Richard Arthur Hancock

Richard (Dick) Arthur Hancock was just 32 years of age when he disappeared off the coast of Dongara in 1945. He lived on Marine terrace (West End Beach) in Geraldton. His Father Richard Ezekiel (Snr) and Brother Robert Frederick were Fishermen, and it is likely Richard had followed in their footsteps.

In company with Horace Howson, a shipwright of the Esplanade Hotel in Geraldton, Hancock left Geraldton on Thursday 15 November in the Comet, a 28 foot sailing boat to go fishing. Howson’s Grandfather was Robert “Spinaway” Howson, a well-known shipwright who had arrived in the Colony in 1875 onboard the barque he had himself built for the export trade – the Spinaway.

The Comet belonged to James Ryland of the Esplanade Hotel in Geraldton. Hancock and Howson had known each other for 9 months, but they had never sailed together. Hancock was skippering the craft. By the Saturday night they had reached the vicinity of Point Denison. At 5am the following morning they departed to fish in the vicinity of Horseshoe reef approximately 15 miles to the south of Point Denison. Not long before 5pm they decided to return to Point Denison. Tying the tiller to ensure the craft kept on its course making for the lee of land at Point Denison while they had tea, the two men proceeded to the galley. Having completed the meal, Hancock returned to the deck. When Howson emerged from the galley about 5 minutes later, he noticed his companion standing stiffly at the tiller, staring ahead of him, at the back of the boat. Without speaking, Hancock fell backwards over the back of the boat, striking the water with his back. He immediately rolled over on to his face and lay motionless. With only a light land breeze blowing, Howson experienced difficulty in turning the craft, but he managed to do this within 3 or 4 minutes and as the boat approached his companion he dived in the water. He tried to get Hancock back onto the boat but the boat was beginning to drift away from them. Howson was forced to release his grip on Hancock and swim back to the boat. He again tried to sail the boat towards Hancock, but by this time he had disappeared. For some time Howson cruised about in the vicinity before sailing to Point Denison. Howson reported the matter to the Police at Dongara and a search directed by Constable L. H. Tully was commenced but his body was never recovered.

Hancock had mentioned to Howson on one occasion that he suffered from high blood pressure and was subject to fits, but had not mentioned that on the Sunday. He did mention that his nose was causing him considerable trouble. He was single and left behind his Parents Richard Ezekiel and Emma Maud, as well as four siblings Helen Maud, Robert Frederick, Sylvia and Gordon Leslie.