TWO Riverina police commands will honour the "Hero of Wantabadgery" - one of their own killed in the exchange of gun fire more than a century ago
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Senior Constable Edward Mostyn Webb-Bowen, known as Edward Bowen, was shot in the neck and died on November 23, 1879 as a result of the wound he sustained.
Now, the Wagga and Cootamundra local area commands (LAC) are working together to restore his grave at Gundagai cemetery.
Staff from the Wagga LAC will meet with Wantabadgery residents on February 1 to discuss ideas regarding a plaque, headstone or statue to honour Sen Con Webb-Bowen.
Wagga police duty officer, Inspector Stephen Radford, labelled the police-led community project - headed by Constable Max Burmeister, who resides in Wantabadgery - as exciting.
"We hope to raise awareness about those who were defending our community and values at a time when bushrangers were a real threat," Inspector Radford said.
"Unfortunately history has tended to forget the true heroes of this era and instead the names of outlaws such as Captain Moonlight and the Ben Hall Gang, (which are) responsible for the deaths of police officers, hold more recognition than those that did the right thing
Inspector Radford said the project aimed to help change the imbalance.
Senior Constable Webb-Bowen's death came after Captain Moonlight and his gang held up Wantabadgery Station one evening in mid-November.
A number of people were taken hostage, and that number increased when the gang moved to the nearby Australian Arms Hotel.
Officers from Wagga police arrived in the early hours of the morning and gunfire was exchanged.
They retreated, waiting for reinforcements from Gundagai, and later visited a farm nearby where they found Captain Moonlight and his gang.
For further information about the project, email waggabowen@police.nsw.gov.au or call Wagga police on 6922 2599.