The Egging Incident

The Egging Incident

The Egging Incident, one of Australia’s best-known legendary events of World War One on the home front happened at the Warwick railway station on the 29th November, 1917.

At the time, then Prime Minister Billy Hughes, was touring southern Queensland in an endeavour to whip up support for compulsory conscription. Many Australians were against this highly unpopular policy.

With much fanfare, the Prime Minister’s train was welcomed into the station by a large crowd. However, it was during his speech for the support of his campaign for the 1917 plebiscite on conscription that things got a little ‘sticky’.

Local Irish brothers Pat and Bart Brosnan, let the PM know what they thought of his policy. Pat Brosnan pitched eggs at him, knocking the Prime Minister’s hat off in the process.

It is recorded in official documentation, where the Prime Minister ordered a policeman who was standing nearby to “arrest this man” but much to his astonishment the Queensland policeman calmly stated, “No. You have no jurisdiction here.”

The Prime Minister was greatly outraged, and made moves to immediately create his own police force, The Commonwealth Police Force. Today we know this force as the Australian Federal Police.

Former primary school teacher Isabel Beasley [nee Wilson], recalled in the Warwick Central State School Centenary 1875-1975 book, an incident which occurred during the First World War. She was put in charge of a group of girls from the school who marched to the Warwick railway station to see and hear Prime Minister ‘Billy’ Hughes. Her sister’s frock received a portion of one of the famous eggs thrown.

The names of the 101 railway men who worked in the region are recorded and can be viewed in the foyer of the Warwick Railway Station on the Warwick and District Railway Honour Board 1914-1918.

A Memorial to mark the 100^th Anniversary of the ‘Warwick Incident’ and Federal Policing in Australia can be found in Billy Hughes Park, opposite the Warwick Railway Station.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.