Reginald Ernest CAVANAGH
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 ? ? ? ( N/A )
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
AKA Reginald CAVANAGH, Reg CAVANAGH. Photo taken 1939
Born: Monday 15 March 1915 in Kempsey, NSW
Died on: Saturday 21 April 1962 in Wallsend, NSW
Age: 47 years, 1 months, 6 days
Organ Donor: Y / N / ?
Cause: injuries received during an arrest in 1956
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. )
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
May they forever Rest In Peace
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSWFallenPolice/
Australian Police YouTube Channel
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/
AKA Reginald CAVANAGH, Reg CAVANAGH
AKA Reginald CAVANAGH, Reg CAVANAGH
* Story behind any Nickname:
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.
Updated 1 May 2026 with additional information.