THE life of a Berrigan police sergeant killed in a pub fire in 1931 will be honoured next month as part of the NSW Police's Force's 150th anniversary.
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Sgt George Whiteley survived a shrapnel injury at Gallipoli in 1915 but was killed when the Momalong Hotel in Chanter Street, Berrigan, went up in flames on March 25, 1931.
According to newspaper reports from the time, within a few minutes the entire population had turned out to the fire at 4am, including Sgt Whiteley who tried to control the crowd.
A gas cylinder exploded and sent shrapnel flying, pieces of which hit Sgt Whiteley and his dog, killing them instantly.
Noreen Armstrong, 93, was a teenager at the time.
"I've never been to another fire since and never, ever will go," Miss Armstrong said.
"The bell rang and, of course, half the town gets up to go to a fire.
"There was one explosion and then someone sang out 'look out there's going to be another one,' so we ran down a back lane.
"Shrapnel shot past us across to the bank and took a piece out of the bank.
"It was awful, people screaming and crying, a man had his leg badly cut and a woman got ripped right open.
"It was a terrible thing, a tragedy."
Sgt Whiteley's death has been selected as the focal point for the Deniliquin local area command to celebrate the anniversary.
"Our component of the celebration is to put up not just a memorial but a historical marker," Insp Robert Tunks, from Deniliquin police, said.
"It's very important that we recognise Sgt Whiteley's contribution to the NSW Police Force and the Berrigan community properly."
Insp Tunks said Sgt Whiteley was the only officer known to have been killed on duty within the boundaries of the command.
The officer's dog, alternately known as Smokey and Curly, was also well known.
Sgt Whiteley had trained it to visit the town's four pubs half an hour before closing.
"When the dog arrived that was last drinks," Insp Tunks said.
After Sgt Whitely's death his wife and five children were evicted from the police house but a local businessman gave them a home until they moved back to the Sydney area.
Deniliquin police are now searching for Sgt Whiteley's relatives so they can attend the ceremony on March 25.
