THE FORGOTTEN CONSTABLE
Adam George BEGG
Auckland Police Force
Died in the Parnell train tunnel aged 27
"After a short time the young life flickered and faded
-Adam George Begg had made the supreme sacrifice in the cause
of law and order."
2008
Being the dedicated cemetery trawler and avid genealogist that I am, my [then] partner and I noticed a grave in a local cemetery not far from where we live and were particularly drawn to it. Trying to note details of who was interred there was a challenge as it was thickly covered in lichen.
His name was Adam George BEGG.
Since then, we have been caring and tending to the grave of Constable Adam George Begg, killed in the execution of duty on 23 February 1926 aged 27 in Auckland.
I had been hunting high and low for information on Adam and how he came to his demise as
he did not appear on the NZ Police website listing those killed in the line of duty. I
decided in the end to contact the Police Museum in Wellington who kindly emailed me back
to say Adam had been hit by a train in the Parnell Tunnel on the chase of a criminal.
How sad...he had died doing his duty and hadn't been memorialised. This was on our mind
over several weeks, then out of the blue on 11 August 2008 came an email from
Superintendant Gail Gibson of the Executive and Ministerial support, NZ Police who was
responding on behalf of the Police Commissioner. She stated that the Police Museum
had passed on my email to them and that the Commissioner is considering how we remember
those members of police who have died on duty as a result of accidents, as we remember
those slain by criminal acts.
Now, today [27 June 2009] care of Paperspast via the National Library of New Zealand website I have found an article from the Truth dated Thursday 4th March 1926 outlining what happened to Constable Begg...I feel even more passionate about securing a place in New Zealand police history for this young fellow who came out from Scotland just a few months before dying.
Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 45, 23 February 1926, Page 8
LATE CONSTABLE BEGG
POLICE FUNERAL
Constable Adam George Begg who died as the result of injuries received in the Newmarket Tunnel [sic] yesterday, is to be accorded a police funeral. This will take place on Sunday next. the cortege will move off from the central police station at 3 p.m. for the Hillsboro' Cemetery, where the interment will take place. the Auckland Highland Pipe Band will be in attendance.
Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 46, 24 February 1926, Page 8
Source: Auckland Library; Sir George Gray special collections AWNS-19260304-47-1
LATE CONSTABLE BEGG.
AN IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL.
Large crowds assembled yesterday to witness the funeral of Constable Adam George Begg, who was killed in Parnell tunnel by a passing train, while searching for an escaped prisoner. All along the route crowds stood with bared heads as the cortege passed by. A typical Highland lament was played by a pipe band marching in front of the hearse. Constable Begg only arrived from Scotland a few months ago. The coffin was covered by the Union Jack. The hearse was followed by nearly 200 members of the police force, including the detective branch. Amongst those present were Superintendent Wohlmann, ex-Superintendents Hendry and Sheehan, Inspector Mcllveney, Sub-Inspector Lewin and Chief Detective Cummings.
The service at the grave was by the Rev. F. R. Jeffreys, who said that in this tragedy the public was brought face to face with the dangers that daily beset the members of the force at the call of duty. He only hoped that this sad tragedy would help the general public to a better understanding of its great indebtedness to our "men in blue, who, in season and out of season, unflinchingly faced many dangers of which those outside know nothing. While citizens sleep in security and peace, their homes and hearths, their children, their childrens' honour, was under the constant guard, day and night, of the men who, often with their lives in their own hands and throughout the long night watches, kept ceaseless vigil.
Adam George Begg was only on the threshold of his career, but already he had given good service in Scotland, where for two years he had been a member of the Hussars and for five years a member of the Glasgow Police. He had been connected with the New Zealand Force for six months only and yet during that time he had won the affection and esteem of his comrades and the confidence of his officers, a record of which any man might well be proud. When his last call for earthly duty came he was asleep, having been out all night on duty. An urgent call at the watch house and Constable Begg. among seven others, was called from his sleep at eleven o'clock. He obeyed with the greatest alacrity and within two hours he had met his death. Far from his home, his kith and kin, far away in this outpost of his own country, his ready response to the call of duty resulted in his untimely end.
Auckland Star , Issue LVII, 1 March 1926, Page 9
April 2010 I applied for Adams death certificate to give me more clues on his life hopefully. It stated:
Cause of death: died at Auckland Hospital from Central Police Station, Auckland through injuries received through being accidentally knocked by a passing train in the Parnell railway tunnel whilst in the execution of duty.
Place of birth: Locklear, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
If not born in NZ - number of years here: 10 months
Mother: Elizabeth Ann nee COUTTS
Father: Alexander BEGG
The same month I also emailed the police in Strathclyde, Scotland after searching on the internet indicated this would be the best contact for finding out more about Adam's earlier history as a policeman. My email was forwarded onto the Glasgow City archives as Strathclyde did not hold the very early records. Glasgow City Archivist then sent me 3 options for 20 year old policemen who were born in 1899 named Adam George Begg. I've yet to purchase the information however the newspaper articles fill this in a bit better for me.
The 1901 Scotland Census lists:
Address: Drumneachie
Civil parish: Birse; County: Aberdeenshire
Alexander G. BEGG; age 47; occupation: farmer; born c1854 at Coull, Aberdeenshire, head of household
Elizabeth A. BEGG; aged 44; born c1857 Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
Richard G BEGG; aged 16; farmers son; born: c1885, Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
John G BEGG; aged 14; scholar; born:c1887, Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
Alexander A. BEGG; aged 10; scholar; born c1891, Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
Isabella T. BEGG aged 11; scholar; born c1890, Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
Elizabeth L. BEGG aged 9; scholar; born c1892, Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
Charles W L BEGG aged 8; scholar; born c1893, Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
Mary G. BEGG aged 5; Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
Annie B. BEGG aged 3; Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
Adam G. BEGG aged 1; Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
UPDATE:
All my hopes were dashed trying to have Adam recognised. The police did meet up with me at the grave and said they would look into having it refurbished...wouldn't have taken much but it was declined due to funding. The email I received back on 5 August 2010 stated:
Good Morning Sarndra,
I spoke to a representative of Parkinson's [memorial business] and they came back with the following details.
Due to lack of funds we are unable to action any repairs at this stage. [End of message from police constable who met me at the grave, he then copied and pasted the message from the monumental masons]...
From Martin Platt [of Parkinsons]
Thank you for contacting us regarding restorative work on the memorial (in the Hillsborough Cemetery), for Constable Adam George Begg.
We established when we inspected the memorial that the concrete ledger is still in good structural condition and the headstone is also clean. Over the years the plaster on the concrete has become pitted and there are some corners etc where the plaster is chipped or broken. Also a section of the marble frame on the overtop is missing. This frame was to hold the white chips (stones)
on the top (and is part of the design).
Although the plasterwork is pitted we do not consider that the plaster needs replacing as it is still solid. Re-plastering is a big job as all the old plaster would have to be removed otherwise the new plaster will not stay on for long. Nor would we advise patching the broken corners, for the same reason, however our following advice of a cement wash, will go some way to repairing these.
Quotation - We advise giving the entire plasterwork a clean and cement wash. This will smooth out the surface of the old plaster. We will also supply and install the missing marble piece of framework and supply and fill with new white chips.
Our Quotation - $1200.00 includes GST @12.5%.
As of 27 September 2013 i've still heard nothing back from the then Police Commissioner Howard Broad [4 April 2006 - 3 April 2011] nor his successor Peter Marshall [4 April 2011 - incumbent].
Adam still goes unrecognised for dying in the line of duty because he wasn't killed 'by the hand' of a criminal.
After my hand in the success of having Sapper Robert Hislop, the first New Zealand soldier to die in WWI formally recognised, it's invigorated me to continue on to have Adam's untimely death recognised in perpetuity.
In a last ditch attempt, I wrote to Peter Hayes, the Manager of Welfare Services for the NZ Police Association after being forwarded the Letters page of their magazine, issue Jan/Feb 2014 by a contact. In this, it was noted that the situation relating to officers killed on duty and like Adam's not slain by a criminal but still dying whilst on duty was being investigated. This involves at least 712 police members. It appears there may be positive outcomes in relation to at least 50 of these individuals, I was ecstatic to read this!
I received a reply from Peter Hayes on the 28th August
"Police are currently undergoing a research programme where they are endeavouring to identify all those Police Officers that have died on duty but not necessarily by a criminal act. They've already identified BEGG as one of those officers and in due course Police will be formally recognising those Police Officers in some way. The historical records that Police have indicated he had no family living in New Zealand. If you are a relative could you please confirm your relationship? I have forwarded your email with blog details over to Police to assist with their research.
Of course I'm not a relative however I do get very attached to those I research. We consider him almost part of the family now! I sent Peter all I have gathered so that they may attempt to find a familial connection back in Scotland.
It's nearly a year since my last update. During that time, I have discovered Adam had been called up for the Scots Guards on 17 April 1918.
Service number
17635.
3rd Reserve battalion.
Age: 18 years 5 months
Birthplace: Parish: Glenmuick, Aberdeenshire
Terms of service: duration of war
Examined: 28th August 1917
Declared aged: 17 years 258 days
Height: 5 ft 9 3/4 inches
Weight: 146 pds
Chest girth when fully expanded: 39 inches
Chest range of expansion: 3 1/2 inches
Physical development: good
Vaccinations in childhood and also revaccinated.
Marks: Mole 3 inches inside left [illegible]; Mole 1/2 inch in front R. angles
Lower jaw. Papilloma both sides back of neck.
Next of kin: Charles BEGG, Drumneachie, Birse, Aberdeenshire. (His brother. Drumneachie is where Adam's home address was also given on demobilisation.)
Station or Troopship: Caterham 18 April 1918
10 September 1918: appointed acting unpaid Lance Corporal to date
On demobilisation transferred to "Z" class Army. He served 338 days in the
Army.
Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity in with military records for
20 days furlough stamped 21 February 1919 at No. 1 Disposal unit, Kinross.
Specialist military qualification: Marksman
Left the army with no disability. Occupation before enlist: [stated as]
farmer
Special remarks: "Clean, honest and sober; a reliable man, was promoted L. Cpl
for good service."
When my [then] partner and I stayed at Wellington last weekend to
attend the 100th commemorations at Pukeahu of the Battle of Chunuk Bair,
we decided to visit the Police Museum. It is very
small but incredibly interesting. I wrote a note in the visitors book stating I
was still waiting to hear what is to happen about Adam Begg, not really
expecting to get any feed back, but yesterday I did! Rowan Carroll the Director of the Museum contacted me! As an aside - an interesting moment at
the Police Museum when I was looking at the display relating to the Waihi Strike
riot and the death of Frederick EVANS. I recognised the large reproduction
of Fred's grave photograph to be one that I had taken at Waikaraka Cemetery and
had sent in to www.nznhistory.net.nz
to use! I'm just amazed where my photographs are popping up. http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/grave-fred-evans and Fred's story http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/fred-evans - he remains 1 of only 2
people killed during industrial disputes in New Zealand.
Hearing Adam's
name read out and seeing his name on screen at the service was a wonderful
thing. My then partner and I felt extremely proud to represent Adam. The
bagpipes were also played making the occasion especially poignant for this
Scottish lad's first mention on Police Remembrance Day and to be remembered
every year from now on. My set of photos taken at the Police Remembance Day
service HERE My set of photos of Adam's grave taken on 29 September HERE A few weeks back I finally managed to locate an image of Adam. I have provided this to the administrators for the Police Remembrance website and so now, Adam has a face instead of a Huia feather representing his image. More
photos of his grave at the bottom of the page and The New Zealand Truth's
version of events is below. Miscellaneous: Photos of Adams grave in Hillsborough Cemetery, Auckland,
New Zealand Mike applying more lichen killer to Adams headstone His grave needs some refurbishing at the base What once was covered in lichen is now readable Token of esteem Standing proud It's taken months to get to this stage Detailed engraving at the peak is now visible Click here for modern day video of the Parnell Tunnel
Today I learnt that Adam will be included in the accidental
deaths on duty recognition at this year’s Remembrance Day – 29 September!
I am over the moon!!! It has taken 7 years but it has finally happened!
Update: 29 September 2015
He can now also look out from this blogpost, after so many years of me wondering what he looked like.
It has been 12+ years since I commenced the journey for Adam and it is now complete, except for successfully having his grave refurbished :o( maybe this can be achieved further down the years. I hope so.
Having this blogpost enabled Adam's relatives to contact me. One, Hannah who lives in Scotland and is a Great Niece of Adam's and is acutely aware that she is now the same age Adam was when he was killed. She is a history teacher who teaches the migration of Scots to New Zealand, despite not knowing she had a family member who had emigrated himself! She wrote:
"It is lovely to see that despite moving to New Zealand almost 100 years ago, and having no family on that side of the world, that he has not been forgotten and his Scottish heritage is still being commemorated."
After responding to her email she replied in part:
"I was delighted to share the story of Adam with my seniors this week though when we were discussing Scottish migration! Their homework is to to home and find out if they had any family members who migrated to the colonies and I'm excited to find out if they have any stories of their own."
I have introduced all together by email, Adam's relatives that have contacted me, so they can share their familial stories and importantly, remember Adam.
THIS is the complete reward I receive for doing what I do. It is my calling.
It has been a fulfilling experience on so many levels and a great privilege to have brought him back to living memory.
Who will my next challenge be?
