Outback Graves Markers

William ABDY (more)

Cause of Death: Chronic Nephritis, Myocardial degeneration

Mr Abdy is buried in Plot Number 236 of the Methodist Portion of the Wiluna Cemetery.

Lionel ABRAHAMS (more)

Cause of Death: Attack of Gastric

Mr. Abrahams had been in hospital for a fortnight, suffering from a very severe attack of GastriI, Ulcer and Gallstones and although everything possible was done for him, he succumbed to the illness. The deceased had spent many years on the fields at Lawlers, Sandstone and lately at Wiluna. He was of a kindly disposition and always ready to help at any function in any way he could. He will be missed greatly, especially at the kiddies' picnics, as he was always to the fore to boil the billy. The funeral the next day was largely attended, with a beautiful wreath made by the school children, presented as a token of sympathy from the State School. Mr. Abrahams' relatives were mostly residing in the eastern States, in Victoria and New South Wales, at the time of his death. Lionel's father was born in 1825 in Kent, England. He first married Malwina Eulalie Nathusius in 1854 in Melbourne, but not before they had started their family of nine children born between 1850 and 1865. Two years later, on 2 January 1856, he married Lionel's mother, Chana Hannah Sarah Levy, known as Hannah, and between them, they had a further eleven children between 1856 and 1875, of which Lionel was the second youngest. Interestingly, in those times when so many little children didn't survive childhood, only two children failed to thrive - one from the first marriage and the youngest one from the second marriage. Hannah died in 1896 in Carlton, Victoria, aged 74 years. Malwina died on 26 November 1896 in Collingwood, Victoria, aged 65 years. Yosef died 8 January 1898 at Carlton, Victoria, aged 73 years.

Arthur Adam ADRIAN (more)

Cause of Death: Fell from a Train

The deceased was an employee on a Public Works Department railway construction gang. On Thursday 11 February 1932, an inquest was held at the Wiluna Courthouse before the Acting Coroner, Mr J. E. Coombes to investigate the circumstances of the death of Mr Adrian, whose badly mutilated body was found on the railway line about 33 miles west of Wiluna on 6 February. Evidence given by several witnesses disclosed that the deceased was riding on a train between Meekatharra and Paroo and that he had left the engine to return to the brake van. Apparently, while walking along the footboards of the train, he fell between two trucks and was run over, his body being subsequently found some distance back along the line. The Acting Coroner returned a verdict that Arthur Adrian came by his death by being run over by a train near Paroo.

Peter McDonald AGNEW (more)

Cause of Death: Asthenia, Dermatitis & Cardiac Failure

This little boy was buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the Wiluna Cemetery - possibly plot number 159 but this could be in error.

The child's parents were married in Fremantle in 1933 (Marriage Registration 2700079/1933, Fremantle).  It is not known if there were other children born to this marriage.

Arthur Hilford ALEXANDER (more)

Cause of Death: Subacute Pulmonary Tubercolosis, Influenza

Also known as Jack Harris.

Arthur's father, William Harry Alexander, was born in Melbourne in 1875 (Birth Registration 8859/1875, Emerald Hill).  He married May Helford 8 April 1895 in Fitzroy, Victoria (Marriage Registration 3483/1895).  She was born 1883 in Richmond, Victoria. Their family of four daughters and five sons were: Violet born 1896 in Carlton; Arthur Hilford; Ronald McKinley born 1901 in South Fremantle (Birth Registration 2494.1901), died 1901 aged 10 weeks (named as Donald McKinley); Irene Mary born 22 January 1903 at Cottesloe Beach (Birth Registration 503/1903); Nathan Mitchell born 1905 at Buckland Hill (Birth Registration 1600028/1906, Claremont); Sydney Hilford born 1908 in East Fremantle (Birth Registration 2700626/1908, Fremantle); Grace Hilford born 1913 in Fremantle (Birth Registration 2700375/1913, Fremantle); Faith born 1915 in Fremantle (Birth Registration 2700082/1915, Fremantle).

Arthur was buried in Plot Number 342 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Wiluna Cemetery.

Allan McGregor ALLAN (more)

Cause of Death: Thirst and debility

The newspaper report read: Wounded in the arm while serving on H.M.S.Exeter in the sea battle with the Graf Spee, a young man named Allan is due in Australia soon.
He is coming out on a convalescing trip and to see his father, Allan McGregor Allan.
Allan senior left Wiluna on Tuesday to meet his son on the wharf.  He was riding a bicycle and carried a pint bottle of water.
But father and son would not meet at the dock.
Allan McGregor Allan was found dead from thirst on Friday morning, 8 March, 60 miles along the Sandstone road with an empty water bottle alongside his cycle.
Colonel W. O. Mansbridge, S.M., as Coroner, enquired on 12 March, into the cause of the death of Allan McGregor Allen, painter and signwriter of Wiluna, who was found exhausted on the Sandstone Road on March 7 and died a few hours after.
Following evidence of identification and evidence of finding deceased by the Costello brothers, Dr. A. Jenkins gave evidence that death was due to thirst and debility.
Victor Edward Horton, a draftsman employed by Wiluna Gold Mines Ltd., said that at noon on March 5, whilst driving from Perth, he met Allan pushing a bike about 40 miles from Wiluna on the Sandstone Road.  Allan hailed Horton and asked for water. Horton gave him several drinks and filled up his thermos and a lemonade bottle. Allan said he had camped the night before at a dry well. Horton advised him against continuing his journey but Allan persisted. He looked quite well at the time but was obviously not a bushman. 
The Coroner returned the following verdict:—  "I find that Allan McGregor Allan met his death on Wiluna-Sandstone road on March 7, 1940, from exhaustion and thirst whilst attempting to ride a push cycle over sand and spinifex country. No blame was attachable to anyone."

The deceased was buried in Plot Number 310 of the Church of England portion of the Wiluna Cemetery.

Charles ALLISON (more)

Cause of Death:

This gentleman died intestate with assets valued at under £2.

Talpa ASHWIN (more)

Cause of Death: Congestive Cardiac Failure

This Aboriginal lady was widowered in 23 August 1930 when her husband, Arthur Cranbrook Ashwin, died in Kalgoorlie (Death Registration 800136/1930, East Coolgardie), aged 79 years.  Arthur was born 12 November 1850 in Adelaide, South Australia.  In 1880, Arthur married Annie McDonald in Victoria (Marriage Registration 937/1880).  Two children were born to that marriage.  They were: Alfred Croydon born 24 July 1887 at Croydon, Victoria, and Mary Alice Susannah born 18 March 1889 at Croydon.

Talpa was buried in Plot 439 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Wiluna Cemetery.

William ATKIN (more)

Cause of Death:

In September 1894, the deceased was possibly at the IOU claim, according to a letter written by his cousin, Charles Atkin. He was mining at or near Black Flag throughout 1896; working with Charles' brother, Samuel Haman Atkin at Bonnie Vale in 1897, then at King Solomon mine in Coolgardie October 1897. The family have tracked him to possibly being at Lawlers in 1903 but by May 1908, he was deemed by his family to be missing, having been last known at Kohinoor Mine, Black Range (Kalgoorlie Miner, 12/5/08). By 1910, it appears he was at Kathleen Valley, some 45 miles north of Leinster and, four years later, at Lake Darlot. William was working with his brother, Louis, at the British King East Mine at Darlot, in 1914. Louis' death that year was particularly sad as it took his brother three days of travelling - 85 miles in a sulky - from Darlot to get him to the hospital in Leonora, where he died shortly thereafter, of pleuro-pneumonia (Leonora Miner, 21 February 1914). From this article it is presumed that the brother in question was William, as the other brother, Ernest, was at Wiluna not Darlot at that time.

In 1916, William was at Lawlers. At the time of his mother's death, in 1924, he was known to be at Wiluna where he died six years later. William's father, Samuel Atkin, was born in Timberland, Lincolnshire, England, in 1844. On 3 July 1856, he migrated from England, landing in Melbourne on 13 September 1856 on the "Almora". He was a farmer and married Elizabeth Maria Webb at Castlemaine, Victoria, on 7 March 1867. Their eleven children consisted of four girls and seven boys. William was their first born child. His siblings were: Susan Ann born 4 July 1870; Emma born 17 December 1873; Henry born 1 December 1875; Louis Henry born 23 July 1876; Ernest Samuel born 30 December 1878; Gertrude May born 3 May 1881; Samuel Foss born 1883, died 1884; Florence Foss born 19 March 1885; Charles born and died 1888; Ruby Constance born 10 December 1889; Clifford Vernon born 1893.

Elizabeth Maria died 26 October 1924 at Creswick North, Victoria. Her husband died there on 4 June 1926. William's sister, Emma, and brothers, Louis and Ernest, also came across to WA during the goldrush and made their homes here.

William is buried in Plot 60 of the Church of England portion of the Wiluna Cemetery.

Allan Murray AYLES (more)

Cause of Death: Crushed in Belting at State Battery

Ayles was caught in the driving belt of a Berdan pan at the state battery, Wiluna, and crushed. He had been employed at the State Battery for two months. His first wife died in May1913 and he remarried, his second wife bearing him two children. The deceased left an estate valued at £329 11s. 4d.

Gerhard BADER (more)

Cause of Death: Fractured skull

Mr Bader suffered a fractured skull as a result of a fall from a platform at the Wiluna Gold Mine.

Before Mr T. Ansell, coroner, on Thursday 17 June, an inquiry was held into the circumstances leading to the death of Gerhard Bader, who was killed on the surface on the Wiluna Gold Mines, Ltd., on 30th May.  Mr H. H. Carroll, manager of the mine, represented the company assisted by Mr T. A. Sargent, while Mr R. McMennimen represented the Mines Department and Mr S. Harvey watched the interests of the A.W.U. and relatives.
Constable Eaton said that he visited the Wiluna Hospital morgue on the 31st May and there saw a body of a male person afterwards identified as Gerhard Bader, whom he had known for the past twelve months. He had last seen the deceased alive at 1.30 am the day before when he appeared in good health. Bader was a native of Germany, a registered alien, and had been employed by the Wiluna Gold Mines, Ltd., as a mill hand. At 8.45 pm on the 30th May, he was informed about an accident on the mine and as a result, Bader was in the Wiluna Hospital. He afterwards visited the mine and viewed the scene of the accident and to make enquiries. The accident had occurred at the poppet head cracker platform. There were two platforms there, the first about twenty feet from the ground and the other ten feet above the first. The first platform was guarded by safety rails, the higher one is almost similarly guarded with the exception of a small opening in a corner. This opening has a girder running diagonally across it.  It would be possible for anyone to step through this opening.
On the first landing, he saw a large dry blood spot and also a blood stained skull cap nearby directly under the opening above. He examined the top landing and could see nothing that might trip anyone. This opening with the girder across, half closing the opening could not be considered dangerous, although it was possible for anyone to fall through the opening.
Dr E. E. Fletcher, medical practitioner, remembered the 30th May last when Bader was brought into the hospital suffering from a depressed fracture of the skull and was unconscious.  After treatment, he recovered partial consciousness but expired at 9 pm. The next day a post mortem was held and the conclusion was that the cause of death was due to the fracture of the right side of the skull with extensive lacerations of the brain substance. The injury could have been caused by the accident detailed to him. There were no signs that could be attributed to foul play.  There were no external wounds with the exception of a bruising over the right side of the head. The bone in the region struck may have been thinner than normally.
R K. Hymus, relief shift boss and flotation hand, said he was on day shift on the 30th May last and, at about noon, sent Bader to clean the loose stones about the cracker. The deceased had done this work before and appeared in normal health at the time and quite his usual self.  Bader never complained of the platform or railings at any time.
V. T. Vernon, miner, said he had been working underground on the 31th May and came to the surface at 1.15 pm. Groans were heard coming from the platform above the shaft and later saw a man there lying on his face trying to raise himself.  He went to the assistance of Bader, whom he afterwards recognised. On the side of the head of the deceased was a blue lump. A skull cap was seen on the platform. There was an iron plate nearby but apparently had not been disturbed. The services of the first aid man were obtained.
A McHugh, miner, supported the evidence of the previous witness with whom he had been working underground. He considered the deceased had fallen from above but had not seen him working there.
The court adjourned at this stage, on the request of the jury, to view the scene. The verdict was:— (a) That Gerhard Bader died at Wiluna District Hospital on 30th May 1943 from fracture of the right side of skull with extensive lacerations of the brain substance, which injuries were received when he fell from a platform in the poppet legs on the Wiluna Gold Mine on the same date.
(b) Death was accidental and no blame is attachable to any person.
The anti-fascist fighter Gerhard Bader was killed in an accident at Wiluna Cold Mines. Escaping from Germany when Hitler was coming into power, Gerhard had already helped many revolutionaries to escape. A short time after he arrived in Australia, he was interned by the Menzies Government, being in the same internment camp as George Ziebold. Released thanks to pressure from democratic sections of the community, he worked tirelessly for the release of many other anti-Fascist aliens.
Gerhard did not join the Communist Party because he did not wish to chance deportation. He was waiting anxiously for his period of five years residence to be completed (next Christmas) so that he could become naturalised and join up.  Though he was not a member of the Party, his whole life was dedicated to the cause of progress.
Those who knew Gerhard Bader could be proud of such a friendship

Caroline BAILEY (more)

Cause of Death: Craniotomy, Impacted brown presentation.

Robert Loverock Bailey and Minnie Bowers were married in Guildford in 1943 (Marriage Registration 6100109/1943, Swan).  Robert was born in 1914 at Day Dawn in the Shire of Cue (Birth Registration 4400106/1914, Murchison).  It appears that the couple may have had another daughter they named Carolyn Anne, who died 27 August 2005 but no further details are available.

Minnie died in Capel, near Bunbury, on 10 November 1979 (Death Registration 6600269/1979, Wellington), aged 71 years.  Robert died 23 June 2001 in the Shire of Capel.

George Alexander BAILIE (more)

Cause of Death: Explosive accident

Known as Skipper.
Mr. George Bailie, a popular employee of the Wiluna Gold Mines Ltd, and the victim of a recent explosive accident at the fracture room of the mine, died on the Monday night, after lingering for a week.  The late Mr. Bailie's injuries were of such a terrible nature that his demise was really a happy release.
Col. W. O. Mansbridge, S.M., Coroner, presided at the inquiry into the death of George Bailie, who died in Wiluna Hospital on 24 September, 1934, from injuries received at the Wiluna Gold Mines Ltd., on 18 September, 1934. The Coroner was assisted in his inquiry by Messrs. F. J. Horsfall, R. S. Webb and John Hamilton, as a Coroner's Jury.
Dr. H. D. Phipps was summoned to the Wiluna Gold Mine at 8am on 18 September.  He saw Bailie badly injured and transferred him to Wiluna Hospital where an examination showed that he was suffering from a lacerated face and nose, loss of right eye and a penetrating wound to the brain in the right frontal region. There were lacerations and puncture wounds of both hands and arms and of the body as low as the thighs. He was treated for injuries but died at 7.45 pm on 24 September. The piece of metal produced (a cap), came from beneath the skin of the left hand. The cause of death was a penetrating wound of the brain.
Ernie Roy Glover, a pipe fitter, employed on the Wiluna Gold Mine, said he was in the pipe fitting shop at 7.45am on 18 September, when he heard an explosion in the direction of the fuse room, about 250 yards away. "I joined in the rush towards the fuse or cap room, which was smoking and wrecked. It was a wood and iron building. On reaching the room someone said, "Old Skipper is still in there." I knew Bailie was working in the room. Les Braun and myself then entered the building to look for Bailie. Inside, I found Bailie on the floor, with the magazine door on top of him. His head was resting on a bundle of fuse and caps. He was bleeding all over the head. A great number of the caps were alive.
Bailie was unconscious and moaning, so Braun and I carried him out. There were several explosions of caps while we were inside the room and a few afterwards."
On Wednesday, 19 September, at noon, Bailie was questioned at the hospital by Mr. H. H. Carroll, in the presence of Col. W. O. Mansbridge, Mr. W Phoenix, Inspector of Mines, Sergeant Cooney and Constable Scott, during which he said he lit the fuse he was testing and next thing he knew there was an explosion. He did not know if there was a cap on the fuse. He was cutting long fuses, and had fuses and caps on the bench. He did not usually test fuses inside, but he sometimes lit them and threw them out the window.
"As fuses sometimes curl up, I may have capped both ends without knowing it. I did not notice any cap on the fuse I lit."
Bailie was conscious when admitted. He was mentally clear the next day, but lapsed from then on till he died.
After a short retirement, the jury returned the following verdict: "We find that the deceased, George Bailie, came to his death at the Wiluna Hospital on September 24 1934 from injuries received by an explosion of detonators (caps) at the Wiluna Gold Mines on 18th September 1934.  The explosion was accidental.  No blame was attributable to anyone." 
The jury added: 'We should also like Glover and Braun to be complimented on their action in rescuing Bailie from the building while detonators were exploding."

The deceased was buried in Plot number 150 of the Church of England portion of the Wiluna Cemetery.  His funeral was very large and well-attended.  

The deceased was well-known in Kalgoorlie where, for many years, he trained horses for Mr. H. E. Vail.
Presentations of The Royal Humane Society's awards were made to Messrs. E. R. Glover and L. Braun, employees of Wiluna Mines. These awards were for bravery at a detonator explosion on Wiluna Mines, when the late George (Skipper) Bailie was killed.
This was the third award to Wiluna mine workers, Mr. G. Harkness, having received recognition for carrying an injured work mate to safety during firing.

Female Child BAINBRIDGE (more)

Cause of Death:

This little girl was buried in Plot number 145 of the Methodist portion of the Wiluna Cemetery.

Her parents were married in Margaret River in 1932 (Marriage Registration 6000016/1932, Sussex).  In 1937, the couple lost a little boy, aged 3 hours.  His name was Matthew (Death Registration 4500013/1937, Wiluna) and he died at the Wiluna District Hospital.  His story appears in this website. 

In 1939, they lost a 3 year old boy named Noel (Death Registration 4500006/1939, East Murchison), also at Wiluna.  There were a further two boys and two more girls born to this couple.

 

Matthew BAINBRIDGE (more)

Cause of Death:

The child's father, George Dickinson Bainbridge, was born 13 November 1907 at Stanley On Crook, Durham, England. He arrived in Fremantle in August 1928 and married Minnie Chamberlain at Margaret River in 1932 (Marriage Registration 6000016/1932, Sussex).  Other children born to this couple were: an unnamed female stillborn at Wiluna in 1934, whose story appears in this website; Noel born 10 December 1935 at Wiluna, died 28 March 1939 at Wiluna.  There were two more sons and two more daughters born to this marriage, names unknown.

George Bainbridge died 14 July 1982 at Leederville.

His wife, Minnie, was born 17 September 1906 at West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England.  She arrived in November 1923 on the Balranald with her parents and siblings.  Minnie died on 23 April 1993 in Perth.