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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 380

(x) A rare post-war K.P.M. for Gallantry awarded to Constable 1st Class E. B. O'Regan, New South Wales Police Force, who was shot while confronting armed robbers

King's Police and Fire Services Medal, for Gallantry, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Const. 1/Cl. Edward B. O'Regan, N.S.W. Police Force), in its Royal Mint case of issue, official naming on pre-prepared ground, extremely fine

K.P.M. London Gazette 29 August 1947.

Edward Bernard O'Regan was born on 15 August 1916 and joined the New South Walers Police Force as a Constable in July 1939. A native of Lithgow in N.S.W., he was described on his enlistment papers as standing at 6.1 feet and weighing nearly 12 stone.

By the time of his K.P.M.-winning exploits in May 1946, he was still serving as a Constable, but he was about to receive accelerated promotion to Constable 1st Class. And of those gallant deeds, his service record states:

'Specially commended for the very fine policeman ship and conspicuous bravery displayed when, in company with Constable A. E. Gilchrist, the arrest was affected of an armed bandit, M. J. Delaney, at Harris Park on 23 May 1946, and also in connection with the attempted apprehension of two offenders who were disturbed when about to break into the Cabramatta Post Office at 2 a.m. on 30 May 1946. Promoted to Constable 1st Class as on, from 23 May 1946, and submission made for the award of the King's Police and Fire Services Medal 'for Gallantry' in accordance with the recommendation of the appraisement committee.'

Of the incident at Cabramatta - and under the headline 'Two More Police Shot; Big Manhunt' - a local newspaper takes up the story:

'The men shot were detectives Regan and Gilchrist. They disturbed the men at the back of Cabramatta Post Office. The men fired shots and wounded both detectives. The wounds were not serious.

The men ran across to a black sedan car, in which they drove off at high speed towards Fairfield. All police cars in the metropolitan area were posted to a search for the sedan. Detectives were called from their beds in all parts of the metropolitan area.

Detectives Regan and Gilchrist, though wounded, joined in the hunt. Later, however, both detectives had to abandon the hunt and seek treatment at Parramatta Hospital. Regan was shot in the thigh, but the nature of Gilchrist's injuries were not known at 3 a.m. today.

The sedan in which the men made their getaway was stolen in Newtown earlier in the night.

One of the men was wearing a blue suit. A pocket was torn from his coat during a struggle with the detectives.

Three detectives have been shot in two days. On Tuesday night Detective Sergeant Wilson was shot while in plain clothes room of Darlinghurst Police Station.'

O'Regan, who was duly recommended for the K.P.M. for Gallantry, resigned from the N.S.W. Police Force in August 1947. He died at Parramatta in July 1967; sold with copied service record and newspaper reports.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£1,200 to £1,600

Starting price
£950