Constable LAURENCE ALPEN

Casino Police - Drowned - 17 February, 1928

Resting Place – Casino West Street Cemetery, Casino

The constable was a mounted policeman and the officer-in-charge of a temporary police station which had been established at Richmond Gap during the building of the Kyogle-to-Brisbane railway line. On 17 February, 1928 during severe flooding in the area, he was assisting with the clearing of debris from a bridge across Grady's Creek when he fell from the bridge and was swept away and drowned in the floodwaters. His body was recovered thirty minutes later however resuscitation failed to revive him.

The Brisbane Courier of 18 February, 1928 reported that "Constable Laurence Alpen, who was drowned at Grady's Creek today, was in charge of the temporary police station on the Kyogle-Brisbane railway construction works. He was a native of Narrabri and was 26 years of age. He joined the force in 1924 and after five months' service in the Police Department at Redfern was for seven months with the mounted police at Lismore. Later he went to Casino from where he was transferred to Richmond Gap. He was spoken of in the highest terms by his superiors."

The Warwick Daily of 23 February, 1928 provided some detail on the tragedy, reporting that "The floodwaters of Upper Grady's Creek were responsible for the death of Constable Laurence Alpen under tragic circumstances... The deceased, in company with Constable Peterkin and several railway employees was engaged in clearing away debris front a log bridge which connects the main railway camp and police station, when the guide rope snapped and Constable Alpen fell into the racing stream. He succeeded in scrambling onto a log, but after going a little distance struck out for the bank. The current, however, was too strong, and the unfortunate victim was swept away downstream. About three-quarters of a mile from the bridge the body was found under a log, which had to be lifted before it could be recovered from the water. Although attempts at artificial respiration were carried out for some time these proved unavailing, as it was found that death was due to a fractured skull, believed to be the result of the deceased striking a wall of rock."

The constable was born in Gunnedah in 1901 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 27 May, 1924. At the time of his death he was temporarily stationed at Richmond Gap (Kyogle area). His substantive station was Casino. He is listed in the official New South Wales Police Honour Roll.