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== Importance of Const Thomas Kirkham (2986) ==
A mounted trooper stationed at Benalla
'''Links to the KellyGang''' '''below''', [[#2|Early Years]] , [[#2/12/1879|Autum 1879]] , [[#6/7/1879|Hare replaced by Nicolson]] , Spring 1879 Early 1880 , [[#2/6/1880|Nicolson replaced by Hare]] , Death of Aaron Sherritt , [[#28/6/1880|Glenrowan Siege]] , Ned Kelly's Trial , [[#krb|Reward Board]] , [[#9|Royal Commission]] , '''Early service''' , Later service , Family ,
== Links to the KellyGang ==
'''Early Years''' I joined the force in October 1878
I came up to North eastern Victoria in October [[ev78-10--4Mansfield Murders|1878]] to hunt the '''KellyGang'''.I had recently joined the police([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 18|RC6354]])([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 39|RC6978]])
'''Photograph''' '''Autum 1879''' Hare looked upon me as a person who could use a Martini Henry rifle. I was out with him for a short time (two or three months) in search parties hunting after the '''KellyGang'''. ([[Royal Commission report day 7 page 4|RC1415]]) '''Hare replaced by Nicolson 6/7/1879''' I did not do much shooting practice with Ass Com Nicolson. See my scores.([[Royal Commission report day 4 page 7|RC1014]]) '''Nicolson replaced by Hare 2/6/1880''' Two [[Police Trackers|trackers]] and I were sent out to assist the police watching Mrs [[Mrs Margaret Byrne|Byrne]]'s place shortly before Aaron Sherritt was murdered. ([[Royal Commission report day 17 page 3|RC4733]]) '''Glenrowan Siege [[ev80-06-28Glenrowan|28/6/1880]]'''
'''[[ev80-06-28Glenrowan|27/6/1880]]'''
I started to get ready to catch the special train in Benalla at about 3pm ([[Royal Commission report day 22 page 4|RC8030]])
'''Special train leaves Benalla to go to Beechworth - follow up on death of Aaron Sherritt'''
We left the Benalla railway station at about 1am ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 28|RC6625]])
'''Arrive at Glenrowan'''
I arrived at Glenrowan by train at about [[ev80-06-28Glenrowan|2.30 am]] on the morning of the siege with Sup Hare
When the train got within a little distance of Glenrowan somebody came and told us the Kellys were there waiting for us. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 29|RC6628]])
'''Begining of the siege'''
I saw Mr. Hare running up towards the house, and Mr. O'Connor started shortly after him, they had not gone far when Mr. Hare got in advance and got across the fence, and I followed up and got across the fence too, and then the firing commenced.
After the first volley I saw Mr. Hare shot then, and sitting on a log, and I went further round to the left.([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 29|RC6633]])
Soon after I went round and took up a position by a tree, and I saw [[Const W Phillips|Phillips]] and [[Gascoigne|Gascoigne]], at the Benalla end. I had a Martini-Henry rifle. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 29|RC6640]])(See also [[Royal Commission report day 21 page 4|RC7774.7367]])
No one gave me instructions after I took up my position except when he left, Mr. Hare said, "For God's sake do not let them get away"; that was all the orders I received from anybody.
I told Const [[Const W Phillips|Phillips]] and [[Gascoigne|Gascoigne]] that I was going to the railway station to try and get more ammunition. I had run out. I got down towards the station, and I met SConst [[SConst John Kelly|Kelly]] and asked him what he had done, and he said he had sent to Benalla for more men; and I asked him if he had any more ammunition (I had used 20 rounds), and he said; "No, he had none to give me." At that time a woman came out of Mrs.[[Jones' Glenrowan Inn|Jones's]], and some more women. Insp [[O'Connor|O'Connor]] challenged them. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 29|RC6652]])
At the railway station I checked up on Mrs O'Connor and the other lady for Insp O'Connor.
I also got a loaf of bread at the platform.and went back to Insp O'Connor. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 29|RC6652]]).([[Royal Commission report day 5 page 4|RC1119]])
I did not challenge McHugh and Mrs Jones's son. ([[Royal Commission report 9/6/1881|RC11348]])
'''Arrival of Sup Sadleir and police from Benalla'''
Soon after he arrived Sup. Sadleir sent me over to the railway station to get provisions for the men, and I sent them around. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 30|RC6671]]) ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 31|RC6706]])
Sup Sadleir gave orders to fire high. I think some of the men had learned before this that there were civilians in the house, and they were lying on the floor. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 30|RC6685]])
'''Capture of Ned Kelly'''
I was with Insp O'Connor in front of the Inn when [[Ned Kelly|Ned Kelly]] was captured. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 31|RC6714]])
'''Release of the civilians'''
I saw the covilians leave the Inn. . The people were all lying on their bellies for safety, and the men were being drafted. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 32|RC6731]])
I got some more ammunition about 11am, two packages, ten in each. ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 30|RC6671]])
'''Burning of Jones's Inn'''
..
'''Later'''
'''Kelly Reward Board''' Following the meetings of the [[Reward|Reward Board]] in December 1880 I recieved a reward of about £137
'''Royal Commission''' I gave evidence to the Royal Commission on 13/5/1881 ([[Royal Commission report day 19 page 28|RC6622]])
What did the press say about my evidence ([[The Argus at KellyGang 16/5/1881|Argus16/5/81]])
'''Early Service''' '''Later Service''' In June 1881 Insp [[Insp Wliiam Montfort|Montfort]] got me to write a report on the usefulness of native trackers. ([[Royal Commission report 9/6/1881|RC10997]])
== Family ==
'''parents''' George Kirkham and Mary Pegler '''wife''' Eliza McGregor '''children''' 6'''. home ?..'''
I was born in Sydney and married in Victoria in 1886
''''''
'''What happened to Const Kirkham's family''' KellyGang
[[Category:People]] [[Category:People starting with K]] [[Category:Kirkham]] [[Category:Const Kirkham]] [[Category:Police]] [[Category:history]]
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