Decades after their deaths, two Queensland police officers will be honoured alongside 151 others this National Police Remembrance Day, as the community pays its respects to those who lost their lives in service to the Queensland community.
Although separated by many years, Senior Constable Douglas Gregory (1918 – 1956) and Constable William Edwin Bishop (1891-1916) shared similar beginnings in their policing careers, both serving at Roma Street in Brisbane.
Tragically, both men’s lives were cut short while serving their community.
Senior Constable Gregory applied to the Queensland Police Service (then Queensland Police Force) in 1939, supported by a favourable reference from the Inspector of Police at Fortitude Valley.
In 1940, at 22-years-old, Senior Constable Gregory began his policing career at Roma Street, Brisbane before quickly joining the Water Police the following year.
Over the next three years, he served alongside the Water Police before transferring to Bollon Station in 1944, where he spent almost five years supporting the local community.
Senior Constable Gregory later transferred to Dayboro Station in 1949 and was promoted to Senior Constable in 1952.
Regarded as an outstanding and reliable officer, Senior Constable Gregory was always willing to assist where needed. On 16 October 1965, when a colleague at Petrie Police Station reported in sick, he stepped in to support the station for the day.
After concluding his duties, Senior Constable Gregory was travelling along Dayboro Road, Petrie when his service motorcycle collided with a cow.
Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries nine days later, passing away at Brisbane General Hospital nine on 25 October 1965.
Meanwhile, the late Constable William Edwin Bishop was one of 30 Queensland police officers who lost their lives during World War I.
Just 20 years old when he left England for Australia, Constable Bishop joined the then Queensland Police Force on 26 November 1912 and was stationed at Roma Street.
He answered the call to serve his country, enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as part of the fourth reinforcements of the 25th battalion on 5 August 1915.
The 25th Battalion had already withdrawn from Gallipoli before Constable Bishop joined its reinforcements. In March of 1916, it sailed for France where it first saw action in the Nursery sector, south of Armentieres.
The months that followed were marked by shellfire, snipers, and exhausting work in the trenches, often in extremely difficult circumstances.
In November, the battalion was ordered to the Somme for an attack intended to break through the waterlogged Somme Valley. Difficult conditions delayed troops reaching their starting positions, and those who arrived were exhausted.
The first wave failed to reach the enemy trench and the second wave came under machine-gun fire less than 100 yards into the advance.
Of the approximately 100 men of the 25th battalion who took part in the attack, 81 were killed or wounded.
At just 25-years-old, Private William Edwin Bishop was among those who lost their lives.
His body was never recovered, and his name is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France, alongside thousands of Australians who have no known grave.
His story is one of service, sacrifice and courage, from his decision to serve his community as a police officer with QPS to his decision to serve his country.
More than 100 years later, Constable Bishop is remembered not only as a Defence serviceman, but as a Queensland Police Service officer, whose life was dedicated to serving others.
His name is etched among the 30 Queensland Police officers who died in active service during World War I.
On NPRD, QPS honours Constable William Bishop and Senior Constable Douglas Gregory, as well as all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
To see the list of NPRD events, including marches and vigils, being held across the state, visit: https://www.police.qld.gov.au/national-police-remembrance-day
With honour they served.
