The Sangster Memorial (pictured above) in Ipswich, Queensland, commemorates a hero policeman who drowned in 1893, but there was another amazing forgotten hero that day. I told a version of this story live on Ipswich’s West Bremer Radio.

On Saturday the 4th of February 1893, the Jackson family woke to find that the Bremer River had risen during the night and was threatening their home at Blackall in East Ipswich. Mrs Elizabeth Jackson and five of her children set out in a small boat for higher ground.

She left her eldest daughter Miss Mary Jackson and a worker Mr John Rowe in the house to wait their turn. But before the boat reached dry land, it hit a tree and tipped over, drowning four of the children.

In the meantime, Ipswich’s Constable James Sangster arrived to see the house lifted up by the flood waters and carried downstream with Miss Jackson and Mr Rowe perched on the roof. Although Constable Sangster couldn’t swim, he led several attempts to rescue them that ended in tragedy.

Constable Sangster’s own boat upturned and he managed to cling to a small tree. Towards dusk the tree broke, and Constable Sangster disappeared under the water, never to be seen again.

By the next morning the river had fallen several metres and Miss Jackson and Mr Rowe were rescued. The citizens of Ipswich were so moved by the futile efforts of Constable Sangster that by public subscription a memorial fountain was built in the historic Brown’s Park, and it’s still there today.

But there’s another hero constable in the saga who has been forgotten, and here’s the full story.

When the alarm went out, it was two Ipswich policemen Constable Sangster and Mounted Constable James Murray who responded most prominently.

While Constable Sangster remained on the scene, Constable Murray led a gallop into North Ipswich to get a boat. Constable Murray and Constable Sangster then led repeated attempts to rescue Miss Jackson and Mr Rowe by taking turns passing down the stream and throwing a rope from the acquired boat.

When that boat upturned, Constable Sangster was left clinging to a tree, and many attempts were then made in vain to rescue him, led by Constable Murray. 

The tragedy of the Jackson family and Constable Sangster was mourned, and Mounted Constable Murray received a medal. The Royal Humane Society of Australasia awarded him its silver medal for bravery, presented by Lord Lamington the Governor of Queensland, and Major-General John Owen the commandant of the Queensland Defence Force.

Constable Murray already led an amazing life that again present history seems to have forgotten.

Prior to joining the Queensland Mounted Police in 1886, Constable Murray served with the 2nd Life Guards which was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. He was a member of the Heavy Camel Corps that was formed to rescue General Gordon in the Siege of Khartoum. He served in the Egyptian campaign including the Battle of Tel El Kebir which was the decisive engagement of the war. For that, Murray was awarded the Khedive Star with the Tokar clasp.

Once arriving in Queensland, for many years Constable Murray was a member of the mounted police force in Ipswich. He also served at Southport, Yangan, Tambo, and Toowoomba.

He passed away in 1921 aged sixty and one of Queensland’s most decorated policemen. In all he had been awarded the Egypt Medal, the Khedive Star with the Tokar clasp, the Police Jubilee Medal, and the Royal the Humane Society’s silver medal.

This week I found his grave where he is buried with his Ipswich-born wife at the Toowong cemetery. Sadly, his marble headstone and cross are  broken and uncared for, and there’s nothing to say what he achieved.

James Murray was a genuine Ipswich and Queensland hero along with Constable Sangster of Brown’s Park. With us appreciating heroes more than ever right now, hopefully James Murray will be remembered even just a little bit.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A VERSION OF THIS STORY TOLD ON WEST BREMER RADIO.

Photo credits:
Constable James Sangster Memorial Fountain, Brown Park, Ipswich, 2025 – Harold Peacock 20251228_100452.
Constable James Sangster, Ipswich c1890 – Picture Ipswich.
Constable James Sangster Memorial Fountain, Brown Park, Ipswich, 2025 – Harold Peacock 20251228_100443.
Governor of Queensland Lord Lamington, 1899 – State Library of Queensland.
Egypt Medal, Khedive Star, Queensland Police Medal, Royal Humane Society Silver Medal – various sources.
James Murray memorial, Toowong Cemetery, 2025 – Harold Peacock 20251222_124301.