top of page
LOVEGROVE, John
John Creed Lovegrove exemplified the endurance of early Northern Territory policemen, continuing remote duty through severe illness and hardship; his 1921 correspondence vividly reflects the stoicism and resilience expected of officers serving in isolated frontier conditions.
The early members of the force generally took pain, hardship and discomfort for granted. Typical of the men of the period was John Creed Lovegrove, who wrote to the inspector in 1921:
I contracted a slight cold about the 20th April and whilst inspecting the Newcastle Cattle at the South Yards the cold eased off and seemed to settle in my right ear; for nine days the Abscess [sic] in my ear caused intense pain, the last two nights of which I was forced to walk about all night, the abscess then broke. About three days later, I syringed the core out of my ear and immediately another abscess commenced to form. The same thing has been going on since 24th April and is still causing a good deal of pain.
Lovegrove concluded his letter by seeking permission to travel to Darwin to see his doctor, who considered that he should receive medical attention. Inspector Waters raised no objection to the travel. Lovegrove recovered satisfactorily.
bottom of page