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The New South Wales Police Rescue Squad was
founded in 1942 by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. W. J.
Mackay, for the express purpose of recovering the bodies
of suicide victims or rescuing persons trapped on
cliffs.
EARLY METHODS
Prior to the formation of the Rescue Squad it had been
customary for Police stationed in the vicinity of any
cliff tragedy to seek the aid of experienced rock
fishermen in the recovery of the body. These intrepid
fishermen, with an intimate knowledge of the sea-front
cliff area, would descend to the lower cliff reaches by
rope or tortuous track - an often dangerous and
hazardous undertaking. When the fishermen had reached
the victim, the Police would lower a stout rope, to
which the body of the victim would be tied and then
hauled to the cliff top. The fishermen would be raised
to safety by similar means. Rescue operations in respect
of persons trapped followed the same procedure.
FORMATION OF RESCUE SQUAD
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Harry Ware
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During the initial years of World War 11, the incidence
of suicide along the precipitous cliffs of Sydney
increased alarmingly, and the recovery of the bodies of
victims soon created a major problem. In 1942 the
National Emergency Services organisation was formed,
primarily to protect the civilian population against
enemy attack and to carry out rescue and demolition
operations in the event of enemy bombing. Rescue and
demolition squads were then formed by Municipal Shires
and Councils and other Government bodies. The New South
Wales Police Department co-operated fully with the
National Emergency Services and formed a number of
Police demolition squads.
To train the Demolition Squads, the National Emergency
Services made available their chief rescue instructor,
Mr. Harry Ware, who prior to the outbreak of the war had
been employed by the Department of Main Roads as a
rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Whilst carrying out
instructional duties to Police, Mr. Mackay requested Mr.
Ware to form a cliff rescue squad within the Police
Department for the express purpose of recovering bodies
of suicide victims, or aiding persons trapped on
precipitous cliffs. Mr. Ware consented to the request
and a small squad of Police, specially chosen from the
existing ten demolition squads, was formed for this
phase of Police duty.
INITIAL EQUIPMENT
Initial activities commenced in late 1942, and to
facilitate the recovery of bodies a special apparatus
was designed and built. The initial equipment comprised
a small swing derrick complete with pulley blocks and
supported by stout iron bands. For the speedy erection
of this equipment it was necessary for a hole, about 9
inches in diameter and one foot in depth, to be driven
into the solid rock at the top of the cliff face at
specified positions. The Vaucluse, Woollahra, and
Randwick Municipal Councils co-operated fully in this
regard, erecting iron-eye bollards cemented into the
cliff rock face at selected positions.
A number of persons were saved, and bodies recovered by
the use of this device, but it was obvious that an
apparatus of improved design would soon be required as
the activities of the squad were extending north and
south of the Gap area and west to the Blue Mountains.
MODIFICATIONS
A second apparatus of similar design and pattern, but
composed of tubular steel, was then built and placed in
service. All that was required for the speedy erection
of this equipment was a small hole, two inches in depth
and diameter, which could be forged into the rock face
with a pick. The success of this new device facilitated
its immediate use in any area of new operations.
NEW SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES
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Special
Sergeant Harry Ware
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Upon appointment, Harry Ware was receiving a salary from
the New South Wales Police Department, but in 1946 he
was officially designated Special Sergeant in Charge of
the Police Cliff Rescue Squad by Police Commissioner
William Mackay. In 1958 the then Commissioner of Police,
Mr. C. J. Delaney, who throughout his fruitful term of
office had displayed a keen interest in the activities
of the squad, changed its title to the Police Rescue
Squad. This change was considered necessary because the
duties of the Squad had extended to many new phases of
Police rescue work, including attendances at the scene
of bushfire outbreaks, flood emergency measures, rescue
of persons trapped in motor vehicles, detailed searches
for lost hikers, and the operation of a mobile canteen
to provide meals for Police engaged on long phases of
emergency duties.
CIVIL DEFENCE
In the late 1950's the activities of the squad turned to
the study of the latest developments in Civil Defence.
At that stage all members had to attend the Commonwealth
School of Civil Defence at Mount Macedon, Victoria, and
together with other Police from this State, who had
received similar instruction, formed the nucleus of a
competent panel of instructors on this vital subject.
AMBULANCE INSTRUCTION
In 1959 the Ambulance Transport Board requested the
services of the squad to instruct ambulance officers in
light rescue operations as part of their specialised
training. The squad also instructed the St. George
District Ambulance staff in the expert use of
specialised equipment attached to a rescue "Q"
van acquired by that centre in 1961.
GALLANTRY AWARDS
The initial leader of the squad, Sergeant Harry Ware,
received a number of awards for gallantry during his
career with the Rescue Squad. He was the recipient of a
Certificate and Bronze Medallion from the Royal
Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society, the Coronation
Medal, and the British Empire Medal. He was also
accepted as a Serving Brother in the Order of St. John
of Jerusalem, a signal honour.
Special Sergeant Ware retired in 1962, having gone over
cliffs thousands of times and rescuing more than 80
people in his 20 years of service.
Today's Police Rescue Unit.
Page Design © Ian Hunter.
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