Name Of Mine On Which Last Employed
Sons of Gwalia GM, Western Australia

Place Of Burial
Leonora Cemetery, Western Australia

Submitted by
David McMillan - Volunteer

District
Leonora

Cause of Death
Mine Accidents

Other Information
His father William BOWDEN died of Pneumoconiosis at Leonora in 1918.

The Northern Grazier and Miner, Sat 1 Jun 1929 - Page 2. Fatality on Sons of Gwalia Mine Inquest On Victim A young married man, William Leslie Bowden was accidentally killed on the Sons of Gwalia Mine on the 27th May. An inquest was held at Leonora on Thursday last and was presided over by Mr J. E Geary, Coroner and a Jury. The finding of the Jury was to the effect that the deceased came to his death on the 27th May, 1929 at the Sons of Gwalia Mine whilst employed on the said mine, by being caught in the cog wheels of agitating vat, The cause of death being shock following injuries no blame was attachable to anyone.

The Northern Grazier and Miner (Leonora, WA : 1929 - 1944) - Sat 1 Jun 1929 - Page 5 OBITUARY The late W. L. Bowden Once again it is our sad duty to report the death of one of our fellow citizen's, the late William Leslie Bowden, 22 years of age who was cut down in life when he met with an accident on the Sons of Gwalia Mine. The deceased was a keen supporter of various sports and at the time of his death was a member of the Gwalia Football Club who will no doubt feel the loss of this player very much, and was well liked by all that new [knew] him. The Funeral took place on Tuesday last, when a service was held at the Anglican Church, Gwalia, and then proceeded by road to the cemetery where the Rev. Forbes officiated at the graveside. The pall bearers were:— Messrs. S. Major, E. Prince, J. Scott, C. Patroni, R. Lillico and W. Jenkins. Following is the list of donors of wreaths, cards and wires:- His wife and brother, Grandma Bowden, Mother, brother and sisters, Sister and brother-in-law, Gwalia Football Club, Jack Simpson, The Beatty family, Mr. and Mrs. Scott, the August family, B. McGaffia, the Tait family, the Chisholm family, Mr. and Mrs. Wimhurst, Mr and Mrs E. Robertson, the Briggs family, the Pilkington family, Blythe Miller, Leonora Football Club, Mr. and Mrs. C. Valentine, Soccer Club the Wookman family, the McLean family, the Haddow family, the Hill family, the Valli family, Uncle Sid, Auntie Sadie and Dorothy, and Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull and family. DEATH OF W. L. BOWDEN PROCEEDINGS AT INQUEST An inquest was held at the Leonora courthouse on Thursday, May 30; on the death of William Leslie Bowden, who met his death on May 27 by being caught in machinery on the Sons of Gwalia mine. The inquest was conducted by Mr. J. E. Geary (Coroner), and the jury comprised Messrs. Malcolm Downie (foreman), G. H. Taylor, and Thomas Smith. There were also present Messrs G. Moore, Inspector of Machinery (representing the Mines Department), V. T. Edquist (Sons of Gwalia Company), F. Pennefeather (A.W. Union), and Constables Shaddick and Perks. Constable Perks stated that at about 6.45 a.m. on the 27th May, Mr. W. H. Pilkington reported to him that William Bowden had been killed on the mine. Witness at once proceeded to the mine and saw the body of Bowden lying on the top landing near the agitator wheel. He did not interfere with the body until the arrival of Dr. Cumpston, who examined the body and stated that the man was dead and ordered the removal to the hospital morgue. Witness went to the morgue next day and identified the body as that of William Leslie Bowden, whom he had known for about a year. Dr. L. G. B. Cumpston gave evidence of being called to the mine about 7.15 a.m., where he saw the dead body of Bowden on the top landing near the agitator wheel, and ordered his removal to the morgue. On the same afternoon witness performed a post-mortem examination and produced a report which he read to the jury. After detailing the various injuries, the report concluded by stating that the cause of death was primary shock following severe mutilation of the right upper limb. In reply to the Coroner, he stated that the injuries could have been caused by being drawn in between cog wheels by the right arm. The shock from these wounds was sufficient to cause death.
Frederick E. Anderson, a tube mill hand employed on the mine, stated that at about 6.30 a.m. on the 27th, he noticed that the tonnage vat was running over, which was unusual, and he turned it off to another Vat. He went to look for Bowden, whose duty is was to attend to the vats. He met Hans Handschin and asked him if he had seen Bowden. Handschin said, "No,", but he would go and find him. Shortly after witness saw Handschin beckoning, and running up the steps was told that Bowden was killed. Mr. Pilkington, the ambulance man, and the manager were notified. Anderson said he caught a glimpse of the body in the cogs of the agitator gearing. To the Coroner, witness said he did not see any accident, nor did he hear anyone calling out. Hans Haidschin, a treatment plant hand, deposed that on the morning of the 27th, about 6.30, Anderson, the previous witness, met him near the metallurgist's office, and asked if he had seen Bowden about, as the tonnage vat was running over and Bowvden could not be found. Witness then went to look for Bowden on the top floor, that being the most likely place to find him and saw Bowden lying across the crown wheel of No. 2. agitator. The gear had stopped. He went to the driving pulley and pulled off the belt so that the machinery could not start again. Then Witness stated that he tried to work the wheel backwards to release the body, because he had seen that the right arm and shoulder were beneath the driving pinion. Bowden appeared to be dead when I first saw him. He raised his left arm and felt no pulse. The body was slightly warm. Witness went to get help from the engine room, and met Shepherd there. Together they tried to pull the gear back to release the body. Shepherd went for further assistance. Handschin last saw Bowden alive between 5.20 and 5.30 a.m., when he came through the room where witness was working. In reply to Mr. Moore, Handschin said that the belt was still on the driving pulley when he went to release it, and the belt was slipping on the driving shaft below. The platform was well lit; an electric light was situated about 10 or 12 feet away from the place of the accident. Part of Bowden's duty was to attend to the lubrication of the agitator gearing. In doing so, he would have to put his arm over the crown wheel, and if he slipped or over-reached himself he would probably fall on to the crown wheel. Witness added that he did not see any accident, or hear anyone calling out. Edward L. Shepherd, assistant storekeeper, gave evidence supporting that of the previous witness. He said he was standing on the platform of the gas producers, when Handschin came running to him, saying, "Quick! Billy Bowden's been killed." He assisted Handschin in an effort to turn the gear to release the body and then went for further help. Meeting Fred Pennefather, they returned and they lifted the body off the crown wheel. Bowden was quite dead, but the body was not quite cold. In reply to Mr. Moore, Shepherd said that they must have freed the body from the gearing without knowing it. This concluded the evidence, and the court then adjourned for a few minutes while the jury prepared their verdict. On resuming, the jury announced their verdict as follows:- "We find that William Leslie Bowden met his death, on the 27th May on the Sons of Gwalia mine, while employed by the Sons of Gwalia, by being accidentally caught in the cog-wheels of an agitator vat, between 5.30 and 6.30 a.m. on the 27th May,1929. The cause of death was shock following injuries. We find that no blame is attachable to anyone."