Little Boy Lost – Wallace Cocking

From the Kalgoorlie Miner 27^th Jan 1921

Boy on a bike

News was received today from Menzies of a sad fatality which occurred at Mulline between Friday and Saturday. Wallace David Cocking, 11 yrs of age and son of Mr Joseph Cocking, sandalwood contractor, was sent at 5am on Friday with an urgent message to his father. Mr Cocking’s camp was 25 miles west of Mulline.

The boy had a supply of water with him on his bicycle. His father who had been expecting the message became uneasy at not receiving it and on Saturday started back to Mulline. About three quarters of a mile from his camp he noticed the tyre tracks of a bicycle which had turned back in the direction of Mulline and becoming alarmed he followed the tracks for some miles and found the bicycle on the road but no sign of the boy. Darkness had set in and he at once headed for Mulline where he secured a search party. The Riverina mine car was dispatched to Menzies for the police and trackers but before their arrival the boy’s dead body was found on the roadside about 12 miles from Mulline, the boy’s body was brought back into the town.

Death and Notice Berevement

An inquest was opened before Mr McAlpine JP acting Coroner and Messer’s Robert Hyde, H Bird and E Giles. After hearing the evidence of the parents and Sydney Jessen the following verdict was recorded:- “That’s the deceased met his death on or about the 24^th January from the effects of sun stroke and exposure.” Constable Harris watched the proceedings on behalf of the police.

This story was sent to me by Laurel Nowland who’s father was the younger brother of Wallace Cocking. The family story says that the unfortunate lad was sent on what he thought was an important mission to deliver a telegram, it was later discovered that the letter was of no urgency. . Wallace David Cocking is buried in an unmarked grave in the Mulline cemetery, Western Australia,  he was one of three sons.

The stricken family was not done with tragedy. Not long after the family moved to Cowaramup in the South West of West Australia near Margaret River. Joseph Cocking and his oldest son took up a farm and Joseph opened a blacksmiths shop.  He would often travel back and forwards to the Wiluna area prospecting. He had just returned after one such trip after an absence of several months. He was walking over the fields of his sons farm when he was gored by a bull. A Mr Gallagher, according to newspaper reports, beat the bull back with a broken cart shaft at great personal risk but Mr Cocking had already sustained serious injury to his legs and back. Mr Cocking was taken to the Margaret River hospital but gas gangrene set in quickly and he passed away the following Thursday. He was only 53 yrs old.  This final blow was to undermine his wife Catherine’s health and she moved to Busselton with her two youngest children.

She was to die herself less than three years later they say from a broken heart. She left behind her children, Joseph, Thomas, Stephen, John and Harold. She also had two daughters Margaret and Olive. She is buried in the Busselton Cemetery. In a strange twist I found that this family is related to my husband Norm Sharp!

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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