WILLIAM TREGILGAS
William Richard Tregilgas was born on the 21st day of November 1878, at Sturt, South Australia. His parents were Joseph Pearce Tregilgas and Jane Tregilgas nee Sedunary.
William was employed as a delivery boy by Mr J.W. Hugall, a baker of High Street, Strathalbyn. (1894 The Mount Barker Courier)
Each week, he called at Woodchester with the baker's cart. (1894 The Mount Barker Courier)
He died on the 29th day of August 1894 at Woodchester, South Australia, aged 15 years.
That day, he left the horse and cart on the road, and with another boy called Archibald Tims, he went for a swim in a waterhole that was about 10-12 feet deep.
Tims, who was a swimmer, dived in. William, who was not a swimmer, also dived in and was immediately in difficulty.
The alarm was raised, and residents attended but could not locate William. The Police were also called, and William's body was recovered after being in the water for over one hour. (1894 The Mount Barker Courier)
That day, he left the horse and cart on the road, and with another boy called Archibald Tims, he went for a swim in a waterhole that was about 10-12 feet deep.
Tims, who was a swimmer, dived in. William, who was not a swimmer, also dived in and was immediately in difficulty.
The alarm was raised, and residents attended but could not locate William. The Police were also called, and William's body was recovered after being in the water for over one hour. (1894 The Mount Barker Courier)
Above: Article from The Mount Barker Courier, Fri 5 Oct 1894. Image c/o Trove
William is buried at the Strathalbyn Cemetery. He does not have a headstone. His burial plot can be found at Plot 160, in Division 3.
Two months after William's death, a letter appeared in the Southern Argus, written by Archibald Tims.
Part of the letter read:
"I tried my best to help poor Tregilgas, but he was so much stronger and bigger than I, and would not give me freedom of action, winding himself about me, and we both went under water."
Archibald Tims went on to describe how he tried to unsuccessfully help William. (1894 The Later Drowning Case)
Part of the letter read:
"I tried my best to help poor Tregilgas, but he was so much stronger and bigger than I, and would not give me freedom of action, winding himself about me, and we both went under water."
Archibald Tims went on to describe how he tried to unsuccessfully help William. (1894 The Later Drowning Case)
Above: Article from the Southern Argus, Thu 18 Oct 1894. Image c/o Trove
References.
- 1894, The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1960), 5 October, p. 2. , viewed 30 Jul 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page17369740
- 1894, Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA : 1866 - 1960), 18 October, p. 3. , viewed 30 Jul 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page9486364