Annie Rixon, Harold White and Captain Thunderbolt
Captain Thunderbolt : 1951 film | 1968 documentary | Annie Rixon | Copyright | Historical References | Mary Ann Bugg | Script |
Abstract: Annie Rixon (Annie Louisa Studdert) was the author of a controversial book on the Australian bushranger Frederick Ward, also known as Captain Thunderbolt. It presented information by Ward's colleague Edward Monckton and the claim that the person shot by the police on 25 May 1870 was not Ward but his associate Albert Blake. Initially published in 1903 under the pseudonym Douglas Pratt, a reprint appeared in 1948 under Rixon's own name. The latter edition was subsequently used as the basis for the 1951 Australian film Captain Thunderbolt and a 1970 television documentary. A collection of items in the Harold White Papers at the National Library of Australia provide a brief account of Rixon's association with the books, film and the documentary. In regard to the latter, her copyright permission was obtained post-production and under duress.
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Introduction
On 16 July 2025 the writer received a query from a friend regarding the contents of a folder labelled 'Thunderbolt' in the Harold White Papers collection at the National Library of Australia. It read as follows:
Harold White was National Librarian from 1947 to 1970, and even when he retired he maintained an active involvement in its affairs. There’s all sorts of strange stuff in his private papers that never ended up on official files, but why would these be there?
The papers included seven items related to Annie Rixon (1886-1975), the Australian author of a controversial book on the bushranger known as Captain Thunderbolt. It was initially published in 1903 under the pseudonym Ambrose Pratt. A reprint appeared in 1948 under the Rixon name. In it she argued that Frederick Ward was not Captain Thunderbolt, but that it was actually Frederick Alfred Britten. The book subsequently formed the basis for the 1951 Australian film Captain Thunderbolt, produced by Associated Television Pty. Ltd. of Sydney. According to the Annie Rixon Papers catalogue entry in the State Library of New South Wales:
Anne Louisa Rixon was born 21 November 1885 at Spring Valley near Armidale, New South Wales. Her father David Rixon was a blacksmith, and in approximately 1860 he moved his family from England to New South Wales to work in the goldfields. Annie grew up on the family farm Hollybank near Guyra, and later trained as a nurse in Sydney.
Captain Thunderbolt operated in and around the Armidale area during the period 1863-70. The items in the 'Thunderbolt' folder comprised the following (arranged roughly chronologically):
- An undated newspaper clipping of a photograph of the side head view of a man - Albert Blake.
- An undated newspaper clipping of an image of the front-on head shot of a bushranger - Frederick Britten.
- The death certificate of Frederick Ward, 1935.
- A manuscript letter dated 1944 from Herbert J. Rumsey to Annie Studdert.
- A manuscript, 2 page letter dated 1952 from Alfred E. Stephen to Annie Rixon.
- An undated (circa 1970?) typed, 2 page account by Annie Rixon entitled The Rocky Road for the Author.
- An undated (circa 1970>) thank you note from Annie Rixon to Harold White.
Below is a transcript of the items and a discussion of their significance, expanding upon this brief description and outlining the material's relation to the 1951 Australian film Captain Thunderbolt and a 1970 television documentary on the bushranger.
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Transcriptions and descriptions
#1 - Undated newspaper clipping of a photograph of the side view of the head of a man - Albert Blake - shot and killed by police Constable R.B. Walker at Kentucky Creek near Armidale on 25 May 1870 purported by them to be Captain Thunderbolt.
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#2 - Undated newspaper clipping of a photograph of the front on head shot of bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, but inscribed in blue biro Frederick Britten.
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#3 - Death certificate of Frederick Ward, 1935.
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#4 - Manuscript letter dated 5 August 1944 from Herbert J. Rumsey to Annie Studdert reporting on family history aspects of Frederick Ward:
Herbert J. Rumsey F.S.G, (Lond.)
Genealogical Records
Australian Representative, Society of Genealogists, London
Lanark House, 146 - 148 Phillip Street, Sydney
Overseas Searches, Family Charts, Copies of Wills and Registrations
Aug 5 1944
Dear Mrs Studdert
I have succeeded in getting the information as to the death of Fred Ward. He was admitted to the Lidcombe Hospital & Home on 25/7/34 and died there 8/11/35. He came from ..... Hospital. His age at death was 94 years, his religion RC & place of birth, Flagstaff, Sydney.
His only known relative was sister Mrs Ward who then resided at 512 Woodville Road, Guilford. His death certificate would probably give no more information than the above but his birth certificate should show the name of his parents.
Yours faithfully
Herbery J. Rumsey
P.S. I went to Fort Street School with a boy named Ward whose father worked at the Flagstaff or Observatory.
See Reene records for Ward children (or grandchildren) of Michael and Sophia Ward of Wilberforce inside the old ...
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#5 - Letter from Alfred E. Stephen to Annie Rixon, 20 February 1952. With amendations by Annie Rixon (?circa 1970). :
G.P.O. Box 1158.
Sydney, 20 Feb. 1952
Mrs. Annie Rixon
Dear Mrs. Rixon
I was very interested to note that a new edition of your book on "Thunderbolt" has been lately published. I have been much interested in your book as I met William Monckton at the Conrad Mine at Howell many years ago, at which time my brother James was the Assistant Manager of the mine. Your book is a fascinating story and I think you have given good proof of the accuracy of the story, which is very romantic.
One thing I would like to know specifically is - who was the individual you term the "Pelican"? You have never identified him, as far as I remember.
After reading the book when first published, I thought the story would make a very good film, and I took some steps to that end, but the film-producing firm said that the police department would object to such a film as it would cast a reflection on the police of the time for not identifying correctly the man whom they stated was Thunderbolt, &c.
I should like to have a chat with you sometime about the matter. You book publisher gave me your address on my inquiry.
I have been Hon. Secretary of the Royal Australian Historical Society for a number of years, but I would like to do what I can to dispel any discredit regarding to the main fact of your book.
Hoping to hear from you soon,
Believe me, with my best regards, -
Yours truly
Alfred E. Stephen
P.S. You could get me on the telephone B.U. 1158 almost any morning before 10.30 a.m.
Son of the late Judge Stephen.
[Subsequent comment by Annie Rixon circa 1970?:
Mr Stephens came to my house the following Sunday and we discussed this story thoroughly. I told him the names of both the Pelican and black Harry, about which he was curious.
The new edition is very nicely produced but I have not read it through yet.
Annie Rixon, Studdert.
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#6 - Typescript of undated (circa 1970?) text entitled The Rocky Road for the Author, by Annie Rixon. NB: The text was roughly typed, with frequent use of capitalization and later typed inserts on the page. It has been edited here by the present author to enhance comprehension. No material has been deleted.
The Rocky Road for the Author. Annie Rixon
When Mr. A.G. Stephens was editor of the Red Page in the Bulletin years ago I was persuaded by a friend of his to pay him a visit. I had a writer's itch at that time, and still have.
He had an office in Rowe Street then. I saw him, was introduced by letter. I submitted a couple of items. He was helpful and told me to call again when I had some more material. After the third visit he gave his verdict.
"I can't advise you" he said staring at the ceiling. I waited, my heart sinking. Again he said, "I CAN'T ADVICE YOU."
"Isn't my work of value?" I gasped.
"Your work is full of action; the material that picture producers will want. IT WILL BE STOLEN" he said.
There was a long silence, then he said.
"How does this suit; I will write with you on a fifty fifty basis. What do you say to that?"
WHAT AN UTTER FOOL I WAS. I refused his offer. I want to be the BIG NOISE, all by myself. DID I LIVE TO REGRET MY STUPID DECISION.
It took me twelve year to collect the THUNDERBOLT STORY. I have written and written it six times. I have yet another edition ready right now, including a fine episode told me by an 82 year old lady whose Grandfather knew THUNDERBOLT well and should be written up and placed in every school in NEW SOUTH WALES.
Did you see The Documentary on CHANNEL 9, on TUESDAY MAY 26th .70.?. concerning the OUTLAW CAPTAIN THUNDERBOLT.
Believe it or not, my name was among the rest.
This is what happened previously. I live at LEICHHARDT, alone. At that time my two sisters were visiting me, but leaving in a short time.
There was a knock at the door. I answered. A youngish man was there said he was ALLAN McCULLOCH; he said that he wanted to make a documentary on the Bushranger THUNDERBOLT. He said that he believed that I had written the book on that subject, and asked would I allow him to use the story. I said No. He argued I still said NO.
I had been stung by the COLIN SCRUMGEOUR -- CECIL HOLMES = etc, people some years before.
My sister made morning tea in which our visitor joined.
Again he argued; why wouldn't I allow him to use that story. In any case he had the book. At last he took himself off.
I was happy to think I had my two sisters here, who left that day for their home, at Windang.
The next day ALLAN McCULLOCH returned with a document he had himself written, saying that I, ANNIE RIXON would allow my story to be used, etc, etc, which he asked me to sign. Again I said no.
McCULLOCH and another man had already made the documentary, a year before.
There was no mention of his Company paying for my story, though I was told that McCULLOCH had won the AMPOL AWARD of $5,000 a short time previously. He again argued and said that he had the old book, THREE YEARS WITH THUNDERBOLT, and would use it.
I told him that was mine.
I bought my story from MR W. MONCKTON who as a youth lived with the OUTLAW for three years; the book THREE YEARS WITH THUNDERBOLT was included in the deal.
I paid Mr W. MONCKTON £25 for that story.
I have had my registered COPYRIGHT CERTIFICATE ever since 1935. I still have the copy of that book, and it was I who took his photograph, taken at ARMIDALE after we had made the deal. TOM Monckton, his nephew, arranged the meeting.
(Tom died on Mar 1, this year, 70)
I told McCULLOCH all this, and he still wanted me to sign that document.
Then I got frightened. Here I was alone, some horrible things had happened to older people living alone. How did I know he was the person he said he was. His entry might be an excuse to get into my house. At last I signed the document. I wanted to get him out of the house.
As he rose to depart I said,
"HOW MUCH DO I GET FOR ALL THIS?"
"OH YOU'LL get your share he replied.
I asked him what was his address and he said something that sounded like the number I could not get. He was walking away with his back to me I thought he said Jersey St. PADDINGTON. I looked in the phone book but could not find it. I HEARD NO MORE.
THE THUNDERBOLT FILM WAS SHOWN ON CHANNEL 9 on the evening of the 26th of MAY 1970. My name was among those who had given permission.
AFTER FORTY YEARS HARD SEARCH
ANNIE RIXON
Mrs Rixon Studdert
34 MARY ST. LEICHHARDT. 2040. NEW SOUTH WALES. AUSTRALIA.
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WELL: WE'VE seen the THUNDERBOLT FILM and what a feeble thing it was.
FRED BRITTEN who loved to dance and sing, who was so courteous to all women; loved little children, and was respected even by certain member of the police force who might have earned big money by killing him. No woman had cause to fear him. White sheets were flow from the clotheslines to greet him; red blankets to warn him if Troopers were near. Once he was hidden in a Box ottoman, and nearly smothered, but was brought back to life with massage and a kitchen bellows. Once he was hidden up a chimney. Once a shepherd hid him in his dog box; the troopers came bu Thunderbolt crawled beneath their sheep bellies and was not seen. Next day the old shepherd helped him climb into a mistletoe where he hid. He was cared for by sleeper cutters, timber men. He went to rob the pub at CURRABUBULA, stayed nearly all night to dance & sing, was almost caught in a shepherd's hut, thought he'd end his life but the old shepherd's wife made him lie beside her and she passed him off as her very deaf husband. He joined the mob at BLANCH'S at KENTUCKY to celebrate QUEEN VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY and stayed to sing and dance all night. Found ALBERT BLAKE his step brother very ill and wounded; nursed him. Albert had been in DARLINGHURST GAOL for 7 years and was dying of consumption. Thunderbolt went with him to BLANCH'S to get provisions [and] met CAPISOTTI whom he robbed, but later returned the money. CAPISOTTI hurried to URALLA to tell Con Walker who sent a messenger on horseback to get Sgt MULJALL to help whose horse bolted at the wrong moment leaving WALKER to do the rest. He chased ALBERT BLAKE, shot him and then bashed in his skull. Walker was promoted and given the reward. BRITTEN'S friends sent him to AMERICA. He stayed five years. He returned, went with MONCKTON to see his own supposed grave; met his old sweetheart, now a widow. Was warned not to remain. Went back to AMERICA. Late died in CANADA.
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#7 - Undated (circa 1970?) thank you note from Annie Rixon to Harold White.
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Discussion
It would appear that the aforementioned collection of material was passed on to Harold White by Annie Rixon sometime around 1970. It concerns the ongoing controversy surrounding her book on Captain Thunderbolt and, due to the first-hand account therein by William Monckton, the assertion that the person the police claimed to have killed was not Frederick Ward - the real Captain Thunderbolt - but actually his off-sider Albert Blake.
In 2012 an article was published in the Journal of Australian Studies by archivist David Roberts and historian Carol Baxter related to the mystery around the death of Captain Thunderbolt. The abstract to that article reads as follows:
In March 2010, the NSW Legislative Council passed a remarkable motion demanding the release of archival records relating to the death of the bushranger, “Captain Thunderbolt”, who was shot by police in the New England (NSW) in May 1870. The interest in this 140-year-old episode from the colonial past reflects a suspicion that the police shot the wrong man in 1870 and that the colonial authorities engaged in a high-level conspiracy to conceal this from the public. More seriously, it has been alleged that the NSW government actively maintained a strict censorship over secret documents that reveal the true circumstances of the bushranger's death. Even more remarkable is the fact that the Legislative Council motion was employed to advance the claims made in an historical novel. This article considers the alternative account of Thunderbolt's death presented in Gregory Hamilton and Barry Sinclair's Thunderbolt: Scourge of the Ranges (2009), and investigates the allegations concerning the censorship of historical records in the service of an ongoing state and police conspiracy. We demonstrate that the case made in the novel, and promoted in the NSW Parliament, has been built on a misrepresentation of the nature and practice of state record-keeping in NSW. (Roberts and Baxter 2012)
The present writer is not aware whether the contents of the Thunderbolt folder in the Harold White Papers described above were included in any studies concerning Captain Thunderbolt prior to the writing of the present article in July 2025.
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References
Arnold, Vivian, The Man Called Thunderbolt [libretto], Wirripang, Wollongong,1988, 304p.
Baillie, Adam, Riding with Captain Thunderbolt, Scholastic Press, 2013.
Baxter, Carol, Captain Thunderbolt and his lady, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 2011.
-----, Bushranger Thunderbolt and Mary Ann Bugg [website], 2011.
Belshaw, Jim, The Making of Captain Thunderbolt, New England Story [blog], 13 August 2010.
Brouwer, David, Captain Thunderbolt: horse breaker to bushranger, CB Alexander Foundation, Tocal, 2005.
Butler, Eoin, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, the highwaymen who raised hell in New England (United States), The Irish Times, 28 January 2017.
Captain Thunderbolt [webpage], National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra, 2011.
Captain Thunderbolt, $2 coin, Cook Islands, 2003.
Couzens, Andrew, Cinematic visions of Australian colonial authority in Captain Thunderbolt (1953), Robbery Under Arms (1957) and Eureka Stockade (1949), Studies In Australasian Cinema, 10(2), June 2016, 1-13.
Danks, Adrian, Captain Thunderbolt, in Ben Goldsmith & Geoff Lealand (editors), Directory of World Cinema: Australia & New Zealand, Intellect, Bristol and Chicago, 2010, 25-26.
-----, Hard Labour: Cecil Holmes's Captain Thunderbolt, Senses of Cinema, 94, April 2020.
Death of Thunderbolt, the Bushranger, Evening News, Sydney, 28 May 1870.
Donaldson, David, Looking for Captain Thunderbolt (Cecil Holmes 1953), Senses of Cinema, 2014.
-----, Captain Thunderbolt film, Facebook, accessed 18 October 2023.
Hamilton. C. James and Barry Sinclair, Thunderbolt: Scourge of the Rangers, Phoenix Press, 2009. A work of historical fiction which suggests it is presenting a "true story."
Holmes, Cecil, One Man’s Way, Penguin, Ringwood, 1986.
Hobden, Jim, Captain Thunderbolt: The story of the notorious bushranger, 1988.
Jolly, Jane and Liz Duthie, Captain Thunderbolt's Recital, National Library of Australia, 2023.
Lambert, Anthony, The search for Captain Thunderbolt: An interview with David Donaldson, Studies in Australian Cinema, 5(1), 2011.
Milner, Lisa, 'We film the facts': the Waterside Workers’ Federation film unit, 1953 - 1958, PhD thesis, Communication and Cultural Studies Program, University of Wollongong, 2000.
Nelson, B.J., Captain Thunderbolt & Will Monckton, 2005, 155p.
Nelson, Jim. [The South Australian] Captain Thunderbolt, Campbelltown City Council, 2015.
Niland, Bed, The story of the Captain Thunderbolt statue in Uralla, Kangaroo Press and Uralla Multi-media, 2007.
Olivain, Claire, Magic and McCarthyism: The forgotten history of campus film societies, Honi Soit, University of Sydney, 9 November 2021.
Pike, Andrew, and Cooper, Ross, Australian Film, 1900-1977: A guide to feature film production, Melbourne University Press, 1981, 448p; second revised edition, Oxford University Press, 1998, 362p.
Pratt, Ambrose [Annie Rixon, also known as Annie Louisa Studdert], Three Years with Captain Thunderbolt, New South Wales Bookstall Company, 1905.
----- and Sydney Josephs, Thunderbolt [play], Royal Theatre, Sydney. Reviewed in the Sunday Times, Sydney, 15 October 1905.
Rixon, Annie [Annie Louisa Studdert], The Truth about Captain Thunderbolt, Australia's "Robin Hood", Sydney, 1940.
-----, Captain Thunderbolt, Edwards & Shaw, Sydney, 1948, 248p.
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| Annie Rixon 1948 |
Roberts, David Andrew and Carol Baxter, Exposing an exposé: fact versus fiction in the resurrection of Captain Thunderbolt, Journal of Australian Studies, 36(1), 2012, 1–15.
Schuttler, Brad, The Capture of Captain Thunderbolt: A Life of a Bush Ranger, Apple Books, 2022, 169p.
Shirley, Graham, Another important discovery in the search for lost films [Captain Thunderbolt 35mm trailer], National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra, 2010.
Smith, Jane, Australian Bushrangers: Captain Thunderbolt, Big Sky Publishing, 2014, 77p.
Studdert, Annie Louisa or Studdert, Mrs R. de Clare Studdert - refer under Rixon, Annie and Pratt, Ambrose.
Teasdale, Colin, Frederick Wordsworth Ward - Captain Thunderbolt: The Pirate, Publicious Pty Ltd, 24p.
The Bold, the Bad and the Ugly: Captain Thunderbolt & the Captain's Lady, $1 coil, Royal Australian Mint, Canberra, 2019.
-----, $1 counterstamp coin, Royal Australian Mint, Canberra, 2019.
Toohill, Trudy, The Reporting of Captain Thunderbolt the gentleman bushranger: His story in newspaper articles published from 1856 to 1941, 2016.
Vermont's Captain Thunderbolt: a mysterious school teacher with a secret past, History Today, n.d.
Williams, Stephan, A ghost called Thunderbolt, Popinjay, 1987.
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Captain Thunderbolt : 1951 film | 1968 documentary | Annie Rixon | Copyright | Historical References | Mary Ann Bugg | Script |
Last updated: 19 July 2025
Michael Organ, Australia
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