Page 10 - eMuse Vol.9 No.02_Classical

Johnny Gilbert aka

Happy Jack or Flash Johnny

Exhibitionist bushranger or just a

Wild Colonial Lad?

John William Gilbert aka From about age eighteen Gil-
“Happy Jack” or “Flash Johnny” bert came under the influence
was born in Hamilton, Ontario, of Frank Gardiner. A contempory sketch of John Gilbert.
Canada in 1842. Who would In 1862 in a holdup of a
have guessed that a youngster storekeeper, he was named as At first the local population grandfather) house. Kelly told
born so far away was destined an accomplice of Gardiner and was amused by all this. But as police at Binalong where the
for infamy in Australia? two others. the robberies continued their two bushrangers were hiding so
His parents were William Then, a month later Gilbert annoyance began to grow until he could get the reward money.
James and Eleanor (nee Wilson) was recognised in another rob- they demanded the govern- The police went to the
Gilbert. Eleanor died soon af- bery with Gardiner and Ben Hall. ment do something about it. house, but as the bushrangers
ter John was born and, in time, From then on he was identi- During a robbery near Ju- beat their hasty retreat, Dunn
William re-married to Eliza Cord fied as being involved in several giong Gilbert killed a police- was shot in the arm and Gilbert
who was only a few years older hold-ups between Lambing Flat man, Sergeant Edmund Parry. was shot dead. He was buried
than the family’s eldest daugh- (Young) and Lachlan. The police search for Gilbert behind the Binalong Police sta-
ter, Ellenor (Ellen). Gardiner’s gang grew in size became urgent. tion.
In October 1852 William es- and daring. On 15 June 1862, In 1865 another member of Dunn was captured six
corted all nine members of his they ambushed the Ford and Co the gang, John Dunn, also killed months later and hanged in
family up the gang plank of the coach* at Escort Rock, Eugow- a policeman. The gang were Sydney in March 1866.
Revenue to seek fame and for- ra, carrying out Australia’s larg- declared outlaws. This meant During his criminal career,
tune on the Victorian gold fields. est gold robbery. Seventy-seven they could be killed by anyone Gilbert was involved in at least
John Davis, said to be John’s kilograms of gold and £3,700 in at anytime. 630 robberies.
uncle, was shot dead on the Vic- cash were stolen. Ben Hall was shot near * Ford and Co Coach com-
torian Goldfields in April 1854. It is believed to be the big- Forbes on 5 May, 1865. On May pany was sold to Cobb & Co a
Joseph Roberts (an alias used gest bushranger robbery in our 13, 1865 Gilbert and Dunn went month after the infamous gold
by a John Gilbert) was tried for history. The total haul in to- to hide at John Kelly’s (Dunn’s escort robbery.
the murder but acquitted. He day’s values would be at least
was later jailed for horse steal- $12,500,000.
ing. Some believe this was not After Eugowra, Gardiner left
the same John Gilbert. the district to attempt to set-
The John Gilbert we a sure tle down at Apis Creek, near
of, worked as a twelve year old Rockhampton in Queensland.
stablehand at Kilmore, Victoria Gilbert depart for New Zealand
for his sister Eleanor and her but returned in May 1863. By
new husband, John Stafford, for then Ben Hall had taken com-
a time before moving on to the mand of what remained of Gar-
Kiandra goldfields in New South diner’s gang.
Wales. The gang was very active.
He was described as quite They robbed travellers on
a smart young man who could the roads, the mail coaches,
read and write, and because he the gold escorts, hotels, farm
was a “very jolly fellow” always houses and even held up whole
laughing with a happy disposi- towns. Canowndra was held
tion, he was nicknamed “Happy up twice. The police weren’t
Jack.” pleased at being made fools of. The death of John Gilbert.

10 eMuse February 2020