DAWSON Joseph Benjamin

Male 1871 - 1929  (58 years)


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  • Name DAWSON Joseph Benjamin 
    Birth 1871  Armidale, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1919  Armidale, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Burial Jul 1929  Methodist Uniting, Armidale, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 27 Jul 1929  Tamworth, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Person ID I1156  The Tree of Him
    Last Modified 31 Dec 2018 

    Father DAWSON Robert Hare,   b. 1837, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Sep 1919, Armidale, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years) 
    Mother CHAPMAN Sarah Ann,   b. Abt 1836   d. 25 Nov 1916 (Age 80 years) 
    Marriage 1857  Scone, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Family ID F324  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1871 - Armidale, NSW, Australia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1919 - Armidale, NSW, Australia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 27 Jul 1929 - Tamworth, NSW, Australia Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • Run Down by Train Ganger Killed
      Returning home on Saturday morning last by railway tricycle, two railway employees were run down by a good train near Limbri. They were Ganger Joseph Benjamin Dawson, of Kootingal and Thomas O’Shea, a fettler residing at Limbri. O’Shea managed to jump clear, but Dawson was very badly injured and died later.
      The men had been working on the line near Limbri and left work at about 11 o’clock. After going about a quaarter of a mile they stopped and did not hear a train approaching. Proceeding they had only gone another half mile when O’Shea was jhorrified to see a goods train almost on top of them. He managed to jump clear but Dawson was struck by the engine and thrown off the tricuycle.
      Medical aid was quickly brought to the scene by the TAmworth Ambulance and Dawson was admitted to hospital, where he passed away.
      Mr Dawson, who was 58 y ears of age , was a married man and was well known in the district.
      The funeral took place in the Armidale Methodis Cemetery yesterday (Monday). REv Brown officiating. PIddington’s had charge of the arrangements.

      KILLED by Trian - Ex-Armidale Resident’s Death
      An inquest into the death of Joseph Benjamin Dawson, a railway ganger, on Saturday July 27, was held at Tamworth Court House, before Mr G A N Nankervis, deputy coroner. The late Mr Dawson was on old resident of Armidale.
      Inspector McDonald conducted the inquiry, Inspector Juchan represented the Railway Commissioners and Mr R J O’Halloran watched the interests of the driver and fireman on the train which caused the fatality.
      Dr Keith Joseph Raymond Davis said that in response to a telephone call he went to Kootingal railway station at about 11:15 a.m. on July 27, and examined the inujred man. He ordered his removal to the District Hospital, where he further wxamined him, finding the base of the skill to be fractured, an incised woulnd on the right side of the scapp, the right humerus fractured near the elbow and a penetgrating wound to the right loin injuring the kidney. He was also greatly shocked, and died at 4 o’clock the same evening, death being dur to the injuries and shock.
      To Inspector Juchan, witness said nothing more could have been done by the railway staff than was done to the injured man.
      Thomas henry O’Shea, fettler, residing at Kootingal, said on the morning of July 27, he was working with Ganger Dawson at 300 miles, 35 chains, between Limbri and Kootingal. They finished the job at 11.6 and were returning to towards Kootingal with single tricycles to pick up other men. Wiktness was in front. On reaching 320m 30 ch, they came to a sharp bend in the line and pulled up to listen for approaching trains, but heard no sound. Deceased said as there was no train approaching Limbri they could go on. No 95 would be the next train. After going another 30 chains they looked back again, but saw no train and wen on another 10 chains. They could see at least 15 chains back, but saw nothing. After another five chains witness heard a rumble and looking back saw No 34 goods train almost on top of them - witness was about 40 feet ahead of deceased. Witness threw himself off the tricycle as the train passed. When he looked round he saw deceased at the side of the cutting. He did not see the train strike him. He was unconscious and did not speak. No 34 train was due at Limbr at 10:20. Deceased remarked on it being time No 34 was along, and said something must have happened to it as it had not arrived. It was about 40 minutes late. It was not on account of the train being late that they stopped and listened, as this was the usual practice. He could not say if the train was going at excess speed or not.
      To Inspector Juchan, witness said they knew that No 95 was running. When they stopped and listened, they were satisfied neither No 34 or No 95 was about. Each ganger was supplied by the Railway with a time table fo trains, and each individual employee with a rule book for the guidance and protection of staff. He was aware the correct time for o 34 had not gone. From the place where they were struckm they could see back for six chains. In a cutting it was often hard to hear the trains. He heard no whistle, but it could have been sounded and he not heard it.
      John Whitmore, engine0driver of West Tamworht, said he was driver of goods train No 34 on July 27, taking charge at Woolbrook at 9.15, and leaving at 10 a.m. The train usually ran to the time-table, but was 43 minutes late that day. At the time of the accident the train was travelling at 20-24 miles an hour, the usual speed, and was not ltrying to make up lost time. Approaching the curve where the cutting was, he sounded the whistle. There was no regulation about blowing the whistle at that particular cutting, but it was the custom. the train was almost on the tricycles before he saw them. He was looking from the cabin of the engine, but was not looking far ahead, as the view from the engine was not good. It was too late to blow the shistle when he saw the tricycles, as the caccident could not be avoided. He made the emergency applicaiton of the Westinghouse brake, and the train stopped in its own length. After he stopped he examined the front fo the engine, but could see no signs of collision. He had passed for driver eight years ago, and had been permanently driving for two years.
      To Mr Jucahn, witness said he was guided by regulagtions whn he blew his whistle approadching a cutting. He was taking hte usual precautions. When he applied the brake the train pulled up in a reasonable distance.
      Laurence Lovell Hazell, guard of the goods trains from Armidale to Werris Creek on July 27, said the train started 29 minutes late. The engine whistled after leaving Limbri in reply to his signal, giving him the right of way, but he did not hear a whistle going into the cutting.
      The Coroner found that the deceased diled from injuries accidentally received through being run down by a goods train between Limbri and Kootingal.

      Armidale Express July 30, 1929, p. 4

      Inquest held 31 July 1929
      Injuries accidentally recieved through being run down by a goods train, [5, 6, 7]

    Buried:
    • 11 04

  • Sources 
    1. [S6] NSW BDM’S, 1871 6061.

    2. [S138] The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 - 1861; 1863 - 1889; 1891 -1954) (, Tue 30 Sep 1919, p. 3.

    3. [S6] NSW BDM’S, 1929 18453.

    4. [S6] NSW BDM’S, 1857 2604.

    5. [S5] The Armidale Express, July 30, 1929, p. 4.

    6. [S5] The Armidale Express, 2 August 1929, p. 2.

    7. [S95] NSW, Australia, REgisters of Coroners’ Inquests, 1796-1942.