Review by Barry Sinclair, Dec 2005.

In the Preface to this book, Jim Hobden, states "A newspaper editor once remarked that so much myth and legend surrounding Thunderbolt, that he thought it was now the responsibility of historians to sort out the fact from fiction. This publication is the result of an effort to do just that. "

On the Introduction on the next page he says "The first phase, (of Bushranging) and by far the longest, began in June, 1789, and extended into the mid 1940's" while I realise this is a typo error, it is typical of the lack of care taken in this whole production. In the second paragraph of the first chapter he mentions Fred Ward "was the 12th and youngest child of Handley Thompson Ward" yet further down the page in listing the names of the children he only lists 10 children. In fact there were 11 children not 12 as he had claimed.(In more recent research - Nov 2007- I have been able to prove that 'Fred was the son of Sarah Ward and a young convict on the next property, John Haswell). This is just another example of his total lack of attention to detail throughout this book. If this is an example of his work how can his historical details be trusted in the remainder of the book.

On the cover of the book and throughout the pages are a series of drawings which do nothing to enhance the production. While he does have some well researched material, the continued use of such poorly drawn pictures immediately detracts from the book. Throughout his book he seems to base his whole work on the understanding that the police are always good, honorable and correct, while the bushrangers are always bad dishonorable and wrong. Neither concept is, in fact, totally true, especially with regard to Captain Thunderbolt. One only has to read the various reports and family histories of people living in the area at the time, to know that Thunderbolt was greatly admired by many of the locals, who often left out food for him and helped in in many other ways to avoid the police.

On page 8 second paragraph Jim Hobden states "In April, John Garbutt and James Garbutt, together with their uncle, Fred Ward, set in motion a brazen plan to steal a large number of horses". This is typical of the lack of care shown in this book. While Fred was originally charged with stealing the horses, because the police could find NO EVIDENCE to his involvement in the stealing of the horses his charge was reduced to "being in possession of stolen horses".

On page 11 second paragraph Jim states following the escape of Fred Ward and Fred Britten from Cockatoo Island "According to the story, Ward and Britton (on the next page he spells it Britain, both spellings being incorrect) travelling 76 miles, part of it in a cart, and then parted company, Ward to steal a horse and head for the Hunter Valley and eventually notoriety, Britton to disappear into the bush and reach the Victorian gold fields to continue his life of crime. " In fact Ward and Britten continued on together, to the Uralla area where they robbed Gostwyick Station taking food and a gun, then the next day together held up the stage coach at Split Rock (which later became known as Thunderbolt Rock) and Fred Britten alone was the one who shot at the police. It was this action which caused them to separate, as Fred Ward was always against the use of guns.

In Chapter 10 "Captain Thunderbolts Lady." Starting in the first paragraph he says "Fred Ward had a long and intimate association with Mary Ann Baker (nee Brigg)". A simple check of any other book written or of the BDM records No 1839/1494 V23A clearly shows her registered name was Mary Ann Bugg. Her Father was originally James Brigg but had changed his name to Bugg before Mary Ann's birth. At no time was her name Mary Ann Brigg. In the six pages of this chapter there are at least 18 provable errors. Firstly he continually refers to Mary Ann's father as James Brigg even though by the time Mary was born his name was registered as Bugg.

His judgmental statements like "Mary Ann gave herself unstintingly to her man. In return she received little. To her Ward was, by his very treatment, callous, selfish, inconsiderate and inhumane. What normal man would expect his wife to live under such appalling conditions as he provided?" are typical of his personal bias which he continues to show throughout this book. We are talking about the 1860's when many of our own families were living in similar conditions to Thunderbolt, not 1988 when the book was written. Mary Ann Bugg was aboriginal and she lived with Fred, in the open by choice, as the aboriginal side of her family had done for centuries.

When he uses statements like "He MAY (my emphasis) also have had her living with him at Mudgee for part of the time". There is no evidence that Fred lived with Mary Ann at Mudgee at this time & no other author makes such a claim. Hobden loses all respect as a possible historian in making such unprovable claims.

During my own research I have found that:- "During recent research into the life of Fred Ward, aka "Captain Thunderbolt", it would, appear that "Fred" was really the quintessential family man. On examination of the lists of crimes he committed, long periods of time went by when he appeared to be inactive. Researchers have never been able to account for these periods of inactivity."

In order to account for this time, I put the list of his crime dates and the his family's most important anniversary dates (Births, Deaths, marriages etc) together. This showed up some interesting facts previously unknown. The drowning of his Uncle George, in 1854 led to the beginning of his career as an outlaw. His family soon started targeting Tocal station to steal their horses in retaliation for George's death. It also became abundantly clear that Fred took time off from his career of Bushranging to look after his family, when his wife was pregnant. Prior to and after his second child Elizabeth Ann was born in West Maitland in 1864, there is a 12 month period of inactivity. When his third daughter Mary Ann was born at Wallabadah in August 1866 he took about 9 months off from being a bushranger. He was even known to have worked on a property to the west of Wallabadah township during that period, without being troubled by the police. This would make him the first Australian male to take "paternity leave", indicating his great love for Mary Ann." This is a far different person than the one described in this book.

Jim Hobden's attention to detail often leaves much to be desired. On page 53 talking of Will Monckton he says " After John Mason's arrest by the police in August, 1867, almost 6 months were to elapse before Thunderbolt again had a junior partener." He then goes on to say " Monckton's introduction to armed robbery occurred on Saturday, January 1, 1868." In fact this event took place on the 17 January, 1868 & January 1, 1868 was a Wednesday not a Saturday.

On page 98 He makes the claim that "Smith, of the property, "Combo" near Singleton, aided Fred Ward when he was in a difficult spot, and also gave him the splendid horse, Combo." The horse, Combo, in fact, belonged to Goonoo Goonoo Station near Tamworth, and was mistakenly left in a paddock with other horses which were set aside for Thunderbolt's use. Thunderbolt liked it so much he kept it. These are typical of the lack of attention to accurate detail throughout this book and makes his claim "to sort out the fact from fiction" at the beginning of the book totally unbelievable.

I could go on commenting on the many provable mistakes in this book but my comments and proof would take up as much room as this book did itself. This book has done nothing "to sort out the fact from fiction" but, Jim Hobden himself, goes on to add many more unprovable myths and questionable material for future historians to sort through. Much of what he has written shows his own personal bias and has nothing to do with facts.

In some ways this book is well written but the continued bias shown and the many glaring mistakes so detract from the book that it I would not recommend it as an addition to your library. If you do wish to purchase the book, it can be purchased from McCrossins Mill Uralla.