The Secret War: A True History of Queensland's Native PoliceHistorian Jonathan Richards has spent ten years researching this controversial subject, picking his way through the secrecy, misinformation and supposed 'lost files'. In this first full-length comprehensive study of the Native Police in Queensland, he argues that they were a key part of a 'divide and rule' colonising tactic, used with equal success elsewhere in the British Empire; that the force's actions were given the implicit approval of government and public servants; and that their killings were covered-up. The Secret War is an authoritative and groundbreaking contribution to our country's white settlement history. |
Contents
Map | 1 |
A reign of terror | 16 |
An armed and dangerous frontier | 44 |
European service in the Native Police | 82 |
Aboriginal service in the Native Police | 119 |
Disciplinary problems | 140 |
The Native Police and other colonial forces | 176 |
They all must suffer the question of genocide | 201 |
Acknowledgments | 209 |
A nominal roll of the European members of | 220 |
Endnotes | 269 |
| 293 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Aboriginal women appointed acting sub-inspector appointed constable armed Australia Barron River blacks Bligh born Ireland Bowen Brisbane Courier British Cairns camp sergeant campkeeper Cape York Peninsula charge Charles clerk of petty Coen colonial Queensland Colonial Secretary Colonial Secretary's Correspondence command of detachment Commissioner of Police Commissioner Seymour constable 1888 Cooktown Creek Cullin-la-Ringo Dawson River death deserted died disperse district Douglas European evidence force's Frederick Wheeler frontier violence George grazier Henry Hornet Bank Indigenous inquest James John Oxley Lamond letter married military Morisset murder Murray Native Mounted Police Native Police Native Police camp Native Police force Native Police officers newspaper Norman River North Queensland Palmer River patrol petty sessions Poingdestre Police of Queensland Police Staff File promoted to sub-inspector Queensland Police reappointed records recruits reported resigned retired Rockhampton second lieutenant second-class sub-inspector senior constable served settlers shot South Wales squatters station Sydney Townsville troopers troops Turn Off Lagoon William wrote