5781 Private William Edwin Eason, (1915-9/12/1941). "struck by a torpedo"

William Eason was taken prisoner in Libya by axis forces and posted as "missing" that December. He was loaded with other prisoners on the SS Jantzen to make the journey to Italy. The Jantzen was not flying a flag to show it carried prisoners and was therefore a legitimate target for the submarine HMS Porpoise.

On 8 December a large draft of 2100 had left on the Jantzen, an 8000-ton cargo vessel, with rations sufficient for the 36-hour dash across to Italy. In the middle of the next afternoon, just off Cape Methoni, near Pilos on the south-west coast of the Greek Peloponnese, she was struck by a torpedo in one of the forward holds. Five hundred or more of the prisoners packed there were killed, and the hatchboards falling in with men lying on them killed others as they crashed below. As soon as they had recovered from the shock of the explosion, men rushed to the decks up ropes or still usable ladders. The rugged coastline of Greece could be seen a mile or two away with heavy seas breaking on it, lashed by a bitterly cold wind.

The Italian captain and crew had taken themselves off in two of the three lifeboats, the other having capsized in launching, and some of the men jumped overboard in an attempt to swim to the shore. Nine New Zealanders reached one of the boats, which eventually made a nearby uninhabited island where they spent the night, and they were taken over to the mainland next day. Fifteen got away on a raft they had managed to launch, but more than half of these died of exposure. Meanwhile a German naval engineer had taken control of the ship, explaining to those on board that the engines would still go and that there was a good chance of reaching safety. He ordered everybody aft in order to keep the weight off the damaged bow and organised rescue parties to bring up to the officers' quarters the injured from the lower decks. Although the wind and sea were still strong, the ship was brought in stern first and beached about 5 p.m. broadside on to an open piece of coast. In spite of the bitter cold many now swam the remaining fifty yards to the shore, and when darkness fell many others made their way to safety along ropes secured to the rocks. Next day dawned fine, and those still on board came off in the remaining lifeboat or on stretchers slung to the ropes. A check made later showed that a little over two-thirds of the British prisoners had survived, the remainder (including 44 New Zealanders) having perished either in the explosion or in the events which followed.  -"Prisoners of War" - NZ Official History.

News was slow to make its way from Africa and Europe to New Zealand, through official channels and the Red Cross. In February, 1942, William was reported as "prisoner, previously reported missing." In September of that year William's status changed to that of "missing, previously reported prisoner of war." In May, 1943, he was "missing believed drowned (previously reported missing)."

I have been unable to find printed confirmation of William's death. It must have been an agonising wait for his family.

Otautau Cemetery.

411233 Flight-Sergeant James Douglas Gould, (17/3/1921-11/7/1942). "fit and well"

Sergeant James Douglas Gould, who is reported to be fit and well after participating in the recent raids on Cologne and Essen, was born at Otautau 21 years ago, and attended the Otautau school and the Southland Technical College. After leaving school he was employed by his father, a contractor in Otautau, with whom he worked till the time of his enlistment in the early stages of the war. Sergeant Gould was mentioned in a Press Association message from London describing the exploit of one plane attached to the New Zealand Bomber Squadron in shooting down the first Nazi night fighter claimed by the squadron this year.  -Southland Times, 12/6/1942.

James Gould was reported "Missing on air operations" the following month. On the night of July 10th, 1942, James was part of the crew of a Wellington which took off for the island of Borkum in the North Sea. The plane was lost without any trace of it or its crew.

Otautau Cemetery.

Eric Francis King, (1904-14/1/1941). "pinned under the running board"

FATAL CAR ACCIDENT

MAN KILLED NEAR LEE STREAM 

When a car driven by Geoffrey Farrell went over the edge of the road near Lee Stream yesterday afternoon as the result of a tyre blowing out, it plunged about 100 feet down a bank, and a passenger, Eric Francis King, a married man about 36 years of age, who was employed as a sawmill hand at Otautau, was killed. 

The deceased had been staying at the Clark’s Junction Hotel, and he had accompanied the licensee (Mr Farrell) to Outram. It was when they were returning shortly alter 5 o’clock that the accident happened about two miles on the north-west side of Lee Stream. Farrell escaped with bruises. An inquest will be held.  -Evening Star, 15/1/1941.

LEE STREAM FATALITY

CAR CAPSIZES ON ROAD 

DEATH FROM ASPHYXIA 

The adjourned inquest into the death of Eric Francis King, sawmiller, of Otautau, who was killed when a car in which he was travelling from Outram to Clark’s Junction capsized near Lee Stream on January 14, was resumed before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., as coroner yesterday afternoon. Detective Macdonald Brown conducted proceedings for the police. 

Medical evidence relevant to a post mortem examination was given by Dr E. E. D’Ath, professor of pathology at the Otago University, who expressed the opinion that death followed upon asphyxia, while Jeoffrey Farrell, licensee of the Clark’s Junction Hotel, detailed a blow-out to a tyre of the car he was driving, the car going over the bank. Deceased was pinned under the running-board. 

Evidence was also given by Martin Keen, who happened to be driving over the road in question shortly after the accident, and by Constable Phillips, of Mosgiel. 

The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death from asphyxia on January 14 on the Outram-Middle-march road when he became pinned under the running board of the car following its capsize.  -Evening Star, 1/3/1941.

Otautau Cemetery.

Irvine (1898-9/12/1930) and Lancelot (1911-20/1/1931) Clark. "heard a shot"

MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY.

DEATH OF IRVINE CLARK

RIFLE ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED.

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Irvine Clark, who was accidentally shot while deerstalking on the Billow Mountains, was held at Otautau on Friday before the Coroner, Mr E. C. Levvy, S.M. 

Thomas Clark, brother of deceased, stated that in company with another brother, Lancelot, he went deerstalking on the Billow Mountains on Tuesday. Deceased was carrying a .303 rifle, and a pack on his back, and was going down a rocky face when witness heard a shot go off. He was walking in front of his brother, who was carrying the rifle with the stock in his hand and the butt first. Deceased called out that he was shot, but could not tell how it happened, as his rifle was not cocked. They eased him down the slope about 400 yards to level ground. He was bleeding badly, and they washed him. Witness found two wounds in the leg and later another in the abdomen. He stayed with his brother while Lancelot went for assistance. Deceased died the same evening about half past ten. His brother had not returned, and was not able to get back until Wednesday morning with a party accompanied by a doctor. They stayed until the following night, and went to Monowai about 6 p.m. on Thursday, arriving at Otautau the same night. When the doctor arrived at the camp he said that he could not possibly have done anything for him, and there was no hope of his recovery. He and his brothers were accustomed to deerstalking. It was not customary to carry the rifle the way his brother had it, but it was a bad place. 

Lancelot Clark, another brother, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, and detailed the steps he bad taken to procure assistance.

Constable O'Shea gave evidence that Thomas Clark reported to him that Thomas Clark reported to him that while on a shooting expedition with his brothers on the Billow Mountains a shooting accident had occurred in which his brother, Irvine, received bullet wounds from which he died about 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday. He viewed the body on Friday morning, and from what he was told there were two wounds in the leg and one in the abdomen. The doctor's report was not yet available, but he had ascertained that the wounds received were sufficient to cause death.

The Coroner found that deceased died on December 9 from shock and severe gunshot wounds in the abdomen and left thigh which were accidentally sustained by the deceased when his rifle slipped from his hand and fell and in such fall was discharged.  -Western Star, 16/12/1930.

OBITUARY.

Lancelot Clark. 

Residents received a shock to-day, when they learned of the sudden passing of Lancelot, youngest son of Mr and Mrs David Clark, King Street, Otautau, in the Riverton Hospital, at the early age of twenty years. Lance left on Saturday with some mates to spend the weekend at the seaside. He took suddenly ill and was taken to receive medical attention. Th patient did not improve and he entered the Hospital on Sunday seriously ill. It appears that while working at his home last week, he ran a manuka splinter into his finger. This was withdrawn and the injury treated, and it was only during the week-end that complications set in, resulting in his death this morning. It is only a few weeks ago that Lance was compelled to undertake the arduous journey from the Billow Mountains to obtain help for his injured brother. 

Of a kindly, genial disposition, he was a general favourite with everyone and will be a much-missed citizen of this Town and District in which his parents have resided for more than a quarter of a century. He was born at Groper's Bush and continued his secondary education at the Southland Boys' High. School. Of late years he has been contract working with his father in this district. He was a keen sport, a good footballer, and enthusiastic member of the local club. Another of his pursuits was deer stalking and pig shooting, and, with his brothers, has undertaken many adventurous trips into the unsurveyed areas bordering the cold lakes. The sympathy of a very wide circle of friends is extended to his sorrowing parents and relatives. The funeral takes place to the Otautau (new) cemetery on Thursday at 2 p.m.  -Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, 20/1/1931.

Otautau Cemetery.

23/422 Rifleman Thomas Scott Findlay, (6/6/1894-15/9/1916). "a genral favourite"

RIFLEMAN T. S. FINDLAY. 

Rifleman Thomas Scott Findlay, missing since September 15, is a son of Mr and Mrs John Findlay, of Orawia, and is in his 22nd year. He is a native of Oreti Plains and attended the Mcrrivale and South Schools. When he enlisted in the first battalion of the Rifle Brigade, Toni, who was of a generous, happy-go-lucky nature and a general favourite, was engaged in farming.

Thomas Findlay served with the 1st Battalion of the NZ Rifle Brigade and set off with them over no-man's-land during the Battle of the Somme.  They faced fire from field and machine guns and reached that day's objective at a high cost in casualties.

Thomas was killed on the 15th and has no known grave. His death was established by a Court of Enquiry.

Otautau Cemetery.

John Leonard Gutschlag, (1914-5/5/1927). "a dangerous condition"

OTAUTAU NOTES

INQUEST ON MOTOR VICTIM. 

An inquest into the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of John Leonard Gutschlag, who passed away through being run over by a motor lorry, was held at the Otautau Courthouse on Friday last, before Mr John Fisher (Acting Coroner) and a jury. 

Evidence was given by August Gutschlag that deceased who was his son, was aged 13 in April, and was attending the Otautau School. 

Dr. W. B. Reekie said he had an urgent call to Mr Sinclair’s shop on Wednesday, and found the boy was suffering intensely from injury and shock. He was pulseless, and witness concluded he was in a dangerous condition. After giving him an injection, with good results, he examined him and found that the superficial injuries consisted of gravel rash on the face, and extended gravel rash on his right side. The boy was suffering from a fractured pelvis, which he thought was broken in two places. There was also an extensive deep bruising of the left groin. He considered the cause of death was intense shock (induced by badly fractured pelvis) causing heart failure. 

Owen Gallagher, fruiterer, who had a shop adjacent to where the accident took place said he was inside his shop about 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday and distinctly heard the horn of the motor lorry going continuously as it was coming out of the right-of-way at Keith’s hotel. He also heard the school children passing the front door. The lorry must have been travelling very slowly, as the horn was sounding for some time in the right-of-way. 

James Thomson, a schoolboy, said that along with Gordon Bone and deceased, he was going home from school. They had got as far as the baker’s shop, when deceased ran back to Matheson's for a message. On coming out again he started to run, and he did not see him again until after the accident. 

Allan Maxwell, another schoolboy who saw the accident, said he heard the horn of the motor lorry sounding as it was coming out of Keith’s right-of-way. He saw deceased run into the door of it and fall or slip under the inside of the left hand back wheel, which went over him. 

Basil Cussen saw the lorry coming on to the footpath just as deceased ran past and was close to the right-of-way when he ran into the door, and slipped and fell under the lorry, the back wheel passing over him. The Rev. Snell picked him up immediately after the accident. 

Frank Thomson stated that he was just going to warn deceased when the lorry came between, and he ran into it. The lorry was going at a walking pace. 

The Rev. L. J. B. Snell said his attention was drawn to the lorry on the day in question, which was coming out of Keith’s right-of-way, and was making a good deal of noise. The way was clear in front when he glanced at the lorry. He was on the opposite side of the road, and heard a scream, and when he looked he saw the boy underneath the lorry. He ran across and carried him into Mr Sinclair’s shop. He afterwards went for the doctor, who ordered the boy to the hospital. The lorry was appearing on the footpath when he saw it, and was making a great noise. 

Charles Renowden, lorry proprietor, Otautau, stated he had delivered some travellers’ samples at Keith’s rooms. On coming out of the right-of-way slowly, and about two chains from the entrance he noticed school children passing. The lorry was in second gear, and he kept sounding the horn every few yards. He blew the horn again when the front part of the lorry was coming on to the footpath and looked right and left. He felt a slight bump as he left the foot, path and heard the boys calling to him. He was surprised the boy was run over, as the way appeared clear. He had been driving a lorry for six years and had never had an accident. He was driving much slower than five miles an hour. From the right hand driving seat he could not see a boy hitting the lorry behind the door of the cab. 

Evidence was given by Constable Moore that the accident had been reported by Renowden, who had given a statement and produced his license. He had known Renowden for four years, and considered him to be a competent driver. He had also obtained a statement from the boy after the doctor had examined him.

The jury returned the following verdict: “That deceased, John Leonard Gutschlag, met his death by coming into contact with a motor lorry, driven by Charles Renowden, no blame being attachable to the driver, being purely accidental.”  -Southland Times, 9/5/1927.

Otautau Cemetery.

53224 Private Duncan James Matheson, (29/12/1893-10/1/1920). "found among the debris"

 ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

A returned soldier named Duncan James Matheson (24) was accidentally burned to death at Birchwood on Sunday morning. Matheson was employed as an assistant at the Birchwood Dairy Factory, and resided in a four-roomed house owned by his employers. Shortly after 1 o'clock on Sunday morning the house was found to be in flames, which had too great a hold to be extinguished. The building was burned to the ground, and the charred remains of the deceased were found among the debris.  -Evening Star, 14/1/1920.

INQUEST

THE BIRCHWOOD FATALITY. 

On Monday an inquiry was held before. Mr W. J. A. McGregor, J.P., and a jury of six into the circumstances surrounding the death of Duncan James Matheson, who was burned to death at Birchwood on Sunday morning last. The deceased was a single man, 24 years of age and was employed as first-assistant at the Birchwood Dairy Factory. 

The evidence was to the effect that Matheson resided with the manager, Alexander Murray, in a four-roomed wooden house owned by the company. He slept in a room by himself on the east side of the house. The room was papered and on the wall near his bed was a bracket which the deceased used for putting his candle on. He was a heavy cigarette smoker and was in the habit of putting the ends of his cigarettes on this bracket. On January 10 at 8.30 p.m. deceased, in company with a man named John Nicholson, was at the factory until 11.30 p.m. He then went home. At 1.10 a.m. the fire was discovered by the manager who was awakened by falling glass and on going to the room occupied by the deceased he found it in flames. He called out to Matheson but got no reply. At that time it was the only part of the house burning, but owing to the strong wind the flames soon spread and demolished the house. The remains of the deceased were found among the debris.

A verdict was returned that the deceased was burned to death in the Birchwood Dairy Factory Company’s house, no blame being attached to anyone. The Coroner added a rider expressing sympathy with the parents on the loss of a son who was popular and respected in the district.  -Southland Times, 14/1/1920.

Observant readers may note that the date on Duncan's gravestone is different from that of his death. It is very rare but not unique.

Otautau Old Cemetery.