Blades, John Stephen (Jack)
[SS "Koombana": list of crew as per copy of Articles at shipping office, Fremantle, Adelaide Steamship Company, April 1912. provided to the author by Jean Northover, City Beach, Western Australia]
THE CREW AGE BIRTHPLACE
...
J. Blades, second grade steward 21 Middlesborough
...
[Wreck of the KOOMBANA - letters re men's estates, Correspondence between the office of the Chief Harbourmaster, Fremantle, and the families of lost crewmembers, Harbour and Lights Department, 1912. State Records Office of Western Australia, AN16/5 Cons 1056 Item 062]
my image 831
Letter marked as received by ASS Coy, Fremantle, 17 July 1912.
55 Russell St
Middlesborough
England
Dear Sir
I have just learned that you
are Manager for the Adelaide Shipping
Company at Fremantle and I would
be very thankful if you would assist
me in my trouble my Son J Blades
was a Steward on the S.S. Koombana
which foundered in March and I
believe gave his birth place at
Sydney which I am sorry to say
is not correct for the last
letter received from him was
dated Jan 16 from the Koombana
at Port Hedland the paper
has the painted heading of the
Adelaide Steamship Company and
the Company flag I have ??? one
letter returned from Port Hedland
which was addressed ?? the Koombana
and I understand that the Company
has some letters addressed to my
Son which was written by his
Sister and will be Signed ?Lansa?
I will be very pleased if you
will help me to ?secure? what
was due to my sone I have
wrote to Adelaide and told
them I will send letters if
they require proof that J.
Blades was my son and
claiming what was due for
him I trust you will help
assist me as far as possible
I remain dear Sir
Your Obedient
Servant
C Blades
55 Russell St
Middlesborough
England
[Wreck of the KOOMBANA - letters re men's estates, Correspondence between the office of the Chief Harbourmaster, Fremantle, and the families of lost crewmembers, Harbour and Lights Department, 1912. State Records Office of Western Australia, AN16/5 Cons 1056 Item 062]
my image 830
22nd. July 1912.
Mrs. C. Blades,
55, Russell Street,
MIDDLESBOROUGH. England.
Dear Madam,
I enclose herewith a Bank Draft for £1:17:8,
being balance of wages due to your late son, G. Blades,
lost in the illfated "Koombana".
Will you kindly furnish me with a receipt
for this amount.
Yours faithfully,
[copy unsigned]
SHIPPING MASTER.
1 enc.
[Wreck of the KOOMBANA - letters re men's estates, Correspondence between the office of the Chief Harbourmaster, Fremantle, and the families of lost crewmembers, Harbour and Lights Department, 1912. State Records Office of Western Australia, AN16/5 Cons 1056 Item 062]
[my images 907 & 909]
55 Russell St
Middlesborough
England
Sept. 10
Dear Sir
I am in receipt of your
letter also Bank draft and
[unclear] which I have had
a great amount of trouble with
not being able to cash them
in Middlesborough I had to
communicate with the Agent
General for Western Australia
and only received the money
in the 12th [unclear]
you I enclosed receipt for
the amount with support
to the fund you mention I am
pleased to say I was not
dependent on my late Son
although I am only a workingman
and greatly felt the loss
off one who was expected
to refund what it cost to
fit him out for a seagoing
life I dont think I could
claim on your fund thanking
you again I am dear Sir
Yours obedient
Servant
C Blades
[Wreck of the "Koombana" - photocopy of material relating to, Harbour and Lights Department, Western Australia, 1912, State Records Office of Western Australia. Series 1618, Cons. 5055, Item 001, see Koombana Relief Fund correspondence]
Mr. Hare.
The following enquiries have been addressed to us in regard to persons supposed to have been lost in the s.s. "KOOMBANA":-
(1) Mr. C Blades, 55, Russell Street, Middlesborough
(This man has lost his son John Stephen Blades)
...
["Story Of The Koombana", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 31 March 1912, page 12, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57729211]
...
P. Farrance, A. Deeham, C. H. Benedict, Edward Wardlaw, J. Hughes, J. Blades, A. Salkild, S. W. Reynolds, F. J. Winpenny, Wm. Dick, James Crosbie, Wm. Cant, R. Davies, W. Burkin, H. Smith and P. Finnerty, stewards.
...
["Officers and Crew", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 31 March 1912, page 1]
...
Several stewards, whose names appear on the articles of the Koombana, may not have joined the vessel. Captain Smith, the Port shipping master, asks that in this event the men who did not go should notify him.
...
["The Crew", The West Australian (Perth, WA), Wednesday 03 April 1912, page 7]
The following is the complete crew which left with the vessel, according to the records in the Adelaide Co.'s office:--
...
P. Farrance, A. Deerham, C. H. Benedicte, E. Wardlaw, J. Hughes, J. Blades, A. Salkild, S. W. Reynolds, F. J. Winpenny, Wm. Dick, James Crosbie, Wm. Cant, R. Davis, W. Burkin, H. Smith, and P. Finnerty, stewards.
...
["The Koombana", The West Australian (Perth, WA), Friday 12 April 1912, page 7]
OFFICIAL LIST OF CREW
The following official list of the names of the crew who signed on the s.s. Koombana's articles and who were supposed to have gone in the vessel is supplied by the Shipping Master of Fremantle (Captain T. W. Smith). The age, birthplace, and capacity of each member is given:--
...
J. Blades, 21, Middlesboro, assistant steward;
...
["In Memoriam", The West Australian (Perth, WA), Friday 21 March 1913, page 1]
BLADES.--In loving memory of our dear friend. Jack Blades, who lost his life on the ill fated Koombana, March. 1913.
Gone, but not forgotten.
--Inserted by his loving friends, M. and D. Bourke.
