Your Family Stories

Two Brothers – Two Accidents – Two Years Apart

Nobody wants that knock on the door from the police telling them that a loved one has been killed in a road accident.

Sadly, this happened to the Thompson family in South Australia nearly 100 years ago, not just once, but twice, less than two years apart.

Two of my husband’s great-uncles died in motorcycle accidents in almost the identical spot. They were brothers of Edward (known as Norman) Thompson, my husband’s grandfather. Malcolm Ronald Thompson died at just 17 years of age in August 1930, and Clifford John Webb Thompson died when he was 21 on the 19^th of June 1932.

The only reason I know this story is because one day my husband’s aunt casually mentioned that two of her father’s brothers had been killed in motorcycle accidents when they were young. I could have seen their birth and death dates on a family tree and never given them a second thought. Instead, her comment made me curious. Given the circumstances, I felt sure there had to be more to the story.

These accidents occurred more than 40 years before helmets became compulsory for motorbike riders in Australia – that law was introduced in 1972. And, no doubt, the roads weren’t as good as those we drive on today.

Edward NORMAN Theodore Charles Thompson (1898 – 1956)

Maybe there was a spirit of adventure in the Thompson genes. Malcolm and Cliff enjoyed the freedom that motorbikes gave them, while Norman’s adventurous spirit took him more than 3,000 kilometres from his Mount Barker (South Australia) home to a new home in Northcliffe, Western Australia, after a short stay in a boarding house in Perth, the State’s capital.

Soon after their marriage in December 1929, Norman and his wife Jean (Granny Thompson, 1902 – 1990) set off on an adventure. There was no Eyre Highway yet so they drove along the track that ran beside the Trans Australian Railway Line. It would have been a long and difficult journey. (see Trans-Australia Railway – Wikipedia).

Getting back to the tragedy of the two young brothers and their motorbikes, newspaper reports from the 1930s give us an insight into what happened.

Malcolm Ronald Thompson (1912 – 1930)

Initial reports detailed Malcolm’s accident with slightly conflicting reports about whether it was a telegraph pole or a fence that he hit.

SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT

On Friday last Mr. Malcolm Thompson, of Flaxley, was severely injured in a motorcycle accident. It is understood he had been doing his machine up and was trying it out at Western Flat. Apparently a part of the front of the cycle was not right, for he suddenly swerved and came into collision with a telegraph pole. He sustained two broken legs and severe abrasions. He was taken to the Mount Barker Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, where he lies in a critical condition. – The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, Friday 9 August 1930.

MOTOR CYCLIST SERIOUSLY INJURED

Macclesfield – Mr. M. Thompson was seriously injured when a motorcycle which he was testing swerved into a fence. Both his legs were fractured, be received cuts on the head, and several ribs were broken. – The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Tuesday 12 August 1930.

DIED FROM INJURIES

Malcolm Thompson, who, as reported in our last issue was an inmate of the Mount Barker Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital as the result of a motorcycle accident, died after an operation on Monday afternoon. Everything possible was done for the unfortunate lad, and in an attempt to save his life, amputation of one of the injured legs was performed. The operation was successfully performed but the shock was too much and he died shortly after. – The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, Friday 15 August 1930.

DEATH FOLLOWS ACCIDENT

Macclesfield – Malcolm Thompson (17), who met with an accident recently while riding a motorcycle, died in the local hospital. One of his legs was amputated. – Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Tuesday 26 August 1930.

MACCLESFIELD

Mr. Malcolm Thompson, who met with a motor accident quite recently, died at the hospital shortly after one of his legs was amputated at the thigh. He was only seventeen years of age, and much sympathy is felt for the relatives. – Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA), Thursday 28 August 1930.

Clifford John Webb Thompson (1910 – 1932)

Less than two years later, a similar fate befell Malcolm’s older brother Cliff. This time, however, there were two motorcycles involved in the accident. The newspaper report also gives us a glimpse of Cliff as a person rather than simply another accident statistic. He emerges as a popular and highly respected young man.

MACCLESFIELD

Quite a gloom was cast over the town when it was known that Clifford Thompson had died after his admission to Mt. Barker Hospital. Cliff and his brother had been invited to Mr. Haines’ for the evening. Alf arrived at his destination, which was only about two miles from home, and Cliff left about half past six on his motorcycle.

At the turn two miles from this township, he collided with another cycle travelling in the opposite direction. Miss Stella Dewhurst, of Strathalbyn, was on the pillion of the cycle ridden by Mr. Frisby, and is well known in the district. They were returning to work in the city when the accident occurred.

Shortly afterwards, Mr. Zilm, of Flaxley, came along, and found the three cyclists unconscious on the roadway in pools of blood. He stopped other travellers, and the police and Dr. were sent for. Mr. Alf Thompson was also notified of his brother’s accident. The three victims were removed to Mt. Barker hospital, seven miles away, where Cliff died half an hour later. Miss Dewhurst had a cut head and shock. Mr. Frisby was also seriously injured.

It is less than two years ago that Cliff’s youngest brother was killed off a motorcycle, only a few hundred yards from the scene of the accident, and between that period Mrs. Thompson had died.

Cliff was a very popular and highly respected young man, only 21 years of age; was fond of sport, especially tennis, which he attended regularly. He played his first game of football against Aldgate on Saturday last. He had also fired on the local range with promising results, and was very good at dancing. Much sympathy is felt for his sister and brothers, Cliff’s smiling disposition gaining him great popularity and respect. – Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA), Thursday 30 June 1932

MACCLESFIELD

Quite a number of footballers stood bareheaded as the funeral cortege of the late Cliff Thompson approached the grave side, where the Rev. Hughes officiated. – Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA), Thursday 14 July 1932

One short sentence tells us everything we need to know about Cliff’s standing in the community. The footballers removed their hats as his funeral passed—a simple gesture of respect.

The Family

As mentioned in the article about Cliff’s accident, his mother passed away in 1931. She was Lucy Ellen Eveline Thompson, nee Stevens, who died on the 29^th of November, aged 59. Her husband Edward (Ted) James Thompson died at 54 a few years earlier in 1925.

The surviving siblings included: Mary Evelyn Johannah Thompson (1901 – 1960); Alfred Walter James Thompson (1904 – 1976); and, Frederick William George Thompson (1906 – 1981). Another sibling, Fanny, died as an infant (1914 – 1914).

The Lessons

My late father-in-law, Jimmy Thompson (nephew of these two brothers), often said that motorbike riders were ‘temporary Australians’. He never mentioned his uncles. Maybe he used this term because members of his family had died in motorcycle accidents. Or maybe he simply didn’t know what had happened before he was born.

There are two lessons I take from this story:

Lesson One – Be curious. Speak to the older members of your family whilst they are still here. The stories they share may contain the clues that solve mysteries, break down brick walls and uncover remarkable family stories.

Lesson Two – Be careful. Every time we get into a motor vehicle or onto bikes (be they motorcycles, push bikes, electric bikes or scooters), there is a risk that our next of kin will get a knock on their door from a police officer with bad news. Let’s all hope that never happens.