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Australian Bushrangers 1788–1880 (Men-at-Arms)

by Ian Knight

Series: Osprey Men-at-Arms (525)

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1321,522,178 (3)None
Featuring rare period photos, this highly illustrated history tells the story of the frontier outlaws who defied the authorities on the wild Australian frontier in the Victorian era, and the Crown forces who eventually hunted them down. The first "bushrangers" or frontier outlaws were escaped or time-expired convicts, who took to the wilderness--"the bush"--in New South Wales and on the island of Tasmania. Initially, the only Crown forces available were redcoats from the small, scattered garrisons, but by 1825 the problem of outlawry led to the formation of the first Mounted Police from these soldiers. The gold strikes of the 1860s attracted a new group of men who preferred to get rich by the gun rather than the shovel. The roads, and later railways, that linked the mines with the cities offered many tempting targets and were preyed upon by the bushrangers. This 1860s generation boasted many famous outlaws who passed into legend for their boldness. The last outbreak came in Victoria in 1880, when the notorious Kelly Gang staged several hold-ups and deliberately ambushed the pursuing police. Their last stand at Glenrowan has become a legendary episode in Australian history. Fully illustrated with some rare period photographs, this is the fascinating story of Australia's most infamous outlaws and the men tasked with tracking them down.… (more)
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Like the highwaymen of Restoration England and the outlaws of the American Old West, “bushrangers” in Australia became mythologized cultural heroes. They included “Bold Jack” Donohue (supposedly the prototype for the “Wild Colonial Boy” of song), Martin Cash (who behaved courteously toward his victims), “Mad” Dan Morgan (who didn’t), and, of course, Ned Kelly, inventor of homemade armor plate for himself and his gang (and who created something of a stir in Australia when he was portray by Mick Jagger in a film).

This is part of the Osprey “Men at Arms” series, which mostly portrays military personnel in uniform through the ages for military gaming enthusiasts. As a nod to that, the color illustrations also show typical military and police who pursued the bushrangers – including native (Aboriginal) troopers. ( )
1 vote setnahkt | Jan 16, 2023 |
I think this was something of a stretch to put this into the series, as the individuals involved were, nearly all, escaped criminals or deserters. Strictly for those interested in Australian history. ( )
  EricCostello | May 17, 2019 |
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Featuring rare period photos, this highly illustrated history tells the story of the frontier outlaws who defied the authorities on the wild Australian frontier in the Victorian era, and the Crown forces who eventually hunted them down. The first "bushrangers" or frontier outlaws were escaped or time-expired convicts, who took to the wilderness--"the bush"--in New South Wales and on the island of Tasmania. Initially, the only Crown forces available were redcoats from the small, scattered garrisons, but by 1825 the problem of outlawry led to the formation of the first Mounted Police from these soldiers. The gold strikes of the 1860s attracted a new group of men who preferred to get rich by the gun rather than the shovel. The roads, and later railways, that linked the mines with the cities offered many tempting targets and were preyed upon by the bushrangers. This 1860s generation boasted many famous outlaws who passed into legend for their boldness. The last outbreak came in Victoria in 1880, when the notorious Kelly Gang staged several hold-ups and deliberately ambushed the pursuing police. Their last stand at Glenrowan has become a legendary episode in Australian history. Fully illustrated with some rare period photographs, this is the fascinating story of Australia's most infamous outlaws and the men tasked with tracking them down.

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