Dear Monument Australia visitors, we are a self-funded, non-profit organisation, dedicated to recording monuments throughout Australia. Over time the costs of maintaining this website have risen substantially (in fact they are probably larger than those of many companies who exist for profit). In the past we have borne all the costs associated with maintaining the website but we are now having difficulties in paying the monthly expenses.
30-November-2020 : We are aware that some organisations, individuals or companies may have received an email requesting donations to assist Monument Australia. These emails are not authorised by Monument Australia and we do not know the person who sent them. You should not make any payments to any bank account details in the email. We only use the Paypal “Donate” button on this webpage to accept donations.
If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Police MemorialPrint Page 
The monument commemorates three South Australia Police officers who lost their lives in a bushfire in January 1951.
ADELAIDE, Fri.—A police sergeant instructor and two police constables were burnt to death while fighting a bush fire near Upper Sturt, in the Adelaide Hills, this morning. They were Sgt. Instructor Cecil William Spark (43), married, of Kurralta Park; Special Constable Mervyn George Casey (22), unmarried, of Prospect, and Special Constable Colin Roy Kroemer (33), married, of Glenelg.
The victims were members of a police party of 20 sent from the Adelaide police barracks equipped with knapsack sprays in response to a call for assistance. They were among others fighting a blaze in a gully when the wind swept the fire around them, cutting off their escape. After they had been reported missing, H. Eaton, of the Stirling emergency fire fighting unit, went into the fireswept gully and found the three bodies severely burned. Two of them still had knapsack sprays strapped to them. Two civilian fire fighters overcome by smoke were sent to hospital for treatment. The fire threatened many homes, but was confined to scrub and grassland.
Mercury (Hobart), 20 January 1951.
Location
| Address: | Waverley Ridge Road, Crafers West, 5152 |
|---|---|
| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -35.006211 Long: 138.698876 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Fire |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 19-January-1951 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 19-January-1951 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Friday 28th April, 1995 |
|---|
Police Heritage Site
Near this site the following members of the South Australia Police Force perished while fighting a bushfire in the vicinity of Foster Gully on 19 January 1951
Sergeant Cecil William Sparkes
Special Constable Mervyn George Casey
Special Constable Colin Roy Kroemer
This plaque was unveiled on 28 April 1995 by Mr. D. A. Hunt, AO, QPM Commissioner of Police and Mayor Anita Aspinall, BA District Council of Stirling
