Sunday, Feb 05, 2012 at 17:14
Hi everyone,
My records indicate as follows
DILYAN’S
GRAVE
DILYAN - buried adjacent the BODDINGTON
cemetery on the north side.
An Aboriginal, who was so highly regarded by the late Sir John
Forrest that he presented him with a silver-mounted and inscribed fowling piece, and named a spring of
water (which Dilyan found in his wanderings while looking after sheep) in the North-West after him.
Dilyan rendered service on a survey expedition, led by HS Ranford, which visited Cambridge Gulf in the 1880's and marked out the town of
Wyndham as
well as effecting other important surveys. Mr BS Ranford of Bannister, wrote to the Western Australian Historical Society asking that Dilyan's
grave be marked in some way to commemorate him.
Further Reference: Western Ancestor dated June 1980 Vol 1 No 6 - Journal of Western Australian Genealogical Society (article Lonely Lonely Graves" by FT Bray); Western Mail - 18.7.1935 & 1.7.1937; The Horses Came First by Albert Schorer.
Author's note: Dilyan's
grave is not beneath
the monument, but some little distance away.
Source- Coate Yvonne & Ken, Lonely
Graves OF West Aust., Hesperian Press.
Book available from
http://www.hesperianpress.com/index.php/booklist/2011-06-16-12-23-53/m-titles?start=20
Other records state,
Dilyan was an Aborigine who accompanied a survey expedition to Cambridge Gulf in 1886. He rendered sterling service to H.S. Ranford, the surveyor in charge and was presented, on his return, with a silver-mounted fowling piece by John
Forrest. (Dilyan spring at
Wyndham was named after him). He later worked for B.S. Ranford in the Williams District. (Corr 1309/37, 8641/12 and 1059/56,Biographical References at W.A. State Archives, "West Australian" 6th Sept.1968 and "Narrogin Observer" 17th April 1969). Dilyan is believed to have been killed by other Aborigines for breaking some tribal law but the exact date and manner of his death are uncertain. In April 1937, B.S. Ranford contacted the W.A. Historical society and provided details on dilyan's life and a rough sketch map showing the whereabouts of his
grave. The W.A.H.S. initiated action to have the site protected and the Lands Department reciprocated by arranging for the survey of a small reserve.(Reserve 21924 was surveyed on 13th June 1938 - W. Hepple Brown Field Book 291page 7 - and declared on 11th November 1938) a
plaque erected by the Historical Society at this
grave was unveiled on 13th April 1969 ("Narrogin Observer" 17th April 1969).
DILYAN SPRING – origin of name
Comm C.P.Vereker (1888) of H.M.S.Myrmidon - Adm Roll Chart 53 - Adm Chart 1388H.S.Ranford (1886) FB 34 p.14 - KT Plan 158.Named after Dilyan, who discovered it, an Aborigine who accompanied Ranford to Cambridge Gulf in 1886. (See Dilyans
Grave)For information on the meaning of this spring see notes by Ranford`s brother in Corr. 1309/37 p.2.
Cheers to all
AnswerID:
477014
Follow Up By: The Explorer - Sunday, Feb 05, 2012 at 18:13
Sunday, Feb 05, 2012 at 18:13
Phil
Thanks for that.
Please note however that the
grave is south of the
cemetery not north as indicated by "DILYAN - buried adjacent the BODDINGTON
cemetery on the north side." If you look at the first picture of the
sign post - this was taken looking north - the
cemetery is on the left just before the start of the rise (not that you can see it).
I have Coates book but I cant find it :(
Cheers
Greg
| I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874 Lifetime Member
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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Sunday, Feb 05, 2012 at 18:28
Sunday, Feb 05, 2012 at 18:28
Found it stop looking :)
Here is entry in the book (Coates Y & C (1986). Lonely
Graves of Western Australia & Burials at Sea. Hesperian Press)
DILYAN (native), died 1886 - buried on the Marradong Road, near BODDINGTON. The actual
grave is not beneath the
memorial, but some distance away.
Dilyan was a very intelligent person and highly respected. His trustworthiness and expert tracking brought him great praise from Sir John
Forrest to whom he rendered outstanding service in the exploration of the North West. There is a spring named after him at Cambridge Gulf in the
Kimberley. On one occasion Sir John
Forrest presented him with a gun with a silver plate on it, for his bravery.
Dilyan belonged to a tribe which lived within the boundaries of Wandering and Williams. He worked for B.S. Ranford and Jack Dowsett as a shepherd and his tracking ability was of immense value. He was later employed by Charlie Farmer, who was related to Jack Dowsett, and it was at this time he met his death.
Evidently Farmer sent Dilyan and two other natives to Boddington for goods. On their way back one of the natives suddenly sprung up and fatally stabbed Dilyan. This proved to be the result of a long standing feud between the local tribes. A particular native of a neighbouring tribe had been murdered some years previously by a member of Dilyan’s tribe. To atone for this by tribal law, Dilyan was marked to die and a certain native was marked to do the killing, and because the killing was a result of tribal law, very little could be done. {N.T. 1879-1901)
{Refer: '”The Horses Came First”, by Albert Schorer)
Cheers
Greg
| I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874 Lifetime Member
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