Bror Emanuel Ericson

Bror Emanuel Ericson was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Ericson had been a well-respected resident of Bunbury for many years and was described as a very quiet, self-contained man, and held in high regard. He was also known as William “Bill” Ericsson. He had served in World War 1 as a sapper in the Tunnelling Companies, and returned to fishing when it ended. He owned his own boat and was frequently employed by the Harbour Board on relieving duties in connection with the launch. He was a seaman and fisherman by calling and had no relatives in the State.

The lessee of the Municipal Baths, Alfred Atkins knew Ericson well and saw him daily. On 12 September Atkins saw Ericson at about 9:15pm going up the jetty towards his boat. Ericson was a fisherman and lived in his boat at the moorings, and had to go out in his dinghy to reach it. He generally kept his dinghy underneath the jetty. There was a leaking water tap on the floor which rendered it very slippery. The area where the dinghy was kept was a popular fishing and crabbing spot.

Bernard McGeary, a labourer, had known Ericson since he was a child. Ericson would come in by his dinghy in the morning and return at night as was his custom. Ericson had fallen into the water on two previous occasions when trying to board his dinghy. The footing where he got into his dinghy was rather slippery.

Ericson was declared missing on the morning of 13 September when his acquaintances noticed his dinghy still moored to one of the piles along the pier. Police Constable White was alerted and immediately began a search, including up to 12 miles along the north beach. A suggestion was made that the vicinity should be dredged, but the conflicting currents in view of the stormy weather which prevailed at the time might have resulted in the body being anywhere within half a mile or so of the spot where the accident happened. The only solution of the tragedy considered possible was that Ericson lost his footing on the slippery planks of the jetty whilst climbing down to his boat, and that the heavy sea which was then running carried him out beyond the breakwater, the big rollers doing the rest.

McGeary and J. Noonan found Ericson’s body lying high and dry on the beach about five miles away at South Bunbury on the 27 September. They reported the matter to Police Constable White. The body was found nude in an advanced state of decomposition where a number of crows had been attracted to the scene. It was surmised that in his desperate attempt to save himself, he somehow managed to divest all his clothing, boots included. There were extensive indications of violence on the body, probably due to being smashed up against the rocks, while several portions were missing including the lower part of his mouth, left arm, both eyes, and the body altogether horribly disfigured. His identity was confirmed with the tattoo of a heart with an arrow through it on the right forearm.

In the Bunbury courthouse, the Coroner (Mr. L. L. Crockett, R.M) held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Ericson. A verdict of accidental death by drowning was returned. The Coroner added as a rider, “that those responsible for the work of the landing stage see that it was kept in order and so guard against people slipping into the water because of slippery planks.”

On the 10 October, Mr. J. E. Hands conducted an auction sale at the Police Station in Bunbury which included the effects of Ericson. It comprised one deep sea fishing boat, one dinghy, sails, barometer, ship’s compass, ropes, fishing lines, camp utensils and sundries. The boat was sold for £85 to Mr. Matthew Goodlad. Goodlad had also served as a sapper in the Tunnelling Companies and would later work for the Fisheries Department as a Whaling Inspector before retiring in 1955.

Ericson was buried by his mates of the Lumper’s Union, to which he had belonged for some considerable time. His death certificate states he was 49 years of age.