Lillian May Armfield
Encyclopedia
Lillian May Armfield ISM (1884–1971) was a pioneering Sydney
female police detective, one of the first women to serve in that role.
on 3 December 1884. Her first job was as a nurse at the Callan Park Hospital for the Insane in Callan Park, Sydney
. She left that role for a pioneering position as a female police detective in the New South Wales State Police in 1915.
During that long and distinguished career, Armfield confronted the darker side of Sydney's often violent criminal underworld, confronting murder
, rape
and human trafficking
. She was a nemesis of female underworld ringleaders like Tilly Devine
and Kate Leigh
, associated with the razor gang
violence of the 1930s and also served as a social worker, warning younger women of bullet wound injuries or razor slashing from associating with male criminals. She was a contemporary of legendary Sydney police detective Frank Farrell
.
Despite her valour and dedication, Lillian Armfield was not given adequate recognition during her career as a police professional. She was only slowly promoted, becoming a Special Sargeant (Third Class) in 1923, and Special Sargeant (First Class) in 1943. She was in charge of all N.S.W. Policewomen until her retirement.
For most of her police career, it was known that she was the only N.S.W. Policewoman approved to carry a service revolver.
She was awarded the Imperial Service Medal, ISM
in 1949, when she retired from the police service aged sixty five.
Her life story, Rugged Angel - The Amazing Career of Policewoman Lillian Armfield, was published in 1961 and became a best-seller. It was written by Vince Kelly, a noted Sydney journalist.
In August 2011 the series Underbelly: Razor
included a storyline depicting Lillian Armfield. This part was played by Lucy Wigmore
.
, Sydney. She died at the Lewisham District Hospital on the 26 August 1971, aged 86.
Although she was never married and had few relatives, many old colleagues and friends attended her funeral at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium which included a police guard of honour.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
female police detective, one of the first women to serve in that role.
Early life
Lillian Armfield was born in Mittagong, New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
on 3 December 1884. Her first job was as a nurse at the Callan Park Hospital for the Insane in Callan Park, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. She left that role for a pioneering position as a female police detective in the New South Wales State Police in 1915.
Police career: 1915–1949
For over thirty years, Armfield then served as a female police detective, mainly working in the localities of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst. At first a probationary special constable, Armfield was not provided with a uniform, or paid for overtime and ancillary expenses as her male colleagues were. Unlike her male colleagues, she also experienced discrimination in terms of recompense for injuries sustained in the line of duty and had no superannuation benefit rights at the end of her career.During that long and distinguished career, Armfield confronted the darker side of Sydney's often violent criminal underworld, confronting murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
. She was a nemesis of female underworld ringleaders like Tilly Devine
Tilly Devine
Matilda 'Tilly' Devine was an English-born prominent Sydney crime syndicate gangs member figure, involved in a wide range of activities, including sly-grog and razor gangs, but most notable as a madam.-Early life:...
and Kate Leigh
Kate Leigh
Catherine Mary Josephine Leigh was an underworld figure who rose to prominence as an illegal trader of alcohol and cocaine dealer in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia during the first half of the twentieth century...
, associated with the razor gang
Razor gang
Razor gangs were criminal gangs that dominated the Sydney crime scene in the 1920s. With the passage of the Pistol Licensing Act 1927, the New South Wales State Parliament imposed severe penalties for carrying concealed firearms and handguns...
violence of the 1930s and also served as a social worker, warning younger women of bullet wound injuries or razor slashing from associating with male criminals. She was a contemporary of legendary Sydney police detective Frank Farrell
Frank Farrell (rugby league)
Francis Michael "Bumper" Farrell was an Australian premiership winning and national representative rugby league footballer. A prop forward, his long club career was with the Newtown Bluebags from 1938 to 1951 with four Test appearances for the Australian national side between 1946 and 1948...
.
Despite her valour and dedication, Lillian Armfield was not given adequate recognition during her career as a police professional. She was only slowly promoted, becoming a Special Sargeant (Third Class) in 1923, and Special Sargeant (First Class) in 1943. She was in charge of all N.S.W. Policewomen until her retirement.
For most of her police career, it was known that she was the only N.S.W. Policewoman approved to carry a service revolver.
Acclaim
In 1946, she received official acclaim for her life's work, receiving the King's Police and Fire Service Medal.She was awarded the Imperial Service Medal, ISM
ISM
--ism :* -ism – a suffix, meaning adherence or following an ideology* Isms philosophical world views-ISM :ISM is an acronym of:*Idiopathic sclerosing mesenteritis*Imperial Service Medal*Incorporated Society of Musicians...
in 1949, when she retired from the police service aged sixty five.
Her life story, Rugged Angel - The Amazing Career of Policewoman Lillian Armfield, was published in 1961 and became a best-seller. It was written by Vince Kelly, a noted Sydney journalist.
In August 2011 the series Underbelly: Razor
Underbelly: Razor
Underbelly: Razor is a 13-part Australian television mini-series detailing real events that occurred in Sydney between 1927 and 1936. The series depicts the "razor gangs" who controlled the city's underworld during the era and the violent war between the two "vice queen" powers, Tilly Devine and...
included a storyline depicting Lillian Armfield. This part was played by Lucy Wigmore
Lucy Wigmore
Lucy Wigmore is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand. She played core cast member Dr Justine Jones in the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, and more recently starred as Lillian May Armfield in Underbelly: Razor, a 13 part Drama set in the 1920's - 1930's on the rough and ready...
.
Death
Lillian Armfield lived her final years at a Methodist Hostel in LeichhardtLeichhardt
Leichhardt may refer to:* Division of Leichhardt, electoral District for the Australian House of Representatives* Leichhardt Highway, a highway of Queensland, Australia* Leichhardt, New South Wales, inner-western suburb of Sydney, Australia...
, Sydney. She died at the Lewisham District Hospital on the 26 August 1971, aged 86.
Although she was never married and had few relatives, many old colleagues and friends attended her funeral at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium which included a police guard of honour.
See also
- Tilly DevineTilly DevineMatilda 'Tilly' Devine was an English-born prominent Sydney crime syndicate gangs member figure, involved in a wide range of activities, including sly-grog and razor gangs, but most notable as a madam.-Early life:...
– Sydney razor gang ringleader in Sydney during the thirties. - Kate LeighKate LeighCatherine Mary Josephine Leigh was an underworld figure who rose to prominence as an illegal trader of alcohol and cocaine dealer in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia during the first half of the twentieth century...
– Sydney razor gang ringleader in Sydney during the thirties. - Frank FarrellFrank Farrell (rugby league)Francis Michael "Bumper" Farrell was an Australian premiership winning and national representative rugby league footballer. A prop forward, his long club career was with the Newtown Bluebags from 1938 to 1951 with four Test appearances for the Australian national side between 1946 and 1948...
– NewtownNewtown JetsThe Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
Rugby LeagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player and police detective - a colleague of Lillian Armfield. - Razor gangRazor gangRazor gangs were criminal gangs that dominated the Sydney crime scene in the 1920s. With the passage of the Pistol Licensing Act 1927, the New South Wales State Parliament imposed severe penalties for carrying concealed firearms and handguns...
s- historical context of the Sydney 'razor gang' conflicts of the twenties and thirties - Underbelly: RazorUnderbelly: RazorUnderbelly: Razor is a 13-part Australian television mini-series detailing real events that occurred in Sydney between 1927 and 1936. The series depicts the "razor gangs" who controlled the city's underworld during the era and the violent war between the two "vice queen" powers, Tilly Devine and...
- 13 part Drama including a portrayal of Lillian May Armfield
Further reading
- Vince Kelly: Rugged Angel: The Amazing Career of Policewoman Lillian Armfield: Angus and Robertson Publishers, Sydney: 1961.
- Larry Writer: Razor: A True Story of Slashers, Gangsters, Prostitutes and Sly Grog: Sydney: Pan Macmillan: 2001: ISBN 0732910749
- J.Morton and S.Lobez: Gangland Australia: Melbourne: Melbourne University Press: 2007: ISBN 9780522852738