John Gilbert (bushranger) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Gilbert
Engraving of John Gilbert
Born	1842 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Died	13 May 1865(1865-05-13) (aged 22–23) Binalong, New South Wales
Cause of death	Death by gunshot
Occupation	Bushranger
Organization	Ben Hall gang
Parents	William Gilbert (father) Eleanor Wilson (mother)

Johnny Gilbert was a famous Australian bushranger. He was a key member of Ben Hall's gang. Both Hall and Gilbert were killed by police within a week of each other in 1865. After Ben Hall's death, Gilbert and John Dunn went to Binalong, where Dunn had family.

Early Life and Adventures

Johnny Gilbert was born in 1842 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His mother, Eleanor, died soon after he was born. In 1852, when he was about ten years old, John and his family moved to Australia. They sailed to Port Phillip to try their luck on the Victorian goldfields.

When he was only twelve, Gilbert worked with horses at Kilmore, Victoria. He then moved to the Kiandra goldfields in New South Wales. People often described John as a smart and happy person who loved to laugh. Because of his cheerful nature, he was nicknamed Happy Jack. He was also thin and an excellent horse rider.

Joining the Bushrangers

At eighteen, Johnny Gilbert met the bushranger Frank Gardiner. In 1862, Gilbert was first linked to Gardiner when they robbed a store with two other men. Soon after, Gilbert, Gardiner, and Ben Hall were involved in another robbery. From then on, Johnny Gilbert was known for being part of many hold-ups between Lambing Flat (now Young) and Lachlan.

Frank Gardiner gathered a gang for a big robbery. This gang included John Gilbert, Ben Hall, John O'Meally, and others. Their plan was to rob the Forbes gold escort at a place called Eugowra Rocks.

Gang's Daring Escapes

On July 30, 1863, Gilbert and O’Meally tried to rob the Commercial Bank in Carcoar during the day. However, the alarm was raised, and they had to escape before they could take anything. That evening, they robbed Stanley Hosie’s store nearby. They took money and clothes, saying they needed them for "their people." Hosie bravely challenged them to a "fair fight," but the bushrangers just smiled and said, "No mate, we don’t do business in that way."

On August 6, 1863, Gilbert and O’Meally attacked a mail coach carrying prisoners and police. The bushrangers rode their horses with amazing skill, dodging shots as they fired back. During the fight, Constable Sutton was shot in the arm. Gilbert's horse was also hit. The bushrangers eventually rode off. People thought the bushrangers wanted to free the prisoners. However, another gang member, John Vane, later said they had planned to rob the mail, and the police surprised them.

In November 1864, the gang robbed the Gundagai Mail near Jugiong. During this robbery, Sergeant Parry was killed.

Gilbert's Final Days

Gilbert's grave near Binalong

On May 12, 1865, Senior Constable Charles Hales of the Binalong police station received a tip. He heard that Gilbert and John Dunn had robbed a place called the Woolshed. Hales thought they might be near Binalong because John Dunn's relatives lived there. He believed they might visit John Kelly, Dunn's grandfather.

Senior Constable Hales quickly gathered Constables John Bright and Michael King. They went to watch Kelly's house all night but saw no one. The next morning, John Kelly told Senior Constable Hales that Gilbert and Dunn were at his hut. Hales then took Constables John Bright, Michael King, and Henry Hall to Kelly's place. They split into two groups to surround the hut.

The police watched for about an hour in the rain. When Kelly's son, Thomas, came out, Hales asked if there were strangers inside. Thomas said "No." As Hales and King approached the hut, the dogs started barking. John Kelly and his wife came to the door. Seeing Trooper Hales, Kelly shouted a warning to the bushrangers inside. As Hales entered, two shots were fired. Hales fired back and called out to his men to surround the hut. He warned Kelly that they would burn the hut if the bushrangers didn't come out.

Hales then heard more shots from outside. He ran out and saw the bushrangers firing at Constables King and Hall. The bushrangers kept firing as they went through a fence towards the creek and hid behind a large tree. Gilbert tried to fire his rifle, but it misfired. Dunn and Gilbert then fired their revolvers at Hall and King as they ran towards the creek. Hales and Bright fired at the bushrangers, and Gilbert fell.

Hales ordered his men to chase Dunn. Constable King, who was wounded in the foot, stayed to guard Gilbert's body. The other three constables chased Dunn for about a mile and a half but had to give up. Dunn escaped that day but was caught later and hanged in 1866.

The constables returned to Gilbert's body. They found money, jewelry, guns, and bullets on him. Gilbert's body was taken to the Binalong police station. An investigation was held the next day. It was decided that Constable John Bright fired the shot that killed Gilbert instantly. The jury ruled it was "justifiable homicide," meaning the police acted correctly. They also praised the constables for their bravery. Gilbert was buried in the police paddock behind the station.

At the time of his death, Johnny Gilbert had been involved in over 630 robberies, making him one of Australia's most active criminals.

Gilbert in Stories and Songs

As a member of Ben Hall's gang, Gilbert is often mentioned in songs and poems about the bushrangers.

For example, in a song called "The Morning of the Fray" or "Eugowra Rocks", the chorus says:

You can sing of Johnny Gilbert Dan Morgan and Ben Hall

But the bold and reckless Gardiner he's the boy to beat them all

Another song, "Ben Hall", mentions Gilbert and Dunn:

With twelve revolving rifles all pointed at his head

Where are you Gilbert? where is Dunn? he loudly did call

It was all in vain they were not there to witness his downfall

There's also a song about "Frank Gardiner" that tells a slightly different story of Gilbert's death:

Young Vane, he has surrendered, Ben Hall's got his death wound

And as for Johnny Gilbert, near Binalong was found

He was all alone and lost his horse, three troopers came in sight

And he fought the three most manfully, got slaughtered in the fight

Gilbert is also mentioned in "The Streets of Forbes", another song about Ben Hall. The famous Australian poet Banjo Patterson wrote a poem about Gilbert called "How Gilbert Died". While it's a great poem, it makes his death sound more romantic than it was.

Gilbert in Film and TV

• John Gilbert was played by Australian actor John Orcsik in the 1977 TV series Ben Hall.
• In the 2016 movie The Legend of Ben Hall, John Gilbert is a main character, played by Australian actor Jamie Coffa.

See also

• Frank Gardiner–Ben Hall gang