Noel Charles "Jack" Dwyer

There is an anomaly to this grave - the inquest into "Jack's" death I found is dated February 1927, but the inscription on the stone is a year earlier. It would not be the first mistake I've found on a gravestone.

Oamaru Cemetery.

INQUEST ON NOEL DWYER. 

(From Our Own Correspondent) TAPANUI, February 9. An inquest was held at Tapanui into the circumstances under which Noel Charles Dwyer met his death at the Tapanui racecourse on Wednesday, February 2, before Mr J. L. Wylie, acting-coroner, and a jury of four. Constables Blamires conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police. 

Edward John Dwyer, of Oamaru, labourer, said that he was the father of the deceased. Previous to seeing his son lying unconscious in the Tapanui Hospital, he had not seen him for five or six months, when he was quite well. He identified the body as that of his son, Noel Charles Dwyer. Witness said that he was not present at the race meeting when the accident occurred.

John Scott Edgar, of Tapanui, blacksmith, said that he was an official of the Tapanui Racing Club, and was on duty at the club’s race meeting on Wednesday, February 2, at 4 p.m., and was on the course as patrol steward at the turn going into the straight. The horses in the race were bunched. It was the fifth race. Coming to the corner four riders were calling to another to keep out from the rails. The rider who was addressed did what he was told, and went out a reasonable distance, and passed the field by half a length. He then made for the rails across two horses that were leading. The accident happened simultaneously; the horse fell, unseated his rider, recovered himself, and went on with the rest of the horses. Witness said that he saw the rider lying on the ground, and went over and realised that he was seriously injured. He lifted deceased’s head off his arm to let him breathe more easily. Witness was inclined to think that the horse crossing had something to do with the accident. He was not prepared to say what caused the accident. The horse that passed could have got into the rails. The horse that deceased was riding was in the middle of the group when the accident occurred. 

James Alexander Rowland, trainer. East road, Invercargill, said that he was present at the Tapanui Racing Club’s meeting on February 2. The deceased was apprenticed to him, and had been in his employ for five years. He witnessed the accident, but could not say how it happened. He saw just a cloud of dust and the horse come down. He then rushed over to the scene of the accident. Deceased was riding Mr J. R. McMurray's horse Ace of Hearts in the fifth race. Deceased came to the meeting with him with the idea of riding his horses only. Dwyer was engaged to ride Ace of Hearts at the meeting. The deceased was a thoroughly experienced rider and horseman in every way, and witness was positive that it was through no fault of his that the accident happened. It might have been an accident such as the horse crossing its legs. He could not speak too highly of the boy’s horsemanship, or the boy either; he neither drank nor smoked. 

Dr William Robertson, of Tapanui, stated that he was present at the race meeting and was called to the deceased when the accident occurred. When he reached the boy a few minutes after the accident he was unconscious, and witness immediately took him to the Tapanui Hospital He was unconscious right up to his death. The cause of his death was a fracture at the base of the skull, also laceration and contusion of the brain. He had no other injuries. 

The jury’s verdict was that the deceased met his death as the result of an accident on the Tapanui racecourse on February 2 and upon the evidence supplied no blame was attachable to anyone. The jury passed a vote of sympathy to the deceased’s parents, relatives and employer.  -Otago Daily Times, 10/2/1927.