This Day in History: 1931-08-06

A school bus (charabanc) and a wheat train collided in early morning fog at the Clinton Street railway crossing in Toodyay, resulting in the deaths of five local school boys: Alan Victor ‘Laurie’ Cook (13), Ivor Alan Fawell (6), Lionel John Lee (14), Ewen Donald Mackintosh (13) and Norman K. Waters (8). Twelve children were injured. The bus was taking 34 school children from Coondle, Dewar’s Pool and Culham to the Toodyay State School.  The funerals were held the following day. Oliver George Page was the driver of the charabanc and the engine driver was Lionel Leslie Herrod.

Sources:
Toodyay herald, 7 Aug. 1931, p.1.
West Australian, 7 Aug. 1931, p.19; 26 Aug. 1931, p.14.
Western mail, 13 Aug. 1931, p.5 (illus.), 18; 27 Aug. 1931, p.2.
Wally Chitty. Toodyay – the good old days. Hesperian Press, 2004, pp.140-142.