Colonel Whitmore - Shooting gallery death

Colonel Whitmore's Headstone in Soldiers Area
Photo: Kath Kingswood

On the 13th of May 1920, 25 year old Colonel Whitmore of Hastings entered Hazard's rifle range. Attendant George Billing took down a self-loading Colt, and, as it was never kept loaded, put six shots into the chambers. While he was loading the pistol Whitmore put a pound note on the counter. George handed the pistol over, remarking that it was loaded, then turned to pick up his margin-book. When he turned around again Whitmore’s back was turned to him and the next moment he heard a shot and Whitmore fell without a word. He found Colonel Whitmore with a wound in the abdomen and an ambulance was called for.

There was nothing in Whitmore’s demeanour to suggest he was either drunk or suicidal and when asked on the way to hospital whether the wound was accidental Whitmore replied “Yes”. George Billing was of the opinion that Whitmore might either have bumped his arm against the partition of one of the targets or have caught his elbow on the edge of the target counter and thus bringing the muzzle round so as to point at his body.

The Coroner returned a verdict of death following upon the deceased accidentally shooting himself in the abdomen.

Soldiers Burial B, Row 1,

Plot 21: Colonel Whitmore 

1^st N.Z.E.F.

28/830 Rfm

C. WHITMORE

Rifle Brigade

died (N.Z.) aged

13.8.1920 25 yrs

Source: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers Auckland Star 14/5/1920

Presented by Geri Eccles - Discover Waikumete

William Eaton - Accident on the Kestrel

The headstone for William Eaton
in the Soldiers Burial Area
Photo: Kath Kingwood

William Eaton was a carpenter aboard the H.M.S. Philomel, a Man O’ War ship. On the 11th of May 1921 Eaton was going over to the North Shore by the Kestrel ferry steamer when, nearing the Devonport wharf, he fell from the top deck, striking the fender which runs round the vessel and then fell into the water. He was rescued and a boat was launched from the ferry to take him back to his own vessel where he died soon afterwards.

Incidentally the Kestrel ferry steamer was 111 years old when it sunk March 2016 and salvaged a month later. It had been docked at Wynyard Wharf for the previous four years and plans to restore it are still in the pipeline.

Soldiers Burial B, Row 1,

Plot 15: William Eaton (38) 1921 – Sailor

I.H.S.

WILLIAM EATON

Petty Officer.

H.M.S. Philomel. N.Z. Station.

died May 10^th 1921

aged 37.

Sources:
PapersPast Auckland Star 11/5/1921
The Kestrel Preservation Plan  http://www.thekestrel.org.nz/


Presented by Geri Eccles - Discover Waikumete