JUST before entering Hastings there is a very nasty right angled bend in the main Melbourne road – the road at that spot being very little wider than a motor car.
This bend was, according to Dr. Cole, (City Coroner) who conducted the inquest, responsible indirectly for the death of Albert Norman Charles Thompson, aged 34, and the injury to five sailors from the Naval Base.
Evidence, given at the inquest by six different witnesses, was entirely in accord.
Thomson owner and driver of a 1 ton Ford charabanc, met 10 navy men in Melbourne at 9am on Monday, and agreed to transport them to Flinders Naval Depot.
They stopped for 10 minutes in Frankston to fill the radiator.
All went well until this bend was reached, when one of the front tubes punctured just as the corner was rounded.
The car swayed over to the left, then crashed over to the right, pinning Thomson under the standard of the wind screen.
Medical evidence agreed that he could not have lived for more than a minute and a half.
Five out of the ten sailors were injured, but most of them managed to crawl out and heaved the car back on its side to extricate Thomson.
Mr. Hoban, of Hastings, stated in evidence that the corner was a very dangerous one, but he considered 15 miles an hour a safe pace at which to negotiate it.
He had examined, and, in fact, repaired the puncture.
There was no defect in either tyre or tube.
Rounding the corner with the loaded car had, he conjectured, put such a heavy strain on the tyre as to lift it slightly off the beading, allowing the inner tube to blow out.
On reviewing the evidence, Dr. Cole found that deceased had died from injuries to brain and skull, due to the overturning of the car he was driving; the accident being indirectly due to the sharp turn in the road at that point.
He drew special attention to this fact, and was of the opinion that the corner should be straightened out, or at least that notices should be put up.
Thomson was a time expired navy man.
On leaving the navy 6 months ago, he decided to settle at Hastings, and, with the intention of working up a motor passenger service, had, about a fortnight ago, bought with his savings the charabanc.
He leaves a widow in a critical state, of health, and two children.
We are pleased to hear, however, that his old pals at the Base are standing by the widow, and provide financial relief.
There are also rumors of concerts, with the same object.
Dr Bickart, of Somerville, arrived at the scene of the accident within 7 minutes of the receipt of the telephone message.
Constable Blake, of the naval police, also had two doctors at the spot within 20 minutes of the receipt of his message.
Constable Adams was at Somerville when the accident occurred.
News has been received that the injured men are all doing well.
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VALE! The Peninsula stands aghast at the tragedy that has happened at Hastings.
Only the Saturday before, Norman Thompson, who lost his life when the chara-banc capsized, conveyed the Hastings footballers to Mornington, and he was a man who was widely respected.
Norman Thompson was in the navy for some years, and was on the Australian submarine when it was captured in the Bosphorus by the unspeakable Turks.
Three long years he spent amongst the Abduls, and made more than one attempt to escape, but failed every time.
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THE victim of the accident was buried on Wednesday, in the Hastings cemetery, with full Naval honors.
The Naval Depot was represented by a party of sailors, bearing a wreath in the shape of a cross.
A wreath was also sent by Capt. Miller, Base Commandant.
Naval Chaplain Henderson officiated at the graveside.
A firing party, 25 strong, fired a salute of 3 volleys over the grave, and the Last Post was sounded.
A large number of friends and sympathisers were present from Hastings and Crib Point.
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Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. For Children’s Hacking Cough.
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AT yesterday’s monthly meeting of the local shire council a communication was read from Mr. J. D. Jennings, president of the Frankston Progress Association, in which the co-operation of the council was sought in the matter of carrying out Arbor Day at Frankston.
The Progress Association, with the school children, intend carrying out a scheme of tree planting, commencing with the foreshore in the vicinity of the Pier.
It is proposed to plant Norfolk Island pines where shade and shelter would be most acceptable, and Mr. Jennings’ letter asked the council to approve the plan.
Mr. A. Bailey, of the Frankston Nurseries, has undertaken to procure the necessary trees.
The Council gave the permission sought, and undertook to render any assistance possible.
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FOOTBALL
SEAFORD’S luck is still out.
The Frankstonites showed far too many points, and ran out easy winners by 10.11 to 2.2.
Frankston mustered 6.4 to nil in the first quarter. The two best men on the ground were Frank Kyne and Laurie Ryan, who were ably assisted by Art Ryan, Frank Pike, Dick Burton, “Tinnie” McFarlane, Wilf Bowe, Frank Mills, Arthur Gale and George Luff, who has since gone to Heathcote to reside.
On Seaford’s side, the best were Martin, Stewart, Houchin, McGinniskin, Edwards, Gray, Peters, Scarborough and the Johnsons.
Gale, L. Ryan, Pike and Kyne got two goals apiece and McFarlane and Mills the remaining two, whilst Edwards and Peters got Seaford’s goals.
TYABB outpointed Langwarrin by 6.5 to 3.9, though play was remarkably even throughout.
In the second part, each side had 7 shots – Tyabb got 27 points to 7 out of it.
Tyabb’s best were Bob Story, Dave Longmuir, Tom Holley, Otto Thornell, Ray Borley, Leslie Cole, Ben Josephs (3 goals), Syd Evans and Jack Williams, whilst George Slocombe reappeared and played an excellent game.
Ray Wickes, Charlie Bond Phil Kedgell, Franklin, Adderley, Upton, Will Cain, Whittingham, Cecil Males, Seedsman, and Jack Wickes were the losers’ best.
Somerville Stars started the season none too brightly, but they have improved a wonderful lot since, as was proved on Saturday last, when Moorooduc were defeated by 5.10 to 4.9.
At times, an excellent standard of football was observed, and the spectators were very pleased with it.
Somerville gained an advantage of seven points in the first quarter, and maintained it throughout. The most outstanding player on the ground was Bert Sherlock, of Moorooduc, but Patterson, who got all their big points, was likewise prominent.
Connell and Wilson showed out throughout.
Somerville’s best were Millington, Roe, Hutchinson, Gomm, Gregory, Unthank, Clarke, R. Grant, White, Brown, Pearce, Marbella and Heatherington.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 2 June 1922
First published in the Mornington News – 31 May 2022
