Mirabel Wake

• Mirabel Wake was born circa 1310. Daughter of Sir Thomas Wake and Possibly elizabeth Cransley.
• She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Wake 0f Blisworth and Deeping and Elizabeth Cransley.
• Mirabel Wake married Lord Hugh de St John in 1330.
• Mirabel Wake died after 1355.

Sir Thomas Wake 0f Blisworth and Deeping

• Sir Thomas Wake 0f Blisworth and Deeping was born circa 1296.
• He was the son of Sir Hugh Wake and Joan Baldwin of Bolany.
• Sir Thomas Wake 0f Blisworth and Deeping married Elizabeth Cransley in 1308.
• Sir Thomas Wake 0f Blisworth and Deeping died in 1347.

Arthur Harris Wakeford

• Charts: Descendants of Charles Eyles

• Arthur Harris Wakeford was born on 1 August 1912 in New Zealand.
• At the age of 28 years, 8 months and 28 days, Arthur Harris Wakeford married Ada Joyce Best Cresswell, daughter of Frank Cresswell and Maria Best, on 29 April 1941 in New Zealand.
• Arthur Harris Wakeford died on 23 July 1989 in New Zealand at age 76. He was a retired factory worker living at 87 WIKIRIWHI Crescent at the time of his death.
• Arthur was cremated on 25 July 1989 in Kelvin Grove Cemetery & Crematorium.

Unknown Walker

• Unknown Walker was born circa 1790.
• Unknown Walker married Ann (Nancy) Unknown circa 1820.

Unknown Walker

• Unknown Walker was born circa 1880.
• Unknown Walker married Edith Amelia Kingston circa 1940.

Alexander Davidson Walker

• Charts: Descendants of Charles Eyles

• Alexander Davidson Walker was born on 6 December 1900 in New Zealand.
• He was the son of Edwin Walker and Helen Amelia Constance Holdaway.
• Alexander Davidson Walker died in 1985.

Alfred Walker

• Alfred Walker was born on 21 February 1856 most likely in NSW.
• He was the son of Robert Francis Walker and Maria Carruthers / Crothers.
• At the age of 26 years, Alfred Walker married Jane Stewart McIntosh in 1883 in Queensland.
• Alfred Walker and Jane Stewart McIntosh appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1908 living at Cawdor. Alfred was a farmer. Their daughter Emily carried out home duties and gave her address as Meringandan.
  
• Alfred Walker died on 11 September 1929 in Queensland at age 73.
• Alfred was buried in Cabarlah Cemetery. UNIT-00B-0031.

Alfred Stewart Walker

Alfred Stewart Walker (1884-1965). Photo thanks to John (M)

• Alfred Stewart Walker was born on 22 July 1884 in Cawdor.
• He was the son of Alfred Walker and Jane Stewart McIntosh.
• Alfred Stewart Walker appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1908 living at Meringandan. He was a farmer.
  
• At the age of 25 years, 5 months and 7 days, Alfred Stewart Walker married Lily Beatrice Loveday, daughter of Thomas Edwin Loveday and Sarah Elizabeth Gould, on 29 December 1909 in Toowoomba, Queensland.
• Alfred Stewart Walker appeared on the Electoral Roll between 1930 and 1943 living at Pinelands. Alf was a farmer.
  
• On 17 September 1936,his wife, Lily Beatrice Loveday died in Queensland at age 46.
• Alfred Stewart Walker died on 18 June 1965 in Queensland at age 80.
• Alfred was buried on 20 July 1965 in Crow's Nest Cemetery.

Arthur Douglas Walker

• Charts: Descendants of Charles Eyles

• Arthur Douglas Walker was born in 1910 in Queensland.
• He was the son of Phillip Squires Nicoll Walker and Natalie Douglas Tigell.
• Arthur Douglas Walker appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1943 living at Jonses Gully. He was a farmer at Thorn Hill.
  
• Arthur Douglas Walker married Dorothy Katherine Hill, daughter of Charles Francis Hill and Wilhelmine Wrembeck, circa 1950.

Benjamin Walker

• Benjamin Walker was born circa 1850.
• He was the son of Robert Francis Walker and Maria Carruthers / Crothers.
• Benjamin Walker married Henrietta Martin in 1881 in Queensland.
• He appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1909 living at Crow's Nest. Ben was a labourer and Henrietta carried out home dutes.
  
• Benjamin Walker died in 1931 in Queensland.

Benjamin Robert Walker

• Benjamin Robert Walker was born on 14 February 1854 in Kyneton, Victoria. He was the son of Robert Francis Walker and Maria Carruthers.
  
• At the age of 27 years, 7 months and 7 days, Benjamin Robert Walker married Henrietta Martin on 21 September 1881 in Queensland.
• Benjamin Robert Walker and Henrietta Martin appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1903 living at Murphy's, Perseverance. Ben was a labourer.
• Benjamin Robert Walker and Henrietta Martin appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1908 living at Murphy's Creek. Ben was a labourer.
• Benjamin Robert Walker died on 3 March 1931 in Queensland at age 77.
• Benjamin was buried on 5 March 1931 in Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery. METH2-003-0009.

Bertie Walker

• Charts: Descendants of John Burgess

• Bertie Walker was born circa 1922.
• He was the son of Edgar John Walker and Ivy Jane Walsh.
• Bertie Walker died on 14 February 1926 in Wollery's Mill, Gilderoy, Victoria. His parents and brother Kenneth died at the same time.
• On 10 March 1926 "The Argus" newspaper reported on the coroners finding into the deaths of those lost in the bushfires. It read " VICTIMS OF THE FIRES.
  
  SUFFERING AND HEROISM.
  
  SURVIVORS' STORIES
  
  Graphic Evidence at Inquest.
  
  (BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER)
  
  Stories told at inquests held yesterday by the city coioner (Nr. D. Berriman) into the deaths of the bush fire victims in the Warburton and Powelltown districts told realistically of the suffering and heroism of the survivors. The first inquiry was held in the Yarra Junction Shire Hall in the morning and concerned the deaths of 14 people at Worlley's mill Gilderoy, and two at Powelltown. Women in black wept silently throughout the hearing of the evidence and among the witnesses were Arthur Walker and Harry King the only two survivors of the mill party which sought safety on an old farm and was cut off by the flames. Both men, who have been in the Melbourne Hospital had their right arms in slings. Smoke from fires in the surrounding hills swirled through the hall during the hearing
  
  In the afternoon the lnquiry at Warburton related to six deaths at Big Pat's Creek including those of the five members of the Donald family. The alarm bell sounded twice while the hearing was in progress and as witnesses gave their evidence they were released to join the volunteers fighting the fires round Warburton.
  
  All the deaths occured on Sunday, February 14.
  
  The victims at Powelltown and Gilderoy were: - Lindsay Douglas King aged 21 years, mill hand single; Leslie Carl Hay age 31 years, mill hand married five children; Sydney Johns aged 31 years mill hand, single; Herber Johns aged l8 years; Richard Cyril Duncan aged two years and seven months; Ivy Jane Walker aged 29 years married; Edgar John Walker aged 31 years mill worker married two years; Bertie Walker aged four years; Kenneth Walker aged three years; Albert Lunson aged 22 years timber worker single; Valentine Walsh age 27 years timber worker single; Lawrence Roberts aged 28 years mill hand single; Joseph Charles Ross Johnstone aged 34 years engine-driver married one child; Albert Ernest Sand- ham aged 26 years mill hand single; Walter Ernest Charle Bull aged 39 years telegraphist married; William Anson aged 67 years labourer single.
  
  Tho coroner was assisted bv Subinspector Gardner. Mr Maurice Blackburn appeared for the relatives of the deceased, and for the Victorian branch of the Australian Timber Workers' Union.
  
  Arthur Mark Bowe, winchdriver, Yarra Junction, said My wife was keeping a boarding house for the employees of the mill. At half past 10 o clock in the morningg I noticed a fire burning near Saxton' s mill, about a mile and a half away. An hour later burning sticks and bark came overhead and set the hill on the west side alight. By a quartet to 2 o 'clock the fire had almost reached the mill. My son Clarence and I started to make a fire break about 10ft wide at the back of the house.
  
  I called on the others, to help me, but they were all running about excitedly. The fire came up to our break and stopped but it worked round and caught another house close by, which set our house on fire. Men, wonen, and children made for the horse trough, and buried their luggage. I went to get a tin of water so that we could have a drink when the fire had passed over I called to the others, "The water is all gone! Get down to the creek'! That is our only chance." They left the horse trough and started for the creek. I was some distance behind when I noticed most ot the party leaving the creek. My wife, Mrs Duncan, and Clarence stayed with me and I called to the others," For God's sake don't go up there, or you are caught!"
  
  Lindsay King shouted, "Come on. It is all right. We can get through." They kept going and that was the last time that I saw any of them alive except Arthur Walker and Harry King. I know that they could not get through the fire and shortly afterwards it crossed the tramline behind them, so that they could not get back. We crouched in the creek and the fire swept over us at a terrific pace. The heat was unbearable. Later, I came out of the creek, and met Walker and Harry King coming towards me. King was on his hands and knees. Walker was stumbling and fell into the creek. I carried King to the creek, and poured water over them both. They were badly burned. Walking along the tramline I found the bodies of the remainder of the party. I counted 13 bodies. When it came dusk, we all left the creek and went to the top of the hill, where we remained all night.
  
  Lillian Howe, wife of the previous witness, said that Mrs Duncan and she would have perished in the creek had not her husband kept throwing water over them. On their way to Saxton's mill the following morning, they were blocked at one point by a large burning tree which had fallen across the track. Exhausted and hungry, they were compelled to scrape away the sand with their hands to make a hole large enough to crawl under the tree. King and Walker, who were smoke blind and badly burned, had then to be dragged through this hole.
  
  Elizabeth Duncan, married woman, said:
  
  My son, Richard Duncan. aged two years and seven months, was burnt to death in the fire. I had been assisting Mrs Rowe in conducting the boating house, and had only been at Gilderoy for a week. When we were in the creek Mr Len King took my boy and tried to make to safety at the old farm with him but was compelled to turn back. He then left my boy with the remainder of the party, and that was the last time I saw him alive.
  
  Main Party Cut Off
  
  Arthur George Walker, sawmill hand said: While the others stayed in the creek, the main party tried tn reach some cleared land up the hill. We had gone about half-way when the fire leapt up in front of us. We turned and rushed back towards the creek, but when we reached the log yard we saw that the fire was aleady over the creek. We were cut off and could neither advance nor retreat. Lind say King took Mrs Walker and tried to force his way through the flames with her. They got half way and had to come back. I then attempted to reach safety with Mrs Walker but was also forced back. I could then see that there was no chance of saving anyone so I ran through the log yard, through the mill, which was on fire, and into the creek. Harry King had gone this way some minutes before. We dropped into the creek, and stayed there for three hours.
  
  Reoovory of Bodies.
  
  Mounted constable F.R.H. Raper, stationed at Yarra Junction, said that while conveying the body of Ernest Bull to Yarra Junction he heard of the disaster at Gilderoy. He left Bull's body at Saxton's house and went to the mill which he found had been totally destroyed. He described the finding of the bodies. In one place seven bodies were huddled together, three being those of children.
  
  Charles Reuben Lewis, mill hand, said that he left the mill at noon on Saturday and returned on the Mondav morning from Yarra Junction. He described the finding of the bodies and how he had been able to identify them by articles of their property.
  
  John Henry Hudson, labourer, Yarra Junction, described the finding of a body burned beyond recognition. Lying beside it was an imitation pin made of cardboard in the form of a Union Jack, and with the name on it in ink "Joseph Johnstone." Johnstone had worn this pin ever since witness had known him.
  
  Death of Ernest Bull
  
  A statement made by Arthur Bryant butcher, Powelltown, to Detective McKerrall was read. ln this he said:-About 6 o'clock on the Sunday night I went to Morris's slaughter-yard in Powelltown to kill a beast and some sheep for the following day. Alexander Sparks and Ernest Bull were with me. Bush fires were in the hills on every side, and the smoke was very thick. Bull returned to Powell- town. I released the cattle and sheep and we then lit two small fires as a break against the main fire which was closing in on all sides. We tried to cross the gully but the scrub was so thick that we could not get through. As we ran back towards the pigsty Bull cried, " I am done," and fell on his knees. I said, "Come on; we will be burnt to to death,"and Sparks and I helped him to the pig- sty. The fire became too hot and we moved into the sty among the pigs. But then the sty caught fire and we were forced out of it, and Bull threw himself in the ground and exclaimed," I am done."
  
  He kept catching his throat and asked us to cut his throat. He then lay still and did not speak. I examined him, feeling heart and pulse, and he appeared to be dead. The sty was then burning fiercely, and we were compelled to run through the flames to the railway line to save our own lives. That night we returned to the spot with others and found Bull's charred body near the pigsty.
  
  Fatal Refusal to Leave
  
  Charles Henry King, a line-repairer, Powelltown, said - About a quartar to 4 o'clock on the Sunday afternoon. accompanied by Carl Thomas, I went to No 13 mill, as the fires were raging there. Willliam Anson was sitting at his hut door, and the fire was burning fiercely on the l hill opposite the hut. I said to him, "You had better pack up, Bill and come with us." He replied, "No, Charlie; I have a little patch on the top of the hill and if the mill catches fire I am going up there." I tried in every way to induce him to leave the hut but he refused to do so. Fires broke out round his hut and I tried to put them out but it was no use. The heat became so intense that we had to run away or we would have been burned. Eventually we reached Cummings house, which is two miles dis- tant. On the Tuesday I was one of a search party which recovered Anson's body. It was lying three chains from his hut in the direction of the cleared patch which he had indicated.
  
  Origin of Fire
  
  Carl Thomas labourer Powelltown gavesimilar evidence.
  
  Senior detective A 1 McKerrall said that his inquiries showed that the fire had begun on Mount Donna Buang about January 3, and had burnt slowly in the hills till February 14 when it had been fanned into activity by the north wind and had leapt through the bush.
  
  Coroner's Praise
  
  Tlie coroner found that the deaths of the 16 people had been caused through burns accidentally received in a bush fire.
  
  "I desire ," he added, " to bear testimony in such words as I can to the wonderful courage shown by the women and the men who met this holocaust on the fateful Sunday afternoon. It moves one deeply, even to think of it. Thy showed the courage that we expect from the sons and daughters of our race but they showed it in a mar- vellous way." The coroner spoke of the excellent work performed by the people of Yarra Junction in helping to bring out the bodies of the dead and in succouring the homeless. The police had given of their time and energies to the full extent- first, he was sure, as men, and second as servants of the Government. He knew, perhaps better than most, how ungrudgingly they bad gone without food and without sleep. He acknowledged also the assistance which he had received from Senior detective McKerrall, by the fine manner in which he had prepared a difficult brief."

Beryl Mavis Margaret Walker

• Beryl Mavis Margaret Walker was born on 25 July 1914 in Perseverance, Queensland.
• She was the daughter of Walter Benjamin Walker and Mary Jane Shears.

Charles Edward Walker

• Charts: Descendants of John Burgess

• Charles Edward Walker was born on 30 March 1881 in Deloraine, Tasmania.
• He was the son of George Walker and Louisa Burgess.

Charlotte Edith Walker

• Charlotte Edith Walker was born in 1842. She was the daughter of Henry Walker and Sophia Peters.
  
• At the age of 17 years, Charlotte Edith Walker married Christian Wockner, son of Frederick Wockner and Christina Luhr, on 15 December 1859 in Queensland.
• Charlotte Edith Walker died on 12 July 1921 in Queensland.
• Charlotte was buried on 13 July 1921 in Drayton & Toowoomba Cemetery.

Claude Alfred Walker

• Claude Alfred Walker was born on 22 September 1914.
• He was the son of Alfred Stewart Walker and Lily Beatrice Loveday.
• Claude Alfred Walker appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1943 living at Pinelands. Claude was a farmer.
  
• Claude Alfred Walker married Doris Joan Just, daughter of Maxmillan Edward Wilhelm (Bill) Just and Freda Annie Garrett, circa 1945. Doris was a nursing sister.
• Claude Alfred Walker died on 26 January 2006 at age 91. Claude and Doris lived at Pinelands.
• Claude was buried on 31 January 2006 in Crow's Nest Cemetery.

David Henry Walker

• David Henry Walker was born in 1865. He was the son of Richard Walker and Hannah Beck.
• At the age of 23 years, David Henry Walker married Annie Franklin in 1888 in Queensland.
• David Henry Walker died on 18 May 1945 in Queensland.
• David was buried on 19 May 1945 in Cabarlah Cemetery. CE8-008-0011.

Doris Lillian Walker

• Doris Lillian Walker was born in 1915 in Queensland.
• She was the daughter of Robert Sydney Walker and Annie Lilian Sarah Warman.

Dorothy Sarah Walker

• Dorothy Sarah Walker was born in 1911 in Queensland.
• She was the daughter of Alfred Stewart Walker and Lily Beatrice Loveday.
• At the age of 27 years, Dorothy Sarah Walker married Harold Leslie Trost, son of Hermann Wilhelm Friedrich Trost and Wilhelmina Ernestine Genrich, on 16 March 1938.
• Dorothy Sarah Walker died in October 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland.
• Dorothy was buried on 24 October 1983 in Mt Gravatt Cemetery.

Dulcie May Walker

• Dulcie May Walker was born on 1 February 1918.
• She was the daughter of Alfred Stewart Walker and Lily Beatrice Loveday.
• At the age of 23 years, Dulcie May Walker married Stanley Eric Kanowski, son of David Herman Kanowski and Anna (Dioth) Sperling, on 1 February 1941. Stan and Dulcie share farmed for Jessie McPhail after their marriage.
  
• Dulcie May Walker was listed as the next of kin of Stanley Eric Kanowski when he enlisted in the Australian Army on 15 August 1942 in Crow's Nest. He was living at Pinelands when he enlisted and gave his next of kin as his wife Dulcie. His service number was      Q143895. He was discharged on 7 Jul 1943 with the rank of Private in the 111 General Transport Company. According to his Eulogy he was discharged at his mother's request in order to manage the family farm.
  
• Dulcie May Walker and Stanley Eric Kanowski appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1943 living at Pierce Creek. Stan was a farmer.
  
• Dulcie May Walker and Stanley Eric Kanowski appeared on the Electoral Roll between 1949 and 1958 living at Pinelands. Stan was a farmer.
• Dulcie May Walker died on 6 January 1991 at age 72.
• Dulcie was buried on 9 January 1991 in Crow's Nest Cemetery.

Edgar John Walker

• Charts: Descendants of John Burgess

• Edgar John Walker was born on 23 May 1894 in Packham, Tasmania.
• He was the son of George Walker and Louisa Burgess.
• Edgar John Walker enlisted in the Military on 29 September 1914 in Claremont, Tasmania. He was a 20 year old farmer who gave his next of kin as his father George WALKER of Packham. His service number was 1249 and he joined the 2nd Batallion 3 Brigade Reninforcements. He was 5'8" tall and 11stone4lbs with fair complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair.
  He served in Egypt and France. He spent time in hospital with german measles and diarrohea and was wounded on 24 July 1917 but returned to duty. He returned to Australia on 23 September 1918 for submarine guard duty.
  
• Edgar John Walker married Ivy Jane Walsh circa 1920.
• Edgar John Walker died on 14 February 1926 in Wollery's Mill, Gilderoy, Victoria, at age 31. His wife Ivy and two sons Bertie and Kenneth died in a bushfire.
• On 10 March 1926 "The Argus" newspaper reported on the coroners finding into the deaths of those lost in the bushfires. It read " VICTIMS OF THE FIRES.
  
  SUFFERING AND HEROISM.
  
  SURVIVORS' STORIES
  
  Graphic Evidence at Inquest.
  
  (BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER)
  
  Stories told at inquests held yesterday by the city coioner (Nr. D. Berriman) into the deaths of the bush fire victims in the Warburton and Powelltown districts told realistically of the suffering and heroism of the survivors. The first inquiry was held in the Yarra Junction Shire Hall in the morning and concerned the deaths of 14 people at Worlley's mill Gilderoy, and two at Powelltown. Women in black wept silently throughout the hearing of the evidence and among the witnesses were Arthur Walker and Harry King the only two survivors of the mill party which sought safety on an old farm and was cut off by the flames. Both men, who have been in the Melbourne Hospital had their right arms in slings. Smoke from fires in the surrounding hills swirled through the hall during the hearing
  
  In the afternoon the lnquiry at Warburton related to six deaths at Big Pat's Creek including those of the five members of the Donald family. The alarm bell sounded twice while the hearing was in progress and as witnesses gave their evidence they were released to join the volunteers fighting the fires round Warburton.
  
  All the deaths occured on Sunday, February 14.
  
  The victims at Powelltown and Gilderoy were: - Lindsay Douglas King aged 21 years, mill hand single; Leslie Carl Hay age 31 years, mill hand married five children; Sydney Johns aged 31 years mill hand, single; Herber Johns aged l8 years; Richard Cyril Duncan aged two years and seven months; Ivy Jane Walker aged 29 years married; Edgar John Walker aged 31 years mill worker married two years; Bertie Walker aged four years; Kenneth Walker aged three years; Albert Lunson aged 22 years timber worker single; Valentine Walsh age 27 years timber worker single; Lawrence Roberts aged 28 years mill hand single; Joseph Charles Ross Johnstone aged 34 years engine-driver married one child; Albert Ernest Sand- ham aged 26 years mill hand single; Walter Ernest Charle Bull aged 39 years telegraphist married; William Anson aged 67 years labourer single.
  
  Tho coroner was assisted bv Subinspector Gardner. Mr Maurice Blackburn appeared for the relatives of the deceased, and for the Victorian branch of the Australian Timber Workers' Union.
  
  Arthur Mark Bowe, winchdriver, Yarra Junction, said My wife was keeping a boarding house for the employees of the mill. At half past 10 o clock in the morningg I noticed a fire burning near Saxton' s mill, about a mile and a half away. An hour later burning sticks and bark came overhead and set the hill on the west side alight. By a quartet to 2 o 'clock the fire had almost reached the mill. My son Clarence and I started to make a fire break about 10ft wide at the back of the house.
  
  I called on the others, to help me, but they were all running about excitedly. The fire came up to our break and stopped but it worked round and caught another house close by, which set our house on fire. Men, wonen, and children made for the horse trough, and buried their luggage. I went to get a tin of water so that we could have a drink when the fire had passed over I called to the others, "The water is all gone! Get down to the creek'! That is our only chance." They left the horse trough and started for the creek. I was some distance behind when I noticed most ot the party leaving the creek. My wife, Mrs Duncan, and Clarence stayed with me and I called to the others," For God's sake don't go up there, or you are caught!"
  
  Lindsay King shouted, "Come on. It is all right. We can get through." They kept going and that was the last time that I saw any of them alive except Arthur Walker and Harry King. I know that they could not get through the fire and shortly afterwards it crossed the tramline behind them, so that they could not get back. We crouched in the creek and the fire swept over us at a terrific pace. The heat was unbearable. Later, I came out of the creek, and met Walker and Harry King coming towards me. King was on his hands and knees. Walker was stumbling and fell into the creek. I carried King to the creek, and poured water over them both. They were badly burned. Walking along the tramline I found the bodies of the remainder of the party. I counted 13 bodies. When it came dusk, we all left the creek and went to the top of the hill, where we remained all night.
  
  Lillian Howe, wife of the previous witness, said that Mrs Duncan and she would have perished in the creek had not her husband kept throwing water over them. On their way to Saxton's mill the following morning, they were blocked at one point by a large burning tree which had fallen across the track. Exhausted and hungry, they were compelled to scrape away the sand with their hands to make a hole large enough to crawl under the tree. King and Walker, who were smoke blind and badly burned, had then to be dragged through this hole.
  
  Elizabeth Duncan, married woman, said:
  
  My son, Richard Duncan. aged two years and seven months, was burnt to death in the fire. I had been assisting Mrs Rowe in conducting the boating house, and had only been at Gilderoy for a week. When we were in the creek Mr Len King took my boy and tried to make to safety at the old farm with him but was compelled to turn back. He then left my boy with the remainder of the party, and that was the last time I saw him alive.
  
  Main Party Cut Off
  
  Arthur George Walker, sawmill hand said: While the others stayed in the creek, the main party tried tn reach some cleared land up the hill. We had gone about half-way when the fire leapt up in front of us. We turned and rushed back towards the creek, but when we reached the log yard we saw that the fire was aleady over the creek. We were cut off and could neither advance nor retreat. Lind say King took Mrs Walker and tried to force his way through the flames with her. They got half way and had to come back. I then attempted to reach safety with Mrs Walker but was also forced back. I could then see that there was no chance of saving anyone so I ran through the log yard, through the mill, which was on fire, and into the creek. Harry King had gone this way some minutes before. We dropped into the creek, and stayed there for three hours.
  
  Reoovory of Bodies.
  
  Mounted constable F.R.H. Raper, stationed at Yarra Junction, said that while conveying the body of Ernest Bull to Yarra Junction he heard of the disaster at Gilderoy. He left Bull's body at Saxton's house and went to the mill which he found had been totally destroyed. He described the finding of the bodies. In one place seven bodies were huddled together, three being those of children.
  
  Charles Reuben Lewis, mill hand, said that he left the mill at noon on Saturday and returned on the Mondav morning from Yarra Junction. He described the finding of the bodies and how he had been able to identify them by articles of their property.
  
  John Henry Hudson, labourer, Yarra Junction, described the finding of a body burned beyond recognition. Lying beside it was an imitation pin made of cardboard in the form of a Union Jack, and with the name on it in ink "Joseph Johnstone." Johnstone had worn this pin ever since witness had known him.
  
  Death of Ernest Bull
  
  A statement made by Arthur Bryant butcher, Powelltown, to Detective McKerrall was read. ln this he said:-About 6 o'clock on the Sunday night I went to Morris's slaughter-yard in Powelltown to kill a beast and some sheep for the following day. Alexander Sparks and Ernest Bull were with me. Bush fires were in the hills on every side, and the smoke was very thick. Bull returned to Powell- town. I released the cattle and sheep and we then lit two small fires as a break against the main fire which was closing in on all sides. We tried to cross the gully but the scrub was so thick that we could not get through. As we ran back towards the pigsty Bull cried, " I am done," and fell on his knees. I said, "Come on; we will be burnt to to death,"and Sparks and I helped him to the pig- sty. The fire became too hot and we moved into the sty among the pigs. But then the sty caught fire and we were forced out of it, and Bull threw himself in the ground and exclaimed," I am done."
  
  He kept catching his throat and asked us to cut his throat. He then lay still and did not speak. I examined him, feeling heart and pulse, and he appeared to be dead. The sty was then burning fiercely, and we were compelled to run through the flames to the railway line to save our own lives. That night we returned to the spot with others and found Bull's charred body near the pigsty.
  
  Fatal Refusal to Leave
  
  Charles Henry King, a line-repairer, Powelltown, said - About a quartar to 4 o'clock on the Sunday afternoon. accompanied by Carl Thomas, I went to No 13 mill, as the fires were raging there. Willliam Anson was sitting at his hut door, and the fire was burning fiercely on the l hill opposite the hut. I said to him, "You had better pack up, Bill and come with us." He replied, "No, Charlie; I have a little patch on the top of the hill and if the mill catches fire I am going up there." I tried in every way to induce him to leave the hut but he refused to do so. Fires broke out round his hut and I tried to put them out but it was no use. The heat became so intense that we had to run away or we would have been burned. Eventually we reached Cummings house, which is two miles dis- tant. On the Tuesday I was one of a search party which recovered Anson's body. It was lying three chains from his hut in the direction of the cleared patch which he had indicated.
  
  Origin of Fire
  
  Carl Thomas labourer Powelltown gavesimilar evidence.
  
  Senior detective A 1 McKerrall said that his inquiries showed that the fire had begun on Mount Donna Buang about January 3, and had burnt slowly in the hills till February 14 when it had been fanned into activity by the north wind and had leapt through the bush.
  
  Coroner's Praise
  
  Tlie coroner found that the deaths of the 16 people had been caused through burns accidentally received in a bush fire.
  
  "I desire ," he added, " to bear testimony in such words as I can to the wonderful courage shown by the women and the men who met this holocaust on the fateful Sunday afternoon. It moves one deeply, even to think of it. Thy showed the courage that we expect from the sons and daughters of our race but they showed it in a mar- vellous way." The coroner spoke of the excellent work performed by the people of Yarra Junction in helping to bring out the bodies of the dead and in succouring the homeless. The police had given of their time and energies to the full extent- first, he was sure, as men, and second as servants of the Government. He knew, perhaps better than most, how ungrudgingly they bad gone without food and without sleep. He acknowledged also the assistance which he had received from Senior detective McKerrall, by the fine manner in which he had prepared a difficult brief."

Edith Alma Walker

• Charts: Descendants of Stephen Hooper, Descendants of John Burgess

• Edith Alma Walker was born in November 1897.
• She was the daughter of Frederick Cliff Walker and Emma Wyatt.
• At the age of 19 years, Edith Alma Walker married Oliver Walter (Walter) Hooper, son of Oliver Hooper and Caroline Bergmann, in 1917 in Queensland.
• Edith Alma Walker and Oliver Walter (Walter) Hooper appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1936 living at Boonah. Oliver was a farmer and Edith carried out home duties.
  
• Edith Alma Walker died on 30 August 1992 at age 94.
• Edith was buried on 2 September 1992 in Boonah Cemetery.

Edwin Walker

• Charts: Descendants of Charles Eyles (#1), Descendants of Charles Eyles (#2)

• Edwin Walker was born in 1870.
• At the age of 22 years, Edwin Walker married Helen Amelia Constance Holdaway, daughter of Edwin Holdaway and Helen Ramage Davidson, on 28 June 1892 in Lower Moutere, New Zealand.
• On 1 November 1918 Edwin Walker and Helen Amelia Constance Holdaway lived in Pakarak, a, Bay of Islands.
• On 5 May 1922,his wife, Helen Amelia Constance Holdaway died in New Zealand at age 52.
• At the age of 54 years, Edwin Walker married Edith Maude Holdaway, daughter of Edwin Holdaway and Helen Ramage Davidson, in 1924 in New Zealand. Edwin was Edith's brother in law who had previously been married to Edith's sister Helen Amelia Constance (Connie.)
• Edwin Walker died on 27 September 1927. He died at sea.

Edwin John Walker

• Edwin John Walker was born on 26 July 1905 in Toowomba, Queensland.
• He was the son of Benjamin Robert Walker and Henrietta Martin.

Edwin Ralph Walker

• Charts: Descendants of Charles Eyles

• Edwin Ralph Walker was born in 1893 in New Zealand.
• He was the son of Edwin Walker and Helen Amelia Constance Holdaway.
• Edwin Ralph Walker died on 21 January 1960 in New Zealand.
• Edwin Ralph Walker also went by the name of Ralph.

Elizabeth Maria Walker

• Elizabeth Maria Walker was born on 12 October 1899 in Meringandan, Queensland.
• She was the daughter of Benjamin Robert Walker and Henrietta Martin.

Ellen Alice Walker

• Ellen Alice Walker was most likely born in 1860 in New South Wales.
• She was the daughter of Robert Francis Walker and Maria Carruthers / Crothers.
• At the age of 24 years, Ellen Alice Walker married Henry Wilcox, son of Edmund Wilcox and Ann Gibbs, in 1884 in Queensland.
• Ellen Alice Walker and Henry Wilcox appeared on the Electoral Roll in 1903 living at "The Pines", Crow's Nest. Henry was a farmer.
  
• In 1907,her husband, Henry Wilcox died in Brisbane, Queensland.
• Ellen Alice Walker died in 1937 in Brisbane, Queensland.

Ellen Alice Walker

• Ellen Alice Walker died on 14 May 1883 in Queensland.
• She was born on 14 May 1883 in Queensland.
• She was the daughter of Benjamin Robert Walker and Henrietta Martin.

Elsie May Walker

• Elsie May Walker was born on 27 June 1898 in Cooby Creek, Queensland.
• She was the daughter of Benjamin Robert Walker and Henrietta Martin.
• At the age of 17 years, 1 month and 23 days, Elsie May Walker married Percy Usher, son of Edmund Lupton Usher and Agnes Bootle, on 19 August 1915 in Toowomba, Queensland.
• Elsie May Walker died on 25 November 1989 in Toowomba at age 91.
• Elsie was buried in Garden of Remembrance.

Emily Frances Walker

• Emily Frances Walker was born in 1862 in Queensland.
• She was the daughter of Robert Francis Walker and Maria Carruthers / Crothers.