Grave at Watson Siding (SA)

Very interested to find out, maybe Steven L knows, or he can find out from Robin at Maralinga when talking to him.

I don't know if this would be of any assistance to you or not - link

I spent over two years at Watson in the late 50's early 60's hauling crushed rock from the quarry to Maralinga test sites. Saw lots of interesting things (including people getting out of bed early morning on the Transcontinental train) but don't recollect any grave and we did wander around there filling in time.

Rob.

Hi Plasnart

Yes we have beeb there a couple of times and your were luck to find it. From what we were told by Robin, it is very and know one knows who is buried there. I will try another one of my contacts in Ceduna who is the unofficial locl historian.


Cheers



Stephen

I seem to recall that the grave is that of a young girl, about 8 years old who was the child of a railway worker in the steam era. I researched it when I went to Maralinga last time but can't find where I got that information.

I am not sure where I got that information, I asked Robin and he said something like that sounds about right. But that's Robin :-)

There is another unmarked grave near the top of Googs track at the 325 mile marker near Malbooma.

Plasnart - Contact the Outback Areas Community Development Trust on 08 8648 5970, or email them at oacdt.outbacksa@saugov.sa.gov.au, for info on outback graves.

Cheers, Ron.

OK, I have made contact with a Graham Journay who is an ancestral and local history researcher in Adelaide. He is also unaware of this grave however has said he will see what he can find out in late May upon his return from Europe. Interestingly, all grave details shown on the Outback Communities Authority website were also provided by him (of which there are many), so he obviously knows his stuff.

Find it here:http://www.oca.sa.gov.au/?q=burialregister

Graham has also provided this advice (as received):

The following are known to have died in Watson SA

Geo F SMITH 1930 age 43
Maolis MANU 1938 age 38
Pando A BASOTOFF 1938 age 32
Rudolph B GEUE 1939 age 45
GlEnn K HOSKING 1961 age 6m

This is getting interesting. Graham has read this thread and provides further comment below.

He emails:

When I checked my database later I did discover that I have a record of the grave submitted 8 Feb 2004 but unhelpful!


Watson

UNKNOWN: white cross not transcribed - 100m S of railway at east end points


All the deaths at Watson occurred during the steam era simple because there was a railways work camp there at the time. When diesels were introduced the need for places like Watson lessened.


Graves by railway lines in SA were cared for by the gangers. Unmarked graves usually gained a white cross as part of the care. Whether this tradition persists since privatisation I do not know but suspect not since you had to tidy it up!


If the grave is of a girl aged about 8 then it is also an unregistered death unless she died elsewhere and was brought to Watson for burial. I’ll widen my search.


Ignore the comment about the size of the grave - experience suggests no correlation between grave size and body size. The comment that grave was not there in 1950s - 60s is interesting. Personally I would have expected it to be there before then given modern transport and the like.


Thanks for the GPS - makes location so much easier!


I was interested in the Googs Track grave mention although very sketchy. I do not have that one on file!