Alexander Fordyce was born in Camden in 1820. His father was a Catholic laboourer in the Lachlan District. Consequently, at the age of 42 he was somewhat old for the bushranging game.

When he was recruited for the Lachlan Gold Escort Robbery at Eugowra Rocks by Gardiner he was employed as the barman at O'Mealley's Inn at Wheogo. While the gang were waiting for the coach he passed the time with a gin bottle and consequently did not fire (too drunk!!) during the ambush. Gardiner subsequently found out and flew into a rage. He threatened to 'cut his rations', that is, not give him his share of the robbery proceeds.

Fordyce was subsequently arrested and stood trial for the robbery. He was found guilty and initially sentenced to hang. However, this was commuted to life imprisonment and he was incarcerated at Berrima Gaol on 04 August 1863. He was released as part of the general amnesty on 26 July 1974 and for a period was employed at the Gaol as a Wardsman and on general duties.

Fordyce then fades from the records until his death in the Liverpool Asylum on 05 January 1899. Again, tragically, no-one seems to have found his identity or tried to interview him until after his death..

This article © Andrew Stackpool, 1998.