Sepia Saturday - SS182 My very first Sepia Saturday post

I have for quite a while enjoyed Sepia Saturday posts from fellow genealogists. When my friend, Jackie, told me the theme for this week's post I thought that I'd like to take part.

Both my Mum and Dad were raised in country New South Wales and spent a bit of time with horses in their youth. So here goes with some horsey photos from my family albums.

c 1925 

My grandfather, Frank Duncan, on horseback with my Uncle Bill Chatfield. Frank played the cornet in the Cobar Band. This photo was probably taken on the family property, Elsinore near Cobar NSW.

1940

My Dad, Allan down on the farm in Canowindra NSW. The inscription on the back of the photo from his album reads "Self on Ballantyne".

1954

During the Queen's visit to Australia in 1954 my Dad, as a member of the NSW Mounted Police, spent quite a bit of time on horseback. He is the policeman on the far right of this photo and I can see Aunty Eileen in the crowd between the third and fourth horsemen.

This post was written for Sepia Saturday 182.

Do you know Keith McDean?

Taken at the same time and place, The Police Depot in Sydney in 1947, as the photo of my father in my In the Force post  is this snap of another young Police Officer, Keith McDean. Perhaps the photo is in Dad's collection because Keith joined the force at the same time as Dad in 1947.

I can only find mention of one Keith McDean in Australia on Ancestry. I wonder if this is Keith William McDean?

Hopefully one day this post will reach one of Keith's descendants.

In the Force

Allan John Curry 1947

65 years ago today on 13 January 1947 my dad, Allan John Curry, joined the NSW Police Force  and was an officer until he was discharged as medically unfit due to his diabetes in the early sixties.

I recently found this photo of him taken in 1947 at "The Police Depot". From his uniform it looks as though he was dressed for motorcycle duties. I know that he was later a member of the mounted police and in suburban stations but was not aware that he also rode a police motorcycle. I need to apply for Dad's police record so that I can find out the various activities he was invloved in during his time in the force.

I should also shown more interest when he told stories about the various Sydney personalities he came in contact with like Bea Miles, Tilly Devine and Bumper Farrell. I am sure Dad took some great stories to his grave.

My Dad and his fellow officers in the NSW Mounted Police c.1954 

New Book - Windsor (NSW) Police Station

I just noticed on a listserv that a new book of interest to genealogists is to be launched on July 31st.

If you have a connection to any Police attached to Windsor Police Station between 1862 and 2010 you  might be interested in the book "Leaving the Barracks" by Heather Smith.

Copies of the book will be available from the Author @ $25 each. ksmith34@bigpond.com