Post by Cullyn Of Cerrmor on Jan 5, 2009 8:08:51 GMT 9.5
Century-old SA murder mystery remembered
January 4, 2009 - 3:00PM
The family of a fallen Adelaide police officer, whose murder 100 years ago has never been solved, hope the rededication of his grave will help them restore a piece of their historical family puzzle.
Relatives of the late Constable William Hyde travelled hundreds of kilometres to attend a special memorial service in West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide on Sunday morning, in anticipation of a reunion between forgotten relatives.
Const Hyde died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on January 4, 1909, two days after a suspect he had chased on foot two days earlier shot him three times.
One of the shots hit the lone 36-year-old officer in the head.
"On the night Constable Hyde undertook his extraordinarily brave actions, he was determined to live up to his oath, his commitment, his professional and moral sense of duty," Police Association president Mark Carroll said during the unveiling of Const Hyde's newly restored grave.
At the time, a Stg250 pound reward was posted for information leading to the conviction of the killers, but no one was ever arrested.
South Australian Police commissioner Mal Hyde, who is no relation to Const Hyde, addressed the fallen officer's family on Sunday, and highlighted the state police force's important work.
He said every SA police comrade, except those called into service on the day, had attended Const Hyde's funeral 100 years ago, as well as about 15,000 Adelaide residents.
"Constable Hyde's death reminds us of the price some people pay for keeping our community safe," Commissioner Hyde said.
Kevin Hyde, who travelled to Adelaide from Victoria with his wife to attend the service, said he knew nothing of his great uncle until he was contacted by another relative about two months ago.
"We're going to meet a number of other relations here today, who we've never met before, after the ceremony and find out where we fit in the family," Kevin said.
Kevin's brother, Ron Hyde said attending the service of his great-grandfather's brother would help put in place a piece of his family history's puzzle.
Ron's son, Tony Hyde said his own nine-year-old son, Zachariah, had been given strict instructions to have boys when he decides to have children, so the Hyde name could be carried on.
"It was mostly girls that were born," Tony said.
Travelling all the way from south-east Queensland with his father, Zachariah said he was proud of his heritage.
"To know that he was a police officer and that he was serving this country, it's nice to know that he was a good person," Zachariah said.
Const Hyde is one of more than 700 police officers killed in the line of duty, whose names are listed on the national police memorial in Canberra.
Sixty-one police officers have been killed in South Australia since the state force started in 1838.
© 2009 AAP
January 4, 2009 - 3:00PM
The family of a fallen Adelaide police officer, whose murder 100 years ago has never been solved, hope the rededication of his grave will help them restore a piece of their historical family puzzle.
Relatives of the late Constable William Hyde travelled hundreds of kilometres to attend a special memorial service in West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide on Sunday morning, in anticipation of a reunion between forgotten relatives.
Const Hyde died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on January 4, 1909, two days after a suspect he had chased on foot two days earlier shot him three times.
One of the shots hit the lone 36-year-old officer in the head.
"On the night Constable Hyde undertook his extraordinarily brave actions, he was determined to live up to his oath, his commitment, his professional and moral sense of duty," Police Association president Mark Carroll said during the unveiling of Const Hyde's newly restored grave.
At the time, a Stg250 pound reward was posted for information leading to the conviction of the killers, but no one was ever arrested.
South Australian Police commissioner Mal Hyde, who is no relation to Const Hyde, addressed the fallen officer's family on Sunday, and highlighted the state police force's important work.
He said every SA police comrade, except those called into service on the day, had attended Const Hyde's funeral 100 years ago, as well as about 15,000 Adelaide residents.
"Constable Hyde's death reminds us of the price some people pay for keeping our community safe," Commissioner Hyde said.
Kevin Hyde, who travelled to Adelaide from Victoria with his wife to attend the service, said he knew nothing of his great uncle until he was contacted by another relative about two months ago.
"We're going to meet a number of other relations here today, who we've never met before, after the ceremony and find out where we fit in the family," Kevin said.
Kevin's brother, Ron Hyde said attending the service of his great-grandfather's brother would help put in place a piece of his family history's puzzle.
Ron's son, Tony Hyde said his own nine-year-old son, Zachariah, had been given strict instructions to have boys when he decides to have children, so the Hyde name could be carried on.
"It was mostly girls that were born," Tony said.
Travelling all the way from south-east Queensland with his father, Zachariah said he was proud of his heritage.
"To know that he was a police officer and that he was serving this country, it's nice to know that he was a good person," Zachariah said.
Const Hyde is one of more than 700 police officers killed in the line of duty, whose names are listed on the national police memorial in Canberra.
Sixty-one police officers have been killed in South Australia since the state force started in 1838.
© 2009 AAP