Nobody wants that knock on the door from the police, advising them of the death of a loved one on the roads.
Sadly, this happened to the Thompson family in South Australia nearly 100 years ago, not just once, but twice, less than two years apart.
Two brothers of my husband’s grandfather, Edward Thompson, died in motorcycle accidents in almost the identical spot. They were Malcolm Ronald Thompson who died at just 17 years of age in August 1930 and Clifford John Webb Thompson who died when he was 21 on the 19th of June 1932.
These accidents occurred more than 40 years before helmets became compulsory for motorbike riders in Australia in 1972. And, no doubt, the roads weren’t as good as those we drive on today.
EDWARD NORMAN THEODORE CHARLES THOMPSON (1898 – 1956)
Edward, my husband’s grandfather, and his wife Jean (Granny Thompson, 1902 – 1990) moved from South Australia to Western Australia soon after their marriage in December 1929, so he likely received the news about the death of his brothers via telegram. Maybe there was a desire for adventure in the Thompson genes. Malcolm and Ronald enjoyed the freedom that motorbikes gave them and Edward’s sense of adventure took him more than 3,000 kilometres from his Mt Barker (South Australia) home to a new home in Northcliffe, Western Australia, after a short stay in a boarding house in Perth, the State’s capital. There was no Eyre Highway in those days. Edward and Jean drove along the track which ran beside the Trans Australian Railway Line. It would have been a long and difficult journey. (see Trans-Australia Railway – Wikipedia)
Getting back to the tragedy of the two young brothers and their motorbikes, newspaper reports from the 1930s give us an insight into what happened.
MALCOLM RONALD THOMPSON (1912 – 1930)
Initial reports detailed Malcolm’s accident with conflicting stories about whether it was a telegraph pole or fence that he hit.
SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT
On Friday last Mr. Malcolm Thompson, of Flaxley, was severely injured in a motorcycle accident. It is understood he had been doing his machine up and was trying it out at Western Flat. Apparently a part of the front of the cycle was not right, for he suddenly swerved and came into collision with a telegraph pole. He sustained two broken legs and severe abrasions. He was taken to the Mount Barker Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, where he lies in a critical condition. – The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, Friday 9 August 1930.
MOTOR CYCLIST SERIOUSLY INJURED
Macclesfield – Mr. M. Thompson was seriously injured when a motorcycle which he was testing swerved into a fence. Both his legs were fractured, be received cuts on the head, and several ribs were broken. – The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Tuesday 12 August 1930.
DIED FROM INJURIES
Malcolm Thompson, who, as reported in our last issue was an inmate of the Mount Barker Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital as the result of a motorcycle accident, died after an operation on Monday afternoon. Everything possible was done for the unfortunate lad, and in an attempt to save his life amputation of one of the injured legs was performed. The operation was successfully performed but the shock was too much and he died shortly after. – The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, Friday 15 August 1930.
DEATH FOLLOWS ACCIDENT
Macclesfield – Malcolm Thompson (17) who met with an accident recently while riding a motorcycle, died in the local hospital. One of his legs was amputated. – Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Tuesday 26 August 1930.
MACCLESFIELD
Mr. Malcolm Thompson, who met with a motor accident quite recently, died at the hospital shortly after one of his legs was amputated at the thigh. He was only seventeen years of age, and much sympathy is felt for the relatives. – Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA), Thursday 28 August 1930.
CLIFFORD JOHN WEBB THOMPSON (1910 – 1932)
Less than two years later, a similar fate befell Malcolm’s older brother Cliff. This time however there were two motorcycles involved in the accident. The newspaper report of Cliff’s death paints a picture of his life and achievements. We get a sense of his personality as a ‘popular and highly-respected young man’.
MACCLESFIELD
Quite a gloom was cast over the town when it was known that Clifford Thompson had died after his admission to Mt. Barker Hospital. Cliff and his brother had been invited to Mr. Haines’ for the evening. Alf arrived at his destination, which was only about two miles from home, and Cliff left about half past six on his motorcycle.
At the turn two miles from this township, he collided with another cycle travelling in the opposite direction. Miss Stella Dewhurst, of Strathalbyn, was on the pillion of the cycle ridden by Mr. Frisby, and is well known in the district. They were returning to work in the city when the accident occurred.
Shortly afterwards, Mr. Zilm, of Flaxley, came along, and found the three cyclists unconscious on the roadway in pools of blood. He stopped other travellers, and the police and Dr. were sent for. Mr. Alf Thompson was also notified of his brother’s accident. The three victims were removed to Mt. Barker hospital, seven miles away, where Cliff died half an hour later. Miss Dewhurst had a cut head and shock. Mr. Frisby was also seriously injured.
It is less than two years ago that Cliff’s youngest brother was killed off a motorcycle, only a few hundred yards from the scene of the accident, and between that period Mrs. Thompson had died.
Cliff was a very popular and highly respected young man, only 21 years of age; was fond of sport, especially tennis, which he attended regularly. He played his first game of football against Aldgate on Saturday last. He had also fired on the local range with promising results, and was very good at dancing. Much sympathy is felt for his sister and brothers, Cliff’s smiling disposition gaining him great popularity and respect. – Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA), Thursday 30 June 1932.
MACCLESFIELD
Quite a number of footballers stood bareheaded as the funeral cortege of the late Cliff Thompson approached the grave side, where the Rev. Hughes officiated. – Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA), Thursday 14 July 1932.
THE FAMILY
As mentioned in the article about Cliff’s accident, his mother passed away in 1931. She was Lucy Ellen Eveline Thompson, nee Stevens, who died on the 29th of November, aged 59. Her husband Edward (Ted) James died at 54 a few years earlier in 1925.
Other siblings in the family included: Mary Evelyn Johannah Thompson (1901 – 1960); Alfred Walter James Thompson (1904 – 1976); Frederick William George Thompson (1906 – 1981); and Fanny Thompson who died as an infant (1914 – 1914).
THE LESSONS
My late father-in-law, Jimmy Thompson (nephew of these two brothers), often said about motorcyclists that they were ‘temporary Australians’. He never mentioned his uncles. Maybe he used this term because family members had died on motorcycles although I don’t recall him ever speaking about this. I was able to research the deaths of these young men after hearing the facts from Jimmy’s sister Norma.
There are two clear lessons from this story:
Lesson One – Be curious. Speak to the older members of your family whilst they are still here. The informational gold they share may include nuggets that help you solve mysteries, knock down brick walls or lead you to discover some amazing stories.
Lesson Two – Be careful. Every time we get into a motor vehicle or onto bikes (be they motorcycles, push bikes, electric bikes or scooters) there is a risk that our next of kin will get a knock on their door by a police officer with bad news. Let’s not let that happen.