Under Siege: Francis Augustus Hare – The Man Who Caught Ned Kelly by S.P. Hare 208-Page Hardcover Book

Description

The Man Who Caught Ned Kelly

Hare was born at the Cape of Good Hope into a large military family and aspired to join the army. After failing to be accepted by the British East India Company, he sought adventure during the Victorian gold rush, eventually becoming an officer in the Victorian Mounted Police. He was posted to the northeast colony, where he gained fame for pursuing bushrangers such as Ned Kelly and Harry Power. His efforts to combat the Kelly gang included using harassment tactics and spies, notably Aaron Sherritt, whom gang member Joe Byrne murdered. Hare engaged the gang at Glenrowan, where he was wounded in a gunfight. Despite being exonerated, his reputation suffered after a Royal Commission, and his police career ended. He later served as a magistrate before passing away at his nephew’s home. Initially celebrated, recent portrayals cast Hare and the police in a less favourable light, in contrast to Kelly’s view as a social bandit.

Written by his great-great-grandniece, this compelling account uncovers the life of Superintendent Francis Hare—goldfields pioneer, mounted police officer, and key figure in the dramatic showdown with the Kelly Gang at Glenrowan. Drawing on family history, archival records, and Hare’s writings, Under Siege: Francis Augustus Hare sheds light on the man behind the uniform. From his Cape colonial roots to his role in shaping early Victoria, Hare’s story unfolds against a backdrop of ambition, duty, and public expectation. His story reveals not just a tale of bushrangers and bravado, but a complex portrait of loyalty, ambition, and personal discipline.

• Title: Under Siege: Francis Augustus Hare
• Author: S.P. Hare
• Extent: 208 pages
• Type: Hardcover
• Size: 148.5mm x 210mm
• Cover: Full-colour laminated dust jacket over navy blue linen hard case
• ISBN: 9781764357203
• Released: 2026
• Publisher: NCS Publishing
• Note: If you would prefer a signed edition by the author, please inform us during checkout under ‘additional information.’

Bonus: Every order receives a FREE Iron Outlaw Collector Card (series one, number one) and two FREE 36-page mini-mags by Chester Eagle, The Wars Were Over and The Armour on the life of Australian Son author Max Brown and Ned Kelly’s armour!