Tragedy strikes

Inquest file held at PROV VPRS 24/P0/1005 1921/390

 

 

 

 

There's always an element of sadness in death. Yes, that may be the most obvious statement one could make. However, hear me out. People often say that they don't want their passing to be mourned, that they would like a celebration worthy of the life they lead.
So, quite a while ago when a story was passed on to me that my great grandfathers twin brother died due to an accident as a child, I didn't think much of it. Yes, it was an incredibly sad thought that a child could die, a twin could be taken away by an accident and the fact that a child had pre-deceased their parents, however it was long ago and really did not affect me in the present.
 

VPRS 24/P0/1005 1921/390

Last week I decided to look further into the Taylor side of my tree and inevitably not far up in the branches came upon my great grandfather. I thought I would look at him more thoroughly, but without a will and not much else to go on except stories and/or myths which have flitted down like leaves, I bypassed and went onto the other members of his family. Here, Arthur Rossmore Taylor re-appeared. Starting from the end of his life I ordered the inquest into his death to view at the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) reading room. Arthur was my great grandfather Henry's twin brother and from what I can gather from his birth registration number, it was likely he was the younger of the two. Henry and Arthur were born in 1908 to George and Eva Taylor, a grazing family who resided in Victoria's Western district, in places such as Bambra and Birregurra.
Being such a long time ago, I assumed I'd be immune to the effects an inquest would have on me. Boy, was I mistaken. 

In 1921, at the age of 12 years and 11 months old Arthur was riding on his pony accompanied by Mr McLaughlin, a partner of his father's on the farm.

Lionel with his grandmother Eva 'Ning' Taylor

Casually riding bareback and with no more than a canter in his stride Arthur fell from the horse, hitting his head. Mr McLaughlin proceeded to carry an injured and dazed Arthur to the house where his mother tended to his injured head and put him to bed. Arthur was restless, fever-some and had a lack of appetite, however by the next day he seemed to have improved and asked for some food. It was shortly after this he lost consciousness and subsequently passed away. Dr Hope was summoned, and regrettably had to pronounce the young boy dead on arrival.
What struck me most about this inquest, was apart from the utter devastation the family must have felt that their son and brother had passed away and the fact that maybe they should have called for the doctor earlier, was the fact that the inquest reports included handwritten reports from Arthur's father George and Mr McLaughlin. George had just lost his son and had to sit down and write out minute by minute in detail the events of the day and the circumstances leading to his death. They would then have to go and bury their son and brother. 

Baby Mandy with Eva Taylor, mother of Arthur & Henry, c. 1961

So when I say that there is always an element of sadness in death, what I am referring to, is that regardless of the time that has passed, and in this case, close to a century, most people would be affected by the death of someone so young and the circumstances surrounding his passing.

Lionel with his father Henry. Henry's twin brother Arthur died of an accident in 1921.