Massacre at Mistake Creek - East Kimberley

Date: 1 May 1915 – 30 Jun 1915
Place: Mistake Creek - East Kimberley
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
In 1915 Constable John Franklin Flinders reported to Inspector Drewry (who in turn reported it to the Colonial Secretary) that Mick Rhatigan, who was a telegraph linesman and former East Kimberley Policeman, with his two Aboriginal workers, Nipper and Wyne, had 'shot and burned five or six Aborigines'. The 'charred remains' of two bodies were found at Mistake Creek and the bodies of five others named 'Hopples, Nellie, Mona, Gypsy and Nittie' were found some distance away. (The Advertiser, April 2, 1915, p 8.) This massacre was in reprisal for the supposed killing of Rhatigan's cow which was later found alive (Owen, 2016, p 438). The Sisters of St Joseph erected a small monument at the foot of the old boab tree at Mistake Creek to mark the place where the massacre occurred (Monument Australia).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Kitja, Worla
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 7

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Mistake Creek - East Kimberley
    1 May 1915 – 30 Jun 1915 — Mistake Creek - East Kimberley — massacre
    In 1915 Constable John Franklin Flinders reported to Inspector Drewry (who in turn reported it to the Colonial Secretary) that Mick Rhatigan, who was a telegraph linesman and former East Kimberley Policeman, with his two Aboriginal workers, Nipper and Wyne, had 'shot and burned five or six Aborigines'. The 'charred remains' of two bodies were found at Mistake Creek and the bodies of five others named 'Hopples, Nellie, Mona, Gypsy and Nittie' were found some distance away. (The Advertiser, April 2, 1915, p 8.) This massacre was in reprisal for the supposed killing of Rhatigan's cow which was later found alive (Owen, 2016, p 438). The Sisters of St Joseph erected a small monument at the foot of the old boab tree at Mistake Creek to mark the place where the massacre occurred (Monument Australia).
    Source: WAPD, Aboriginal Native Tracker 'Nipper'. From C. of P. SROWA, Cons. 430, Item 1854/1915; Western Mail, April 2, 1915, p18 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44758490; The Advertiser, April 2, 1915, p 8 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5455967/970938; Clement, 2003(a), pp 199-214; Clement, 1989(b), pp 17-18; Owen, 2016, p 438; Ross and Bray, 1989, pp 73-75; Monument Australia https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/indigenous/display/93363-mistake-creek-massacre