hardship in retirement
Thomas Guthrie retired from the police force on 1st January 1914 after serving 27 years.
In his letter to the Commissioner of Police (after retirement), the first of many in a bid to claim full superannuation after being awarded 75%, the former Sergeant paints a bleak picture of those who shouldered the heavy financial burden of extended family who had no income, ability to work or supporting government pension, in the early 20th century:
‘I have served with diligence and fidelity, to the best of my ability, for twenty-seven and a half years, devoting the whole of my time and attention to my duties only, never having had the opportunity of saving anything or acquiring any property, not even a cottage in which to live, having received fourteen transfers, only two of which I applied for, during my service, thereby always being put to heavy expense. I consider that I am entitled to full (superannuation) pay as I know of several members of the Police Force, who recently retired from injuries in the actual discharge of their duties, being granted the full retiring allowance, and I see no distinction in my case, I have received permanent injury in the discharge of my duty.’ Thomas Guthrie was unsuccessful in all his applications.
At the outset of World War One, Thomas Guthrie joined the Australian Imperial Forces, like many other retired police officers, and served as a Guard, from 1914 to 1918. Irish born Thomas Guthrie died peacefully on the feast of St Patrick 17 March 1943.
Next week – From the Vault – Plucky Courage Part 3: John Herbert
This story was researched and written by Museum Assistant Debra Austin using the best archival 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 – Plucky Courage Part 2: Thomas Guthrie” 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