Reginald Ernest CAVANAGH   

 

AKA Reginald CAVANAGH, Reg CAVANAGH   

* Nickname:  ?  

Late of Morriset, NSW     

 

Relations in ‘the job’   ?   

Geoff CAVANAGH, NSWPF # 13636   

Husband to Vera CAVANAGH – Police Wife

 

“possible” relation in ‘the job‘:    ?    

 

 

NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern or Belmore Barracks    Class #  ” pre Class numbers ”   

 

New South Wales Police Force    

Uniform # 2059

Regd. #  4395   

 

 

Rank:  Commenced Training at Redfern or Belmore Barracks  Police Academy on Monday 3 July 1939  ( aged  24  years,  3  months,  18  days )    

Probationary Constable – appointed 25 August 1939  ( aged  24  years, 5  months,  10  days )    

Constable – appointed   ? ? ?   

Constable 1st Class – appointed   ? ? ?         

Detective – appointed   ? ? ?  ( NO )        

Senior Constable – appointed around 4 December 1954   

Leading Senior Constable – appointed   ? ? ? ( N/A )       

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed   ? ? ?     

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed   ? ? ?     

 

Final Rank: =  Sergeant   

 

Stations:     ?, Phillip St ( 4 Division ), Mullumbimby, Weston, Raymond Terrace, Junee, Newcastle,Morriset ( O.I.C. ) – Death         

 

 

Service ( From Training Date ) period: From  25 August 1939     to   21 April 1962 =    22  years,   9  months,   18  days Service     

Time employed ( Paid ) with NSW Police:  From:  25 August 1939     to   21 April 1962 =    22  years,   9  months,   18  days Service

 

 Time in Retirement from Police:     0  years,   0  months,   0  days    

Age at Retirement / Leaving: =     47  years,   1  months,   6  days    

 

Awards:  No Find on Australian Honours system, although:

Long Service & Good Conduct Medal  for 22 years Service – granted posthumously c1962

   

 

 Born:  Monday 15 March 1915 in Kempsey, NSW         

Died on:  Saturday 21 April 1962   

Age:   47  years,   1  months,   6  days  

 

Organ Donor:  Y / N /  ?  

 

 

Cause:  injuries received during an arrest   

Injuries Event location:  Commercial Hotel, Junee, NSW on 23 June 1956     

Diagnosis date:  1956 – 8 years prior to death    

 

Funeral date:    ? ? ?

Funeral location:     ?

 

LIVE STREAM      ? ( N/A )   

 

Wake location:   ?

Wake date:    ???    

 

Funeral Parlour:   ?   

 

Buried at:  Sandgate Cemetery, 116 Maitland Rd, Newcastle, NSW   

 

Grave Location:  Section:  Catholic 3        Row: 85         Plot: 70   

Grave GPS: -32.8667259,  151.7055969

 

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at:    ?  

 

Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( February 2026 )    

 

 

REG is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance  * BUT SHOULD BE died as a result of injuries received and also took seriously ill whilst On Duty.     

( last checked on 21 April 2026 and still does NOT appear on the National Police Wall of Remembrance. )

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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
If you have anything further to add to what is recorded here, please get in touch.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSWFallenPolice/ 

Australian Police YouTube Channel

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On 23 June, 1956 the sergeant was involved in the violent arrest of an offender at the Commercial Hotel, Junee. During the incident the sergeant suffered injuries to his kidneys which subsequently led to a number of operations and ongoing medical treatment for many years afterward.

On the morning of 14 April, 1962 Sergeant Cavanagh, then the Officer In Charge of the Morisset Police Station, collapsed on duty and was conveyed to the Newcastle Hospital. He remained in a semi-coma until he sadly passed away a week later. The cause of death was kidney failure caused by his injuries in 1956.

R. E. Cavanagh of Junee was promoted from Constable 1st Class to Senior Constable around 24 December 1954 as advertised in The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 24 December 1954 on page 3 of 12.

 

The sergeant was born on 15 March 1915 and joined the New South Wales police Force on 25 August, 1939. At the time of his death he was stationed at Morisset.

Source:  Beyond Courage by Retired Sgt Danny WEBSTER

 

Death Certificate Registration #  11427/1962

Fathers name:  Ernest Joseph

Mothers name:  Mary Elizabeth

 

Reg’s son, Geoff, last saw his dad being carried out of the Morisset Police Station on a stretcher to an ambulance in full uniform but never saw him again.

 

Death of his wife – Vera

https://www.australianpolice.com.au/vera-cavanagh-widow-of-reg-mother-of-geoff/

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* Story behind any Nickname:    

 

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Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.

**********

 

Cal
23 April 2014.

Updated 16 February 2026 with Regd. #, DoB, Joining date and calculations. 

Updated 21 April 2026 with new, younger, photo of Reg – supplied by his son, Geoff.

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Jillian Cupit HAWKES ( FRAZER )

late of Kirrawee, NSW

New South Wales Police Force

Redfern Police Academy Class 104

Regd. #  P/W 0073

Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday ? July 1965

Probationary Special Constable – appointed Monday 16 August 1965 ( aged 25 years, 10 months, 29 days )

Detective – appointed ? ? ?

Special – Senior Constable – appointed 16 August 1974

Detective Sergeant 3rd Class – retired

Jill was One of Three Police Women to obtain their Diploma in Criminology from Sydney University at the time.

 

Retired Hurt On Duty on 17 December 1982

Was Awarded ‘ Policewoman of the Year ‘ for bravery in 1979

Died from Arrest Injuries that happened at Milsons Point, North Sydney, NSW – Assaulted on 30 July 1977 which resulted in the amputation of one of her legs.

Born:  Monday 18 September 1939

Died:  Tuesday 22 April, 1986

Age:  46 years, 7 months, 4 days

Funeral Date:  Thursday 24 April 1986

Buried:  Cremated.

Cemetery:  Buried at Woronora cemetery, Linden St, Woronora, NSW

Grave Location:  GG. Rose Garden 18, Position 0080

Jillian IS MENTIONED on the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra.

On 30 July, 1977 Detective Senior Constable Hawkes and another detective attended Sydney’s Luna Park in relation to a complaint. While the offender was being escorted from the park he began to struggle violently and kicked Detective Hawkes’ legs out from under her. When she fell to the ground the offender continued kicking and stamping on her.

As a result she suffered an injury to her right leg which later developed a malignant bone tumour. The leg was amputated and after being fitted with an artificial leg Detective Hawkes returned to work.

On 17 December, 1982 she was discharged medically unfit.

On 19 April, 1986 the former Detective Sergeant Hawkes lapsed into a coma. She died three days later on the 22 April 1986.

 

The detective sergeant was born in 1939 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 16 August, 1965.

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