William H Aldwell, 1916–1931 (aged 15 years)
- Name
- William H /Aldwell/
- Given names
- William H
- Surname
- Aldwell
| Birth | 1916
40
38 |
|---|---|
| Death of a brother | Stanley A Aldwell 20 July 1930 (aged 14 years) JUGULAR SEVERED Detonator Explodes SYDNEY, Monday Stanley Aldwell, 22, together with two station hands, was experimenting with gelignite in an old tank, some distance from his residence at Jugiong, near Yass, yesterday, when a detonator went off prematurely, some of the fragments striking Aldwell in the neck and cutting clean through the Jugular vein. When carried back to his home he was in a critical condition and he died soon afterwards. Mudgee Guardian, Monday 21 July 1930, p. 2. Stanley Aldwell Death Gulgong News DEATH FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT Mr. Stanley Aldwell, brother of Mr. Leslie Aldwell, of Gulgong, and son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Aldwell, of Merriwa, was killed in a motor accident, in a southern part of the State, on July 20. Deceased was 21 years of age. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 24 July 1930, p. 17. Stanley Aldwell Death Playing with Gelignite. Young Man Killed Near Jugiong. A sad happening occurred at Widgeongully, near Jugiong, on Sunday afternoon, when Stanley Arthur Aldwell was accidentally killed by an explosion of gelignite. Constable Davis deposed: Have known Stanley Aldwell about 2½ years. He resided with A. Gambell, of Jugiong. Last saw him alive on afternoon of 19th instant, when he was in good health. From information received from Allan Jeffrey, went to Widgeongully and there saw the body of deceased. Examined the body and found deceased dead. Found a small punctured wound in the left side of the neck, but no further marks of violence. Deceased was 21 years of age, and had been a good living, steady young man. He was working for the McLean Construction Company, in connection with the Jugiong water scheme. Took the body to Mrs. Gambell's residence The accident occurred about 4½ miles from Jugiong. William Gambell deposed: Have known deceased about two years, and he resided with my mother for about 18 months. Last saw him alive yesterday afternoon. Was with deceased and Allan Jeffrey yesterday afternoon out shooting, and letting off gelignite. Allan Jeffreys and I got the gelignite from one of the pipes near Bradley's camp. Also got some caps and fuse. The three of us went together to an old tank near the river, and put a plug of gelignite with a cap and fuse attached into the tank, and deceased lit the fuse. We then went away about 60 yards to see the gelignite go off. When it went off deceased put his hands to his neck and said something had bit him. Went over to him and saw blood rushing out. Put my hand to the wound to stop the flow of blood. Deceased walked with Jeffrey and me about 100 yards and then said, "Let me get down till the giddy feeling fit goes off." He then said, "Let the blood go." I still kept my hand on the wound, but deceased appeared to get weaker and weaker. Jeffrey went and got some water, but deceased could not drink it. Jeffrey then went for help and came back with Constable Davis. Deceased was then dead. Deceased was a sober young man. His parents live at Merriwa. Knew gelignite was a dangerous explosive, but we all thought we were safe where we were standing. Allan Jeffrey deposed: Last saw deceased alive about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, 20th inst. Was with him and William Gambell on Widgeongully Station, we were letting off gelignite. Gambell and I got the gelignite from Bradley's camp, also caps and fuse. We placed the plugs of gelignite in an old tank near the river and fixed the cap and fuse to the gelignite. Deceased lit the fuse and the three of us walked away about 60 yards, and watched the gelignite go off. After it went off deceased put his hand to his neck and said something had hit him. He pulled his hand away and blood rushed out. Gambell then put his hand on deceased's neck and tried to stop the bleeding. Deceased then walked with Gambell and me about 100 yards, when deceased said, "Leave me alone and let the blood flow." He first said, "Let me lie down till the dizziness goes." He collapsed then. Went down to the river and got some water in my hat. Deceased could not drink any. He was coughing and spitting up phlegm. Went over the river in a boat to get help from a house there, but no one was at home. Then went to Jugiong and informed Constable Davis. Went back with the Constable and found deceased dead. Dr. Byrne deposed: Examined the body of Stanley Aldwell, shown to me by Constable Davis. Found a wound in the left side of the neck at the level of the thyroid cartilage, about an inch and a quarter from the middle line of the neck. It was roughly circular, and about a third of an inch in diameter, and could be caused by a piece of sharp material striking deceased's neck. In my opinion death was due to hemorrhage from the wound in the neck. It could have been caused by a piece of metal being ejected by the explosion of the gelignite referred to by the two previous witnesses. The Coroner found that in accordance with the medical testimony and evidence that deceased died from hemorrhage caused by the wound in the neck, brought about by the explosion. Gundagai Times, Friday 25 July 1930, p. 2. Stanley Aldwell Death |
| Death | 25 October 1931 (aged 15 years) FATAL INJURIES William Aldwell, 14, victim of the blasting powder accident at Merriwa on Sunday last, died in hospital, and was buried on Wednesday. All business houses were closed during the funeral. Maitland Daily Mercury, Thursday 29 October 1931, p. 7. William Aldwell Death MERRIWA TRAGEDY. Death of "Billy" Aldwell. From the time the young sufferer was taken to the hospital everything possible was done, but the doctor held out little hope of saving his life. On Tuesday morning, however, he seemed to show a slight improvement, and it was thought the unfortunate lad had a fighting chance of recovery. The improvement proved only temporary, and the patient gradually sank and died just before 7 o'clock on Tuesday night. The sad occurrence has caused quite a gloom over the town and district, where the family is widely known and highly respected, and much sympathy is expressed for them in their hour of sorrow. Their grief is the more poignant, owing to the fact that it is barely 15 months ago when an elder son lost his life in similar tragic circumstances. "Billy," as he was popularly known to his wide circle of friendly, was a general favorite with all. He was of a bright and cheerful disposition and unassuming character. Possessed of a good voice, he was a valued member of Holy Trinity Church choir and, it will be remembered, had acted and sang with much success in the C.W.A. pantomime some months ago. Practically throughout his suffering, Billy was fully conscious and was able to converse with the members of the family and bore himself bravely. THE FUNERAL. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon. The remains were taken from the hospital on Tuesday night to the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. Townsend, and from there to Holy Trinity Church on Wednesday afternoon. Relatives of the family acted as pall-bearers, and the cortege was preceded by the pupils of the public school, where deceased was a pupil. Arriving at the church the children formed up on either side of the church entrance, paying a last sad tribute to their popular school mate. The church was filled to overflowing. Rev. C. Stretch read the burial service, and later officiated at the graveside, a large number of mourners being present. There were many floral tributes. As showing the esteem in which the Aldwell family is held and the sympathy expressed for them in their sorrow, all the business places of the town closed during the time of the funeral, and the flag at the school was flown half-mast. The shire was represented at the funeral by the president (Mr. A. M. Jennings), the clerk and engineer also being present. The hearts of the whole community have been touched by the particularly sad and tragic happening, and we join in extending our sympathy to the bereaved. Muswellbrook Chronicle, Friday 30 October 1931, p. 2. William Aldwell Obituary |
| Powder | 29 October 1931 (4 days after death) FATALLY BURNED POWDER EXPLOSION On Sunday afternoon last William Aldwell, aged 14, was playing with some blasting powder at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Aldwell, Muswellbrook road, Merriwa, when it suddenly exploded. The explosion ignited the boy's clothing, and before the flames were extinguished he was severely burned. He was admitted to the Merriwa Hospital in a critical condition. Aldwell's younger sister, Eunice, who was with him at the time of the accident, had a very narrow escape. Despite the most careful and skilled attention, the unfortunate boy died on Tuesday last. We extend our sympathy to the sorrowing parents. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 29 October 1931, p. 9. William Aldwell Powder Note: The youth, William Aldwell, who was fatally injured at Merriwa, owing to the explosion of some blast… The youth, William Aldwell, who was fatally injured at Merriwa, owing to the explosion of some blasting powder, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Aldwell, who are well known to many in Mudgee. The lad tried to ignite the powder with a match, and then ran away. Thinking the match had gone out, he returned, and was stooping over the powder when it exploded. An elder brother lost his life in a similar way about a year ago. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 29 October 1931, p. 8. William Aldwell Powder |
| father | |
|---|---|
| mother | |
| elder brother | |
|
4 years
elder brother |
|
|
4 years
elder brother |
|
|
2 years
elder brother |
|
| sister |
Private
–
|
| himself |
| Death | FATAL INJURIES William Aldwell, 14, victim of the blasting powder accident at Merriwa on Sunday last, died in hospital, and was buried on Wednesday. All business houses were closed during the funeral. Maitland Daily Mercury, Thursday 29 October 1931, p. 7. William Aldwell Death |
|---|---|
| Death | MERRIWA TRAGEDY. Death of "Billy" Aldwell. From the time the young sufferer was taken to the hospital everything possible was done, but the doctor held out little hope of saving his life. On Tuesday morning, however, he seemed to show a slight improvement, and it was thought the unfortunate lad had a fighting chance of recovery. The improvement proved only temporary, and the patient gradually sank and died just before 7 o'clock on Tuesday night. The sad occurrence has caused quite a gloom over the town and district, where the family is widely known and highly respected, and much sympathy is expressed for them in their hour of sorrow. Their grief is the more poignant, owing to the fact that it is barely 15 months ago when an elder son lost his life in similar tragic circumstances. "Billy," as he was popularly known to his wide circle of friendly, was a general favorite with all. He was of a bright and cheerful disposition and unassuming character. Possessed of a good voice, he was a valued member of Holy Trinity Church choir and, it will be remembered, had acted and sang with much success in the C.W.A. pantomime some months ago. Practically throughout his suffering, Billy was fully conscious and was able to converse with the members of the family and bore himself bravely. THE FUNERAL. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon. The remains were taken from the hospital on Tuesday night to the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. Townsend, and from there to Holy Trinity Church on Wednesday afternoon. Relatives of the family acted as pall-bearers, and the cortege was preceded by the pupils of the public school, where deceased was a pupil. Arriving at the church the children formed up on either side of the church entrance, paying a last sad tribute to their popular school mate. The church was filled to overflowing. Rev. C. Stretch read the burial service, and later officiated at the graveside, a large number of mourners being present. There were many floral tributes. As showing the esteem in which the Aldwell family is held and the sympathy expressed for them in their sorrow, all the business places of the town closed during the time of the funeral, and the flag at the school was flown half-mast. The shire was represented at the funeral by the president (Mr. A. M. Jennings), the clerk and engineer also being present. The hearts of the whole community have been touched by the particularly sad and tragic happening, and we join in extending our sympathy to the bereaved. Muswellbrook Chronicle, Friday 30 October 1931, p. 2. William Aldwell Obituary |
| Powder | FATALLY BURNED POWDER EXPLOSION On Sunday afternoon last William Aldwell, aged 14, was playing with some blasting powder at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Aldwell, Muswellbrook road, Merriwa, when it suddenly exploded. The explosion ignited the boy's clothing, and before the flames were extinguished he was severely burned. He was admitted to the Merriwa Hospital in a critical condition. Aldwell's younger sister, Eunice, who was with him at the time of the accident, had a very narrow escape. Despite the most careful and skilled attention, the unfortunate boy died on Tuesday last. We extend our sympathy to the sorrowing parents. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 29 October 1931, p. 9. William Aldwell Powder |