Sunday Times – Perth – 5 April 1914, page 7
The Knickerbocker Hero
The Little Lennonville Hero
were some of the words used to describe Vincent Atkinson, a young boy of just ten years of age, who was to inspire West Australians with his presence of mind and his ‘heart of a lion’ after he brought his younger brothers and sister to safety following the sudden death of their mother at their isolated homestead.
On Friday 27th February 1914, the weather was extremely hot and trying. Joseph William Atkinson, prospector and later of Billie Pools Station, about four miles north of Mt Magnet in Lennonville country, had left the previous afternoon to prospect at Trigg Hill. This was on the shores of Lake Austin about 10-12 miles away. he wasn’t due home till that evening or the following morning.
Joseph Vincent ATKINSON age 10yrs – Western Mail 5 June 1914, page 28
His wife Rachel (nee Cooke) did not send the three elder children to walk into the Lennonville school that morning as she was in the habit of doing, it being already very hot. This was to prove ‘providential’ as the day tragically proceeded. Had the three children returned home at dusk, a more heart-rending tale may have had to be told, there being also two younger children who did not attend school.
Following lunch Rachel sent the children into the house to play, saying she wished to do some washing. A little later, Isobel, aged five ran to the other children to say that mother was ‘lying asleep in the sun’. The children went out, and Vinnie, the eldest, felt his mother’s pulse and heart, he then had to tell the children that their mother was dead.
Rachel Atkinson, just thirty-six years of age, had died from heart failure accelerated by the intense heat. Vincent placed a hat over their mother’s face and contemplated the predicament he, with his younger brothers and sister, found themselves in.
Vinnie’s first idea was to follow his father’s tracks, but he knew it was twelve miles away, and that he could not reach that spot before dark. He then thought of running to his uncle (Charlie Grose) at the Five Mile but was afraid to leave the little ones alone. He finally decided to go to his uncle at the Five Mile, but to take the children with him.
This done, the lad with a foresight far beyond his years, cleared the table, fed and watered the poultry, turned the windmill off, gave each of the children a piece of bread and butter, took a long drink to do him for the journey, he then filled the water bag and got an enamel jug for the baby to drink from. He put the baby into a small go-cart which he pushed and, for fear it would perish if left behind, he took a young puppy with them.
Barefoot the procession of young children set out, 10-year-old Vincent, Bobby aged 8, Isobel aged 5, Arthur aged 3 and James the 7-month-old baby brother. The thermometer climbed to a scorching 110°degrees (43°C) in the shade.
The puppy was the first to knock up and had to be carried, then Jock (Arthur), whose feet were badly blistered had to be carried and Vincent, with his young brother on his back and pushing the go-cart through the sand, became very distressed but pushed manfully on….. With the extreme heat, the baby required every attention and a sip of water every few hundred yards. Vincent’s great anxiety was that the water bag would give out before they reached the Five Mile.
With forethought and pluck and the ability of a full-grown man he managed everything. Before the sun had set, Vincent had brought the little expedition safely through. Upon the arrival of the children bearing their sad news, Mrs J Grose and Messrs W Grose and J Fitzgerald, followed soon after by Mr James Atkinson and Mrs Pascoe proceeded with all speed to the family home with a message dispatched to Dr Hume and another to Rachel’s husband. On arrival at the homestead, it was found that the boys’ statement as to his mother’s death was true. Rachel Atkinson was buried in the Mount Magnet Cemetery.
Vincent’s story was retold as far away as London, and Vincent was hailed a hero. The Royal Humane Society recognised Vincent’s epic trek with a citation and two medals and the gift of £44 10sh. One of the medals was struck by Sandstone jeweller, Fred Bowman with Sandstone gold. The central part depicts the scene with Vincent pushing the cart with the baby James in it, Jock (Arthur) on his back and Isobel in front with Bob and the pup behind.
Medals Awarded to Vincent by the Humane Society
Joseph was to later marry Alice Patricia Josephine GREEN in Sandstone WA in 1932 and they had two children. He died in 1992 in Guilford WA aged 89yrs.
REF:- Drawn to Mt Magnet by Lorna Day and Karen Morrissey.
Moya Sharp
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I love your story about Vincent Atkinson as I’m a distant relative of the Atkinsons , my mother lived in sandstone while younger then eventually moved to the city and after that she moved to the U.S where I was born. It’s my dream to visit sandstone eventually before my time expires. Thank you for your story.
Hi James Thank you so much for getting in touch. It is indeed an amazing story. I have often wondered if the medal given to Vincent is still in the family.
Dear Moya,
What a wonderful collection of reflections on such wonderful people who survived on the goldfields in extremely difficult circumstances. The information you have collated has touched our hearts.
Joan and Tony Smurthwaite
(Joan nee Stokes was born in 1943 at Kalgoorlie District Hospital, attended St Michaels in Butler St Kalgoorlie, before going to EGHS to study for her Leaving.) Married Tony at Lourdes Monastery in Lesmurdie, December 1964 and remained in Kalgoorlie until age 24 years.
I have a copy of “Drawn to Mt Magnet” and found this story to be remarkable. My Hedley Family were close to Charlie Grose and Biddie Atkinson was a bridesmaid at my Mother’s (Jessie Hedley) marriage to Bill Wright in 1937 at Mt Magnet. Those people during the gold rush period were such strong and resourceful people.