Edward John Thomas

The People's Weekly Saturday May 23 1925

DEATH

THOMAS - On the 18th May at Stansbury, accidentally killed, Edward John, beloved son of J. and E. Thomas, and father of Jack, Leonard, Thelma and Abbie - left to mourn their sad loss.

Fatality at Stansbury

Mr. E.J. THOMAS THE VICTIM

Residents of Moonta were startled on Monday to learn of the death of Mr. E.J.Thomas, a widely known and very highly respected resident of this district, which occured that morning at the gypsum workings of the Stansbury quarries, due to a fall of earth. He was engaged in taking down what is termed a pocket of clay, weighing about a ton, which caught him in its fall before he could get out of the way, and he was killed instantly.

It is only a year and eight months ago that he suffered the loss of his wife, and much sympathy is felt for the members of his bereaved family. The deceased, who had moved about various mining camps of Australia and New Zealand, was a popular man where-ever he went, and was a live wire in unionism, politics and all kinds of sport. He took a keen interest in homing, and was secretary of the Moonta Homing for many years - a position he was holding at the time of his death.

When on the Barrier he was secretary of the Invitation Homing club, where he was held in high esteem. He also held prominent positions in the Moonta A.H. & F. Society, and won many prizes with his pigeons and poultry, especially his black Spanish fowls.

The late Mr. Thomas was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. James Thomas, of North Moonta and was born at Moonta on the 18th of May 1887, He was thus 38 years of age, and was killed on his birthday.

With his father, he went to Ravensthorpe, West Australia, in 1903, where he worked on surface for 12 months, and then returned to Moonta. After working under-ground here for three years he went to New Zealand where he put in 12 months in the mines in that country, and then returned again to Moonta. He worked on the mines here until 1917, when he removed his family to Broken Hill, and worked on the Barrier for 2 1/2 years, when he returned to Moonta, and worked here until the closing down of the mines. His next place of employment was in the Stansbury quarries, and from there he went to Monart South, where he worked in the Preamimma mine. Subsequently, however, he returned to Stansbury, where he remained until the time of his death.

He was a member of the Star of Moonta U.A.O.D., and was sectretary of the Stansbury branch of the Buffalo Lodge, and had arranged to leave for Adelaide during this week for a higher promotion in the Order. There are left to mourn their sad loss, in addition to his respected parents, a family of three sons (Jack, Leonard and Abbie), a daughter (Thelma), four brothers, and three sisters.

The body was brought to Moonta on Tuesday morning and rested at his father's house at North Moonta. The funeral took place the same afternoon. Members of the Druids lodge acted as pall bearers, and the Rev. A.A. Smith conducted the service.