 1904 - 1943 (39 years)
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| Name |
Richard Granville Bate |
| Born |
24 Apr 1904 |
N.S.W.  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Electoral Roll |
1925-1936 |
Howard, Wide Bay. |
| Farmer at Dundowran. |
| Inquest |
22 Sec 1943 |
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland |
PETROL DRUM FATALITY
Coroner's Inquiry
At the inquiry yesterday into the circumstances surrounding the death of Richard Granville Bate, blacksmith, which occurred at his business place at the corner of Alice and Adelaide-streets on No. 27,when he suffered head injuries through a petrol drum exploding, the Coroner (Mr. J. A. Murray) asked Detective Constable M. T. Hourigan to ascertain from Pool Petroleum Co. Ltd., what precautions were taken or instructions issued by the company in connection with the welding of petrol drums. Mr. Murray added that he wanted the information broadcast, otherwise another valuable life might be lost through ignorance.
Mr. Murray recalled an incident at Ingham where a little Italian girl was killed when she passed an empty petrol drum with a hurricane lamp which caused an explosion. "Apparently there is need for the utmost care," he said. "It is a wonder there are not more accidents."
Mr. Murray adjourned the inquiry to January 10 to allow D/C. Hourigan to obtain the required information.
WELDING DRUM
Evidence was given by Cyril Bevin Davis, oo Bauple, a carrier employed by the Tiaro Shire Council. He told the court that on Saturday, Nov. 27, he called at deceased's shop for the purpose of having a hole welded in a 44 gallon petrol drum. Three weeks prior to Nov. 27, witness obtained the drum from Pool Petroleum Ltd. While unloading it at Bauple it struck a channel which caused a hole in the bottom of the drum about three inches from the edge. Witness emptied the drum within a few minutes and it stayed in a shed until witness came to Maryborough on the morning in question. When witness brought it into town it was absolutely dry. After deceased had agreed to weld it witness asked him if it would be all right to weld, and deceased replied, "Quite all right. I've done dozens of them."
When deceased commenced to weld the drum witness said he turned away from the glare. Immediately he turned away he heard an explosion and turning round saw deceased lying on the ground. The bottom portion of the drum was underneath a timber trailer against which the drum was originally standing. Later witness noticed the other portion of the drum lying about 15 feet away from where it was being welded. Witness also noticed that the drum had displaced a sheet of iron in the roof of the shop.
Witness opined that when the drum exploded it struck a shield which deceased was holding and then passed on and struck the roof and dislodged a sheet of iron.
Witness said he had never had a drum welded prior to Nov. 27. He, himself, had soldered a petrol tank when empty. He had seen many fellows solder a petrol tank with petrol in it. "I would never do it again after seeing that explosion." he added.
STRICT INSTRUCTIONS
Replying to Mr. Murray witness said the manager of Pool Petroleum Ltd., had told him after the accident that the instructions regarding the welding of drums were very strict. He had told witness that the bungs must be removed and the drum stood upside own 16 inches from the ground for three weeks before it was allowed to be touched.
Witness expressed the opinion that the occurrence was quite accidental and no one was to blame.
Detective Constable M. T. Hourigan said that on November 27, he ascertained, after visiting deceased's shop, that deceased had been welding a hole in a 44 gallon petrol drum when a spark from the electric welding apparatus ignited the fumes apparently contained in the drum, thus causing the drum to explode. The explosion blew it upwards striking the shield deceased was holding and violently forced against deceased's head, causing severe injuries.
Witness said the hole deceased attempted to weld was approximately half an inch long and tapered from a quarter to an eighth of an inch in width.
Subsequent inquiries at the General Hospital revealed that deceased died about half an hour after his admission. The causes of death were a fractured skull: (b) cerebral frauma; (c) shock and burns, (d) heart and respiratory failure. Witness said that as a result of his inquiries he was quite satisfied that deceased met his death accidentally and that no blame attached to anyone.
Witness added that the fumes remaining in the drum after the petrol had been withdrawn would probably have been unable to escape as the bung holes were screwed up and the only hole in the drum was the small one which was to be welded.
The inquiry was adjourned.
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland, Wednesday, 22 December 1943 |
| Died |
27 Nov 1943 |
General Hospital, Maryborough, Qqueensland, Australia |
| Death Notice |
29 Nov 1943 |
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland |
DEATH
BATE.-At Mryborough, on November 27, 1945. Richard Granville Bate, beloved husband of Hazel Beryl Bate, and father of Claude, Basil and June Bate. Interred at the Nikenbah Cemetery on Sunday afternoon. Aged 45 years.
"At Rest"
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland, Monday, 29 November 1943 |
| In Memorium |
27 Nov 1945 |
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland |
N MEMORIAM
BATE.-In loving memory of my dear husband and our father, Richard Granville, accidentally killed on November 27, 1943.
"Sadly Missed."
Inserted by his loving wife, Hazel, and children, Lloyd, Basil, June.
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland, Tuesday, 27 November 1945 |
| Person ID |
I6 |
Nikenbah Cemetery |
| Last Modified |
10 Nov 2014 |
| Family |
Hazel Beryl Wood, b. 1908, Qld , d. Yes, date unknown |
| Married |
1929 |
Qld |
| Children |
|
| Last Modified |
28 Apr 2009 |
| Family ID |
F10 |
Group Sheet |
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