On This Day… Ned Kelly’s Famous Showdown In Bullet Proof Armour
Written by: George Chittenden : 27 Jul 2019
It was on this day, 28th June back in 1880 when the infamous Australian outlaw Ned Kelly had his showdown with the police, dressed in his armour and armed with three handguns. Edward Kelly is an interesting character and continues to cause division in his homeland of Australia. Some perceive him as a folk hero, and Australia's equivalent of Robin Hood, whilst others consider him a murderer and a criminal. His antics are legendary and his showdown with the police, dressed in bulletproof armour, which unfortunately didn’t protect his legs, turned him into a legend. So why were they pursuing Kelly in the first place? Well, Ned Kelly was first arrested as a teenager for associating with a bushranger named Harry Power. It wasn’t until, 1878 though, when Kelly became a serious target for the police following a violent incident at his home.
Ned Kelly fled into the bush and was indicted for the attempted murder of a policeman. As a result of the incident, Ned’s mother was imprisoned, and Ned, his brother Dan, and two friends went on to kill three policemen. Now, with the Government of Victoria proclaiming them outlaws, the Kelly gang went on a two-year crime spree, which included armed bank robberies, and the killing of a police informer. Their final showdown came after the gang took control of the township of Glenrowan with the aim of wrecking a special train bringing extra police to join the hunt for their gang. Ned Kelly found himself trapped inside the Glenrowan Inn, with his gang. The police surrounded the building and when he finally made his stand, dressed in his armour, they eventually shot and wounded him. Australia’s famous outlaw was captured and stood trial for his crimes in Melbourne. Edward Kelly was hanged on November 11th, 1880, at the Melbourne Gaol.
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