Bracken

Constable Bracken was the sole policeman at Glenrowan
 at the time of the gang's arrival.

Bracken had previously been in the Victoria police force and as he knew the Kelly gang members, offered his services to once again become a police officer. The police force did not want Bracken to return, regardless he worked as an officer without payment for six months before he was finally retained. 
He was thought to be too old, however he turned out to be a very fine policeman 
at a time where they were few and far between.

Bracken was unwell when the Kelly gang arrived in Glenrowan, it seems many 
of the towns inhabitants were sick that night. Bracken was in fact ill in bed when 
Ned arrived to collect him. 
It is hard to believe that this police officer was about the last person to be collected!  

During the latter stages of the siege Bracken's eagle eye spotted where the gang had
placed the key to the door of the Inn. 
When he had an opportunity he slipped the key into the hem of his trousers. 
Whilst the gang donned their armour, he used the key to make good his escape. 
Arriving at the platform, Bracken notified Hare that the gang were in the Inn. 
What he neglected to say was that the Inn was full of innocent people. Once he 
had alerted Hare of the gang's whereabouts, Bracken rode hell for leather towards 
Wangaratta to get reinforcements.

He was responsible for saving Ned's life after capture. Unfortunately Hugh took his
own life twenty years later.

The photo below is of Hugh and his wife Amelia.

Thank you to Ken Ryder for sending me this photo.

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Could this photograph (below) be Hugh Bracken later in life? 
I believe it is.  
The photograph was sent in by Mike Lynn along with the one that is possibly 
of Hugh's son James Bracken taken during World War 1. It was found in a family 
album by Mike who is a descendent of Hugh.

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This picture is most likely James Bracken, Hugh's son who went to war.

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An interesting article about Bracken is available on Lateline by John Coffey.

(this is just a teaser, for full transcript please visit the site)

Australian Broadcasting Corporation LATELINE Late night news & current affairs TV PROGRAM TRANSCRIPT LOCATION: abc.net.au > Lateline URL: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/hc22.htm Published: 22/09/2003 Ned Kelly's Saviour Hugh Bracken was the sole policeman in Glenrowan when Ned Kelly captured the town on Sunday, 27 June 1880. He was a cousin of my great grandfather.................................