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Thursday's Tragic Event: The death of Douglas George Jeffery

Douglas George Jeffery was the son of Selby George Jeffery and his wife Florence Mary (nee Hughes).  He died as the result of an accident on the 16 December 1941 when he was 17 years old.  He was buried at Penrose Cemetery, cemetery details and a headstone photograph for him can be found here.  My connection to Douglas Jeffery is that he is my third cousin twice removed.


Source: YOUNG MAN'S DEATH. (1941, December 24). Goulburn Evening Post (NSW : 1940 - 1957), p. 6 Edition: Daily. Retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103632002

Transcript:

YOUNG MAN'S DEATHPopular Student
The death occurred on Thursday last, as the result of an accident, of Douglas George Jeffery, son of Mr. amd Mrs. Selby Jeffery, of Wingello.
Deceased was employed by a large chemical manufacturing firm in Sydney and a few days ago he accidentally dropped a jar of acid on his foot, the fluid entering the bloodstream and eventually causing his death.
He was a popular student of the Bowral High School and was vice-captain of the school during the last term. He had taken employment in the city while waiting for the result of his examination. 





Source: TRAGIC DEATH OF A POPULAR STUDENT. (1941, December 19). The Southern Mail (Bowral, NSW : 1889 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114796543

Transcript:

TRAGIC DEATH OF A POPULAR STUDENT
As we went to press, the sad news reached us that Douglas George Jeffery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Selby Jeffery, of Wingello, had died in Sydney as the result of an accident.  Having sat for his Leaving Certificate examination at Bowral High School, Douglas entered the employ of a chemical manufacturing firm in Sydney.  A few days ago he dropped a bottle of acid on his foot; the acid entered the bloodstream and eventually caused his death.
The news cast a deep gloom over Bowral High School.  Douglas, who was Vice-Captain of the school, had been a student there for the past five years.  He had taken employment in the city so that he might be usefully employed whilst waiting for the result of his examination and before entering upon the profession of his choice.
The Headmaster (Mr. S.K. Barker) in announcing the sad event, made reference to those qualities that had won for Douglas the respect and affection of all his teachers and fellow students.  On the sports field, in the classroom, and in all branches of school activity, his conduct was marked by manliness, courtesy, efficiency, dependability, cheerfulness, and friendliness.  He was a student of whom his school was proud and fond.  His passing had left the community poorer as his life had made it richer.




Source: Local and General. (1941, December 20). The Scrutineer and Berrima District Press (NSW : 1892 - 1948), p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124195300

Transcript:

The death occurred in Sydney on Wednesday of Douglas George Jeffery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Selby Jeffery, of Wingello, as a result of an accident.  Having sat for his Leaving Certificate examination at Bowral High School, Douglas entered the employ of a chemical manufacturing firm in Sydney.  A few days ago he dropped a bottle of acid on his foot ; the acid entered the bloodstream and eventually caused his death.  The internment took place at Penrose cemetery on Thursday afternoon.

New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1796-1942 about Douglas George Jeffery

Name: Douglas George Jeffery
Inquest Date: 5 Jan 1942
Inquest Location: Sydney
Death Place: Balmain
Age: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1925
Birth Place: Goulburn, New South Wales


Name of Deceased: Jeffery, Douglas George
Date When Held: 5.1.42
Where held: Sydney
Verdict: Burns accidentally received when a bottle of cresylic acid he was carrying broke.
Locality of Death: Balmain, District Hospital Balmain
Age of Deceased: 17
Where Deceased Born: Goulburn, N.S.W.



Source: Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1796-1942 [database on-line]. 

NSW BDM Death Index

26381/1941 JEFFERY DOUGLAS GEORGE SELBY GEORGE FLORENCE MARY BALMAIN  

Source: NSW BDM Death Index.  NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.  Retrieved from: http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/

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