At the time of his death at just 23, he was the most infamous criminal in Australia, a one-time member of Ben Hall’s gang with the notorious Frank Gardiner. Gilbert had come to Australia from his native Canada with his uncle in search of gold.

In 1864 he’d shot a police sergeant during a robbery of the Gundagai Mail and a thousand pound reward was placed on his young head. After a tip-off from an accomplice, Gilbert was surrounded by troopers but lost his final gunfight. The tale is told in several folksongs, such as Ben Hall: With twelve revolving rifles all pointed at his head…Where are you Gilbert? where is Dunn? he loudly did call.

Johnny Gilbert was usually described as an intelligent and educated man, nicknamed Happy Jack because he was always laughing. He is remembered as a “splendid horseman, a deadly shot, always polite to women and of irrepressible good humour and witty speech.”