ECCLESTON, David
| Service Number: | 1657 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Oakes Estate, ACT, 14 October 1937, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Woden (Canberra) Public Cemetery, ACT |
| Memorials: | Crookwell War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 1657, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 1657, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
SHEPHERD'S DEATH
Body Found Near Horse
David Eccleston, a shepherd, was found dead near the Canberra Queanbeyan railway line at Oaks Estate ACT, shortly after noon yesterday. A saddled horse, belonging to the deceased was standing near-by. It is surmised that death was due to natural causes The driver and fireman of a Canberra-bound train noticed the body lying near the railway line. They communicated with some fettlers working on the line, and the Queanbeyan police were called.
As death had apparently occurred in the Capital Territory, Constable L. Jones, of the Queanbeyan Police, removed the body to the Canberra Morgue.
Eccleston, it is understood, had been employed as a shepherd at Buckmaster's and Webb's pastoral properties in the Mt Stromlo district, and lived by himself at Oaks Estate. The Canberra police communicated with relatives of the deceased, who reside in the Cooma district. An inquest will be held.
OAKS ESTATE INQUEST
A verdict in accordance with medical testimony-death from natural causes was recorded by the Coroner (Col. J. T. H. Goodwin), at the inquiry concerning the death at Oaks Estate, A.C.T., on October 14, of David Joseph Eccleston, aged 64 years.
Dr. A. J. Mollison, stated in evidence, that on October 14 he examined the body of the deceased at Canberra Hospital. Eccleston had been dead for about 6 hours. He formed the opinion that death was due to heart failure. There were no signs of external injury.
Mrs. Margaret Davis, Mountain Road, Oaks Estate, A.C.T., stated that she had known Eccleston for some time. She last saw deceased at midday on October 14. He was closing a gate while on horse-back When he leaned over at the gate, the horse swerved and Eccleston fell to the ground.
John Gribbon, 24 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, fettler, stated that while proceeding to work on October 14, at about 1.20 p.m., he saw the body of deceased. Witness called some of his mates and sent them to call the police and ambulance. Constable L. J. Jones, of Queanbeyan, stated that at about 1.30 p.m on October 14, he went to a gate near "Honeysuckle" homestead. About 7 or 8 yards away from the gate he saw deceased lying on the ground. There were no marks of violence on the body. Witness had
known deceased for the past 9 years.
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