McCrossin’s Mill Museum houses the definitive collection of artefacts connected with the legendary Gentleman Bushranger, Fred Ward aka Captain Thunderbolt.
Thunderbolt … Life and Legend exhibition was designed by Peter Tonkin of 3D Designs and professionally constructed. This was done with the assistance of the NSW Ministry For The Arts.
Mary Ann Bugg
Mary Ann was a proud Worimi woman, she was Captain Thunderbolt’s scout, informer, lover and confidante…read more
Walker, Alexander Binning (1847–1929)
Mr. Walker was born at Oldbury, England, in 1847, and came to Australia when a young man. He enlisted in the mounted police, and when a constable shot Thunderbolt dead on May 27, 1870, at Kentucky Creek, near Uralla.
Walker had a thrilling encounter with the bushranger, and after the latter had been shot he grappled with the young constable. During the encounter at Kentucky Creek Walker’s horse fell and Thunderbolt rushed at him with his revolver in his hand. Walker then fired at the bushranger, who rose and attempted to grapple with the constable. The latter then struck Thunderbolt over the head with the revolver. It was Walker’s last shot that killed the bushranger.
Thunderbolt, whose name was Frederick Ward, was in 1856 at the Maitland Assizes, sentenced to ten years’ hard labour for felony. He obtained a ticket of leave, and was again convicted at Mudgee in 1861. While serving a sentence on Cockatoo Island in 1863 he escaped, in company with another convict named Britton. Ward evaded capture for seven years until he was shot by Constable Walker.
Mr. Walker was subsequently presented with a public subscription, and received a Government reward of £200. He soon afterwards received promotion, and continued to rise in the service until, in 1895, he was made superintendent at Deniliquin. He later served in a similar capacity at Albury and Goulburn.
Ex-police Superintendent Alexander B. Walker, who killed the notorious bushranger Thunderbolt died at the age of 81 years.
Original publication: Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April 1929, p 8 (view original)
Image: Alexander Walker, by Andrew Cunningham, 1870 State Library of New South Wales, 901135
