John Vance Blain, Police Officer
The current NSW Police Force began with the passing of the Police Regulation Act of 1862.
Early Police Force
The earliest police in the colony were the convict night-watch of 1789. Prior to their unification in 1862 there were various police forces in the colony. These included the Water Police, the Border Police, the Native Police, the Gold Escort and the Mounted Police.
We hold Police service records: a great place to start your research is the online index to Police Service Registers (1857-1913).
John Vance Blain
Using these records we found the following information for John Vance Blain. His entry shows he is a native of Ireland and his service number was 2481.
Tip: It is useful to note this number as it is repeated in other service records.
View this index entry for John Vance Blain at NRS-10943, Registers of police appointments c.1857-1913 and the register can be viewed on Reel 3043.
Register of police appointments
The record shows Blain was a Foot Police officer (not Mounted Police) and includes the following information:
- Born in 1850 in Ireland
- Height 5 feet 11 & 1/2 inches with blue eyes, fair hair, and a fair complexion
- He was a single man, protestant and his previous occupation was farmer
- Blain was appointed to the Metropolitan District as Constable on 26 December 1874.
Sadly Blain died in June 1877 after being wounded on duty at Woolloomooloo on 22 March 1877. He is renowned as one of the few police officers who was able to arrest his own murderer.
Other records
Also helpful are the Registers of police, 1862-1904 (NRS-10945) (included in the Archives Resources Kit and on Ancestry.com.au). These registers provide details such as: date of appointment, age, physical description, marital status, native country, religion, education, previous occupation and where stationed. They also include demotions, discharges, deaths, and superannuation.
For those who served more recently there are the Police service cards, 1913-c.1986 [AK724]. This series provides details such as: name, date of birth, physical description, previous calling, marital status, examinations and qualifications, district and station, duty, and cause and date of leaving the force.
Also of interest are the NRS-10950, Police service registers, 1927-80 and NRS 10956 Cadet registers, 1950-1977.
Please note that records of police service are Closed to Public Access for 30 years from date of exiting the force.
Related websites
- NSW Police Force for the Honour Roll
- National Police Memorial
- Trove for newspapers, and
Content on this page was first published in the October 2012 edition of Now&Then (Issue 58).
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