On 29 and 30 October 1918, bushfires claimed the lives of seven stockmen on Saltern Creek, Willoughby and Rodney Downs stations. Their deaths were recorded as:
‘an unfortunate accident, owing to the very hot dry weather, the density of the grass and the winds blowing in gales’.
VICTIMS
A K JONES
Manager, Saltern Creek
Age: 49
Died: Under a tree seeking shelter from the fire with Harry Knowlton
30 October 1918
Mr Jones was married with four young children.
Funeral took place at St Peter’s Church at 11am Thursday 31 October 1918. Rev W J Park officiated.
HARRY KNOWLTON
Stockman, Saltern Creek
Age: 48
Died: Under a tree seeking shelter from the fire with A K Jones
30 October 1918
Harry was believed to be from Sydney, and had no relatives in the district.
Funeral took place at St Peter’s Church at 11am Thursday 31 October 1918. Rev W J Park officiated.
ARTHUR RAYMOND PERCIVAL BURGESS
Overseer, Willoughby
Age: 48
Burnt on the Willoughby/Rodney Downs boundary
Died: Barcaldine Hospital 30 October 1918
Arthur was single, and his family lived in Barcaldine.
Buried on 30 October 1918.
ALFRED G HOCK
Stockman, Rodney Downs
Age: 25
Burnt on the Willoughby/Rodney Downs boundary
Died: Barcaldine Hospital 30 October 1918
Alfred was single, and his family resided in Toowoomba. He had no relations in Barcaldine.
Buried 30 October 1918.
J H (HAROLD) GILCHRIST
Stockman, Saltern Creek
Age: 40
Died: Barcaldine Hospital, 3 November 1918
Buried 4 November 1918.
WILLIAM ROY HOLMES
Stockman, Saltern Creek
Age: 17
Died: Barcaldine Hospital, 4 November 1918
William was the son of W R Holmes, Stock Inspector.
Buried 4 November 1918.
S B THORPE
Stockman, Saltern Creek
Age: 26
Died: Barcaldine Hospital, 9 November 1918
Buried 10 November 1918.
The tragedy was called ‘A Western Holocaust’ in the news of the day.
