Streets of Bunbury

HENRY EAGLETON READING (1844 - 1913)

Henry Eagleton Reading was best known as the owner and editor of The Southern Times - the third  newspaper to be published in Bunbury. Later, he also owned and published The Blackwood Times and The Collie Miner (reference). Furthermore, Henry also heavily contributed in many other ways to the community and the progress and development of Bunbury at the turn of the 20th century.

Early Life

Henry Reading was born to Henry and Elizabeth (née Eagleton) Reading in Rugby, Warwickshire in 1845 and was the second eldest of eight children (reference).  His younger brother, William, migrated to Western Australia in 1871 when he was 20 years old to live with his mother’s eldest sister, Sarah (nee Eagleton) and her husband Benjamin Piggot who were farming at Binningup (reference). Meanwhile, Henry stayed in England and built a substantial career there before migrating to the colony. He started work at the London and North Western Railway as a cadet where he was known for his thoroughness and application to his work. He then worked his way rapidly up the ranks of the railway before leaving to become manager of the West Cannock Colliery Company. Following this, he moved jobs to become manager of the Cannock and Rugeley Colliery Company which was one of the top collieries in England at that time. However, being the father of sons,  he decided there might be more opportunities for the family in the growing colony of Western Australia (reference). 

Western Australia

Mr and Mrs Reading and their three older sons arrived in Western Australia on the Helena Mena in 1887 and Henry lost no time in establishing a grocery store on the corner of Lamb and Lake Street, Perth. One of the feature products was Bunbury butter (reference). However, this venture was short lived as in 1888, the family moved to Bunbury which was closer to his brother and his Aunt’s family (reference). The youngest son, John, was born in 1891 in Bunbury (reference).

Bunbury

The Readings initially moved into Birmingham House in Victoria Street where they also operated their business.  By 1895, they had moved to “Field Place” which was originally the home of Dr. Lovegrove and then a grammar school for young ladies run by Mrs Charles Rose. (reference, reference, reference). “Field Place” was a large house situated on 5 acres of land which is now occupied by the Bunbury Primary school (reference, reference ). The Readings  lived there until 1910 and made good use of the property during their tenancy. In 1905, they opened their house and gardens and provided refreshments to around one hundred guests after the laying of the foundation stone of Bishop’s Court and in 1906, they successfully entertained over sixty Goldfield’s children who were holidaying in Bunbury, for an afternoon of games in their gardens (reference, reference).  The Readings also invited visiting sporting teams home for meals and in 1907, the military inspection of the No. 2 Squadron Light horse including their formation work, was conducted at Field Place (reference, reference). The Readings left Field Place in 1910 and returned to Birmingham House when the property was purchased by the Church of England for a Girl’s Grammar School and then later it  became St Clair’s Hospital (reference). 

During his time in Bunbury, Henry ran several successful businesses and was also heavily invested in the community.  As he said of himself:

“As a journalist, it was his duty to watch and study the place, and no one was more willing to advance the interests of Bunbury than himself. “ (reference)

Business

General Store

Henry Reading’s first venture into business at Bunbury was a general store in Birmingham House, Victoria Street. Birmingham House, according to a history by George Withers, was originally Canberra House and may have been renamed Birmingham House by Henry Reading as the shop advertisements included information that Henry was ‘formerly from Birmingham’ (reference, reference).  In June 1888, the Southern Advertiser announced:

“That Bunbury is going ahead is evident by new blood coming into the place, a new store was opened in Victoria Street where all kinds of Grocery, Drapery and Ironmongery can be purchased at a very low price, and some of the new articles we have seen are exceedingly useful and ornamental, especially some newly designed fancy pins, needles and buttons imported direct from the manufacturers. The proprietor is Mr. H.E.. Reading, formerly of Birmingham,England.” (reference).

Opened in late May, 1888, the store initially advertised a variety of goods including food, haberdashery, clothes, hardware and seeds (reference, reference). However, over the years, the business branched out into other areas. Henry obtained a gallon license to sell liquor and was the sole agent in Bunbury for the Swan Brewery (reference, reference, reference). He was also an agent for the Imperial Fire Insurance Company and sold passenger tickets as an agent for the Bunbury Royal Mail Coaches  (reference, reference). 

In 1892, the store was the first to bring their closing hours in line with those of Perth. They were closing at 6pm every day apart from Wednesday when they closed at 1pm and Saturday at 9pm (reference). 

At the end of 1892, Henry announced that he was intending to add the three eldest sons to the business which would then be known as Reading and Sons (reference). 

In 1896, Henry ordered an ice machine and, after much delay, it arrived in time for ice to be sold in the spring/summer season of that year (reference, reference).

Sometime in 1902, advertisements began to appear for H.E. Reading and Son’s Stationery shop. Items in stock included hymnals, novels, and magazines. This seemed to be a separate business venture to the general store (reference).

Newspaper Publisher

A month after opening the general store,  Henry purchased the business of Mr Frank Ashwell who had begun publishing the second newspaper in Bunbury, The Southern Advertiser, the year before. The first newspaper was established by Andrew Stirling, nephew of Sir James Stirling, former Governor of the Colony of Western Australia and Dr Allen who, in 1843, established the “Leschenault Sunbeam”, a small monthly handwritten sheet with an equally small circulation, which didn’t last long (reference)

The last issue of The Southern Advertiser was published on the 21st August 1888 and Henry began publishing his new newspaper, The Southern Times the following week (reference, reference). Fifty years later, George Reading, Henry’s second son, recalled this first edition:

“The production itself was a small four column-page paper, printed by hand upon an Albion

press - it had no pretensions other than "it is hoped that this modest issue of today will lead

to great good in the Southern districts” (reference).

The Southern Times was the only Bunbury newspaper until 1902 when The Bunbury Herald commenced publication. Although the Herald was in direct competition with the Times, when their printer stopped working in 1906 as they were about to go to press, Henry generously printed the edition for them and his eldest son, also Henry, went  over to their office with the Times machinist and worked for several hours to fix their printer. When reporting this, the Herald stated:

“The kindness and courtesy of our contemporary in this matter will not soon be forgotten.” (reference). 

The Southern Times served Bunbury for 28 years with the final issue dated 30 December, 1916 (reference). It eventually merged with the Bunbury Herald to become The South Western Times (reference, reference).

Mr Reading and Sons also began two other newspapers during this time. The first, The Collie Miner, which began in 1900 was a weekly publication costing threepence, and covered the Collie District. (reference, reference). At the time, it was the only newspaper serving the Collie District but in 1908,  it was joined by the Collie Mail. This publication suffered a series of adverse events. First in 1909, the editor and manager of The Collie Miner, Mr Arthur Borkwood, who was also the Mayor of Collie, was found guilty of theft from his employers (reference). Secondly, a competing newspaper, the Collie Mail began publishing in 1908 and attacked the Miner as not being a newspaper that promoted Collie’s interests and was also hypocritical in that it published opposing points of views between the Bunbury and Collie papers (reference). Thirdly, in 1914, a fire destroyed the office of the Collie Miner along with several other shops owned by the Readings (reference). Finally in 1915, the company temporarily suspended publication of the Collie Miner due to a depression in Collie and it was never lifted (reference). Also, at that time, the Collie Mail claimed it had a circulation three times that of the Miner (reference)

The other paper owned by the Readings was The Blackwood Times, started in 1905, which  covered Greenbushes, Bridgetown and the Nelson district (reference, reference). This was initially managed and edited by George Reading (reference) but in 1910, when Henry became ill, George returned to Bunbury to run the business there and Jack, the youngest son, took over the Blackwood Times (reference, reference). When the Readings started The Blackwood Times, another newspaper, The Blackwood Chronicle, was already serving the area but was having trouble staying afloat. George was approached by investors who asked if he was interested in purchasing the Blackwood Chronicle plant as they were about to seize it and dispose of it due to lack of payment. George eventually accepted the offer even though he had no immediate use for the plant but was accused of trickery and attempting to seize control of the Chronicle. (reference, reference). The Blackwood Chronicle continued as a separate paper until 1907 when it was absorbed by The Blackwood Times (reference). The Blackwood Times continued to be published until 1955 but it was taken over by new interests in 1930 (reference). 

Printers

As printing was required for the newspaper business, Henry also ran printing businesses in the districts where his newspapers were published. This was well utilized by the council and other organizations in the district (reference, reference, reference, reference).

When the company put on a printing display for the Wesleyan Floral and Industrial Exhibition in 1901, the judges awarded the display a special merit and commented that the display:

 “showed some very superior workmanship, equal to anything of the kind that could be turned out of any metropolitan printing office.” (reference)

Aerated Water Works

At the end of 1892, Henry started a steam aerated water works in Birmingham House. It was the second aerated water works plant in Bunbury but, as Henry explained at the opening of his plant, he had ordered his machinery prior to the other business opening but it arrived later. However, he believed there would be enough business for both plants and expressed hope that they both went well. Henry went on to say he had procured the aerating plant for his second son, William, who was not of the best health (reference). 

The Southern Times also operated out of Birmingham house and later, George Reading recalled:

 “the printers and writers being expected to give a hand at bottling and corking lemonade, ginger ale, soda water, etc, when the newspaper work was slack.”(reference)

When the Early Closing Act came into existence for liquor outlets, there was controversy on whether or not this applied to bottling plants as well. In Bunbury, the Readings successfully established that it did not. Following this, George Reading became a witness  for the Collie aerated water and bottlers who were arguing the same in the Collie Courts (reference).

The Aerated Water Works was closed down around 1910 as evidenced by an article in the South Western Times in 1917.  This article took issue with a Sunday Times report about a journal in Bunbury where:

“the staff manufactures lemonade and newspapers as part and parcel of the day's work”

by pointing out that the Aerated Waters had already  been closed for around seven years at that stage (reference). Then in 1916, Thos. Stokes & Co. advertised that they had purchased the stock of branded bottles from H. E. Reading and Sons (reference).

Community

Henry was heavily committed to the community of Bunbury and actively participated in or supported a vast array of organizations and events that promoted positive outcomes for the people of Bunbury.

Church

The Reading family were staunch members of the Church of England (Anglican) and rented a pew for at least 18 years (reference). He also donated the stained glass windows and decorations for the pro cathedral (reference). Henry was first elected to the vestry in 1889 taking on the position of church treasurer (reference, reference). In 1893, he became church warden for the then resident priest, Rev. Marshall and later in that year, Henry was elected to replace Mr Stafford as a synodsman to represent the Bunbury parish  (reference, reference). The following year, 1894, he became the people’s warden and in that capacity became involved in confrontation with Rev. Marshall over the use and recording of the offerings (reference, reference). Henry retired as people’s warden in 1896 and due to this conflict did not attend St Paul’s for some time (reference, reference). The Bishop didn’t support Henry’s objections, but the financial situation with Rev. Marshall became worse (reference, reference). In 1897, when he was proposed again as people’s warden, Rev. Marshall would not accept the proposal but the people voted for Henry without a proposal (reference). Rev. Marshall resigned soon after this meeting and Henry's appointment was confirmed at the next meeting  (reference).   He also took on the role of church nominator after Rev. Marshall left (reference). Henry’s antagonism towards Rev. Marshall did not extend to his replacement,  Rev. Orchard, as, in 1898 he wrote a letter to the West Australian supporting him against criticism that Rev. Orchard had received while serving the Dongara Parish (reference).  After this, Henry served in different positions in the church including as a lay representative on the Synod along with John Forrest in 1899 (reference). 

Henry was also quite ecumenical. He donated printing costs to the Sisters of Mercy Concert for the Indian Famine and also organised  a combined church meeting in 1910 (reference, reference).

Civic Duties

Henry was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1898 and regularly served on the District Court until at least 1911 (reference, reference). 

He was also appointed to the Liquor Licensing Bench in 1908. At the time this appointment was controversial because, as the Bunbury Herald stated, 75% of the mineral waters bottled at the aerated waters plant was with licensed vendors and many of the advertisements in his newspapers were from publicans. As well, he had only recently been an agent for the Swan Brewery and all these together could lead to bias in judgment. The weekly Perth newspaper The Truth, was more abrasive, labelling Henry as a: 

“dreary groper who has rusticated in the Birthplace for many years” 

Before concluding with:

 “Now, Reading is appointed to sit and decide whether his customers should have more opposition,or whether his customers' places are FIT FOR LICENSED PREMISES, and many other points in connection with licensing affairs. Until only recently Reading was also an agent for bottling Swan beer. Surely it is manifest that a man so closely allied with the trade is not quite a fit and proper person to act as member of a Licensing Bench.”  

However, in a letter in he Herald, the author pointed out that Henry had a:

 “high sense of justice” 

and would not have accepted the appointment if these things had been pointed out to him prior to this. (reference, reference, reference)

Henry did serve on the licensing bench for the next few years until illness intervened, without his judgment being questioned, so we can presume his links with the trade did not come into play.

In 1908, Henry was nominated to receive postal votes along with several others in Bunbury. He, along with others around the state, resigned from this duty the following year due to a memorandum sent out by the chief electoral officer threatening fines and penalties for mistakes on those that took postal votes. Henry was of the opinion that:

“ the imposition of a fine or penalty upon an honorary officer was both absurd and ridiculous.” 

According to Henry every postal vote recorded:

“occupied at least a quarter of an hour often at most inconvenient times.”

and while he was happy to donate his time:

 “he certainly was not prepared to undergo the possible indignity of official reproof or fine for any informality that might creep in” (reference, reference).

Wellington Agricultural and Other Societies

Henry joined the Wellington Agricultural Society in 1888 and reluctantly became the President part way through 1901 (reference). Even though he was not an agricultural person, he was re-elected again for the next two years - firstly for his hard work and second due to the results he had achieved. The Society was struggling to pay outstanding accounts when Henry first became president but after two years, it had paid off all its debts and had a healthy balance (reference, reference). Also, having a non-agricultural President had shifted the focus of the show to be more inclusive of the townspeople (reference). The third year, the show was extended to two days which resulted in:

“success beyond anticipation” 

and record breaking crowds (reference). After the third year as President, Henry stepped down but he continued to serve on the committee and in 1937, he was remembered as one of the people that had contributed to the progressive development of the show (reference, reference).

As President of the Agricultural Society, Henry showed a close interest in the different types of farming that could be done in the area. In particular, he wrote to the Minister of Lands to inquire what was being done in regards to cultivating artificial grasses in the area knowing it was of particular importance to the south west (reference). In 1902, he also chaired a committee to organise a display from the district at the National Show of Produce. This entailed liaising with the railways to ensure the produce could be transported without damage (reference).

Henry was appointed a judge at the Bridgetown show in 1896 and also at the Wildflower Show in 1900 (reference, reference). He became involved with the Wesleyan Floral and Industrial Society in 1889 after being elected one of their Vice Presidents and in 1901 he became one of their patrons (reference, reference). In 1905, he was also elected Vice President of the Collie Agricultural Society (reference).

The Chamber of Commerce

Henry was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and was Vice President in 1900 (reference). Through his membership, he became involved in aspects of development in  the town.  He was active in the forming of the Bunbury Tourist Association in 1901 and was an inaugural Vice President as well as the convener of the association’s advertising committee  (reference, reference). 

In 1899,  Henry and Ephraim Clark were appointed by the Chamber to interview the Commissioner of Railways in regards to railway timetables being implemented that were more favourable to Bunbury and other towns in the south west and in 1901, he approached the Railways Acting Manager in regards to excursion trains to Bunbury over summer (reference, reference). Problems with railway timetables arose again in 1907 and Henry was part of a delegation to the Premier to discuss this. He was very forthright when meeting the Premier saying the alterations to the time table were “scandalous” and saying:

 “This line was built to serve the people of the South West, not for Perth.” 

Further to this meeting, Henry drafted a timetable that would be of most benefit to both Bunbury and the surrounding towns and presented it with other councils to get a consensus. He and others finally went again to the Premier and reached a compromise  (reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference).

Henry was also an advocate for establishing the Sailor’s Rest moving that the Chamber support it and also donated free advertising to it over the years (reference, reference).

Town Development

Henry Reading was also involved in other areas of Bunbury’s development.

These included:  

• advocating for the South West Railway and other local railways; 

• meeting with the premier in 1901 with a view to building railway repair shops in Bunbury; 

• being in a deputation to the Premier in 1908 about  harbour improvements (reference); 

• being involved in the opening up of the Collie Coalfields and independently researching supplying electricity to the town (reference, reference, reference, reference) 

Other

Henry actively participated or contributed to many other town organisations and events.

He was the secretary of the Wellington Political Association for several years  (reference, reference, reference) and was the inaugural President of the Bunbury Progress Association (reference). In 1897, he was part of a committee formed to organise celebrations for the Queen’s Jubilee and in 1898, had a part in establishing an infant’s school in South Bunbury (reference, reference, reference). In 1902, he helped in forming the South Bunbury Football Club and became one of their initial vice presidents (reference, reference). 

In 1904, he was on a committee to form a town band, for which he had advocated many times in his paper.  Following this, he helped organise a band competition which became an eisteddfod held during Easter of the following year (reference, reference, reference, reference).  He also helped organise the Christmas Sports Carnivals for several years and several other major events (reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference).

In 1905, he and others promoted the commencement of evening classes in Bunbury (reference) and in 1911, he helped raise funds for Frank Blythe who had a severe illness (reference, reference).

In 1912, Henry collected funds to erect  a memorial over the grave of Florizel Lamming, a young local heroine who had died trying to save the life of her friend (see biography here). He also pursued recognition for her bravery from the Royal Humane society resulting in a posthumous Certificate being awarded and presented to her parents (reference, reference, reference).

This summary of Henry’s involvement in Bunbury is by no means comprehensive but does show his commitment to the community of Bunbury in which he chose to settle after leaving behind a successful career in England.

Personal Life

Henry had several personal interests aside from his busy schedule of business and community involvement. He bred homing pigeons and with his wife bred prize winning turkeys, ducks and geese (reference,  reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference). 

They also won prizes for vegetables and herbs of various kinds they had grown (reference).

In 1911, there was a special display of six giant onions that were grown at their residence in Victoria Street. Together, the onions weighed just over six kilograms with the largest weighing 1.3 kilograms. They also grew some large Delaware potatoes of which the largest weighed almost one kilogram (reference). 

In 1910, Henry was seriously ill and his son George passed the management of The Blackwood Times to his youngest brother Jack and moved to Bunbury to take over The Southern Times from his father (reference), Henry slowed down with commitments after that but in 1912 he was confined to bed for over three weeks due to recurring leg problems (reference).   

In late September, 1913, Henry contracted a severe case of pneumonia (reference). The family were summoned, and while he improved a little, he didn’t recover and died at Birmingham House in the morning of the 10th October. In his obituary, it stated:

 “To those who had the privilege of his acquaintance in private life he had a sweetness and charm of disposition given to few men to possess. His mind ever ran to thoughts of charity in his references to others, and he had a personal fascination out of the ordinary.” (reference)  

Family

Mrs Reading

Mrs Reading was born Elizabeth Gallamore Albutt Pearson in 1846 (reference). Like her husband, she also involved herself in the Bunbury community.  She was active in St Paul’s Church Ladies Guild and was Vice President in 1903 (reference). She was also Vice President of the Bishop’s Resident Fund committee in 1904 (reference). Elizabeth Reading was also called on to present  prizes at schools and fetes and, of course, with her husband, held several large functions at her home (reference, reference, reference, reference, reference, reference).

Mrs Reading had very good success with poultry breeding and her geese and Aylesbury ducks were especially noteworthy. In a report of 1908 Bunbury show it stated that:

  “in geese and Aylesbury ducks Mrs H E Reading carried all before her with birds that would take prizes at any show in Australia.” (reference). 

Following this, the Government poultry expert, Mr Robertson also singled out Mrs Reading saying she bred “very fine Aylesburys” (reference).

After Henry died, Mrs Reading took her son, George, to court in 1914, in an attempt to procure a bill of sale of the business that was handed over to him by his father prior to Henry’s death, in exchange for an annual annuity to his Henry and Elizabeth. She wanted to do this to guarantee the annuity would be paid even though George had offered other ways to guarantee the annuity which, even Mrs Reading’s solicitors had thought reasonable. It was noted that when the business was transferred, it was not the will of his late father that this course be pursued. After negotiations, George was able to guarantee the annuity by releasing to his mother a life insurance policy for ₤150 that was being held as a guarantee for the business (reference, reference). 

In 1917, Mrs Reading sued George again as he had stopped paying maintenance of ₤25 a month when the business had been floated into a company. George showed that the business had been in difficulties at the time of purchase and he had still managed to pay ₤1360 up until the end of 1916 as well as providing the house rent free for his mother to live in and while George had asked for some consideration due to the war, she was uncompromising. The judge dropped the maintenance to 10 shillings a week and Elizabeth was advised to approach her other sons for maintenance before returning to court  (reference).

Elizabeth died suddenly on the 13th February, 1924 (reference). She was 78 years old and was living in North Perth at the time. She was buried at Karrakatta cemetery in the same grave as her granddaughter Viva Reading - the infant daughter of  youngest son, Jack. Later Jack, his wife Maude and their other daughter Vida were also interred in the same grave (reference).

Children

Henry and Elizabeth had four sons: Henry Fredrick William Reading (b.1869); William James Reading (b.1872); George Eagleton Reading (b. 1874); and John Forrest Piggott Reading (b. 1891). 

Henry was very proactive in ensuring  his sons were established. As already stated he came to Western Australia because he thought there would be more opportunities for his sons, he formed a company with the older three in 1892 and he purchased the aerated water plant for his son William, who was not in the best of health. 

Henry Frederick William Reading

Henry was born in England and educated at King Edward’s School, Birmingham. He was apprenticed as an engineer to marine and torpedo boat engine makers, Messrs. Bayliss, of Birmingham before coming to Western Australia with his parents. He initially worked in the family business but eventually settled at Birchlands, a farm, at Newtown (Vasse) near Busselton. He was a member of the Nelson Agricultural Society and was also on the Sussex Roads Board. Henry also played the organ (reference).

Henry married Mary Forrest in 1899 and they had six children - two boys and four girls. Henry died in 1918 after a protracted illness when he was  49 years old. (reference, reference, reference)

William James (Tony) Reading

William was born in England and came to Western Australia at the end of his secondary education. He was not in the best of health as a young man and his father purchased the aerated water plant for him to run as a business because of this (reference). William, however, joined the West Australian Bank in 1894 rather than continue with this business (reference). William was a musician and was secretary of the Trinity College of Music in Bunbury (reference). He also joined the Congregational Church in 1899 to become the church organist and continued there until he left Bunbury in 1915 (reference, reference). He was also the organist at the North Perth Congregational Church for twenty seven years (reference).

William married Rose Teede in 1903 and they had five children - three girls and two boys.  Their two sons, Len and Eric, both served in World War 2 . After Bunbury, William and Rose settled in Subiaco (reference). William died in 1944 at his daughter’s home in Elgin, near Capel. He was 72 years old (reference, reference).

George Eagleton Reading

George was born in England and came to Western Australia while still a boy. After his father died, George stayed in Bunbury and took over the newspaper and printing business. During those years, the business expanded to two new newspapers - The Manjimup and Warren Times and The Harvey-Murray Times. He gave up his interest in the newspaper business in 1939 (reference). 

After retiring from active journalism, George became the Managing Director of Eastern Traders which had timber concessions in Borneo and he travelled extensively through Asia in this capacity (reference, reference).

Like his father, George was a community minded man. He was president of the Wellington Agricultural Society for many years  and he was elected Mayor of Bunbury three separate times Through his office, extensive municipal works were implemented including a Beach Improvement Scheme that gave Wellington Street access to the Beach (reference). 

George was a member of the Country Party and ran as a candidate for the legislative council in 1922 (reference).

George married Mena Doust in 1908 and they had two children - a girl and a boy. George died suddenly of a heart attack at his residence in Spencer Street in 1947 when he was 73 years old.(reference)

John Foster Piggot (Jack) Reading

Jack Reading was born in Bunbury where he attended school and later at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide (reference). Like his older brother William, Jack joined the staff of the Western Australian Bank and was posted to Bunbury in 1910 (reference). However, due to the illness of his father, he then took over management of The Blackwood Times from his brother, George, in the same year (reference).

John was charged with forgery in 1912 and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment (reference). It is unclear if he served the sentence, but he had moved to South Australia by the time World War 1 commenced (reference).

As a young boy, Jack was a talented shooter and won prizes in cadets and competitions at the rifle club (reference, reference). He enlisted for service in South Australia for World War 1 and attained the rank of Lance Corporal. He was one of the first to land at Gallipoli and as he said in a letter to his mother about the first day after landing:

 “That day I lived a charmed life. Nearly every fellow, with the exception of Sergeant Pearce and myself, within view, were either dead or wounded". 

The next day, however, Jack continued in his letter, he was not so lucky: 

“I lasted till two o'clock, when I got a bullet through my ankle. All of our stretcher bearers by this time had been shot dead, and so I had to crawl back on to the beach on all fours. This took me three hours. When I reached the beach was I thoroughly exhausted, but, fortunately, I was shortly afterwards put on board a barge and towed to the battleship "London," where my wounds were dressed” 

He was transported to hospital in Alexandria, Egypt where septic poisoning set in (reference). 

After being hospitalised in Britain and Malta, he was declared unfit for service and returned to South Australia near the end of  1915 (reference, reference). 

On returning to Western Australia, Jack joined the staff of the Fremantle Harbor Trust in 1916 and continued working there for the rest of his life.

In his later years, Jack gained an avid interest in horticulture, particularly in the cultivation of dahlias (reference). He was regarded as an expert and, for several years, contributed gardening notes to The Daily News under the pseudonym “Help-All” (reference). 

Jack married Maude Williams, a Victorian girl, in 1916 (reference) and they had three daughters, one of whom died in infancy (reference, reference). John died in 1929, after undergoing a serious operation from which he never recovered (reference). He was 38 years old.

Researched by Gaye Englund for Streets of Bunbury