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