At 16:45 26/11/03 +1000, Terry Leach <familytree@austarnet.com.au> wrote: >Walter Gill who was in the police force but "resigned" In the Public Search Room at Qld State Archives is an index to Qld Police Staff Files 1864-c1940. Theoretically you can also search for surnames from this index using ArchivesSearch, <www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/>, but as ArchivesSearch is not always reliable, a negative result there doesn't necessarily mean that there is no police staff file. The original files vary in content and size (some have hundreds of pages). You often find the original application and character references, plus various documents giving age, height, weight, hair and eye colour, complexion, religion, trade or special ability, whether a horseman or cyclist, whether a member of any secret society; when married, wife's maiden name, children; by whom last employed and where; how long in Qld; names, residence and relationship of other relatives; dates of recruitment and swearing in, where stationed and when, and any favourable records. If there are Misconduct and Punishment Sheets, the accompanying reports and correspondence may be very detailed. I have also seen some files containing correspondence relating to an officer's subsequent employment by the NSW Police Service. Note that women did not join the Qld Police until 1965. Regards, Judy ******************************************************** Judy Webster, PO Box 5043, Algester QLD 4115, Australia. B.App.Sc.(Med.Tech), Grad.Dip. Local & Applied History. Professional research at Queensland State Archives. E-mail: judyweb@gil.com.au Indexes/advice: <www.judywebster.gil.com.au/index.html> *********************************************************