Outback Graves Markers

John Francis COLBERT

Burial Location:Ord River (Old) - Permission required to visit  (details...)
Occupation: Station Book-keeper
Place of Death: Ord River Station
Date of Death: 11 October 1943
Age:72 years
Cause of Death:Coronary Sclerosis
OGM Ref#: 0059
Headstone:OGM Aluminium
Monument Style: Outback Grave Marker
This is a photograph of the Newspaper Article of Claudette Colbert, daughter of the deceased.

Newspaper Article of Claudette Colbert

This is a photograph of Hollywood star, Claudette Colbert, daughter of the deceased.

Claudette Colbert

0059

0059

This is a photograph of plaque number 59 for John F Colbert at Old Ord River Station

Ref 0059 John F Colbert Old Ord River Station

Biography

He was buried by H Gibbs. Witnesses present at the burial were Norman Weiman, F Williams and J Hollander. Death was certified in writing by Police Constable John Frederick Bond (Regimental No.1468), Halls Creek. His headstone states his age at 71 years. It is believed that he was once a mining engineer and the father of film star, Claudette Colbert. Confirmation of this was given, it was said, when some years earlier he was seriously ill in Perth and he gave Claudette as his next of kin. She apparently confirmed that her father was in "mining in Australia".

John Colbert, a dapper, charming personality, turned an active brain to mining engineering in Victoria in the latter years of the last century. His studies later took him to America, where he graduated from Montana Mining school, worked on many of the States' notoriously rich mineral fields and ... eventually married. One year later he quit
America and went to Paris, where a child was born.  Her name was Daphne Colbert.
Two and a half years after the birth of the little girl, John Colbert and his wife parted. They never saw each other again.  Neither had John Colbert since set eyes on the daughter he was certain was CLAUDETTE COLBERT, the Hollywood actress known the world over.
John Colbert, on leaving France, came back to Australia and after sharing the fortunes and misfortunes of the mining market, he headed north for the cattle country round Wyndham.
Mr Colbert, speaking to the Sunday Times newspaper, said, "About four years ago I was ill in the St. John of God Hospital, and I sent a cable to Hollywood. CLAUDETTE answered and said her father was an Australian mining man. When I went back north, I wrote her and I got a reply confirming what she said in her cable. She was vague
about everything, but she was certain about her father being a mining man and an Australian."
Whether his only wife married again, Mr. Colbert, of course, could not say as he had heard nothing from her since he left France. It was likely, he thought, however, that she and the baby went back to America. He wanted his wife to come to Australia and she refused. He could not persuade her to return to Australia with him so he went without her and without his child.
Marriage Details:Unknown
Children:Film Star, Claudette Colbert ... ?
Birth Details:Circa 1870
Death Certificate:5/1943, District Kimberley Goldfields