| Thomas Hester
Gunner
We regret to have to report a casualty. Thomas Hester, one of the Naval Brigade in the boats, was loading a gun, and had his left hand on the muzzle when the explosion took place. The poor fellow had his left hand completely blown off, and his arm dreadfully shattered. A cab was obtained, and he was sent off at once to the hospital, where he is doing as well as can be expected. It was thought best to send him into town at once, but there were ample means of treating him on the ground as well. There were ambulance waggons in the rear for the surgeons, with their corps; and an hospital was established, under Staff-surgeon Gilbee and Assistant-surgeon Garrard, in the grand stand. This was the only disagreeable circumstance connected with the affair, and the spectators on the hill as well as those on the grand stand (catered for by Messrs. Ellis and Hennelle), had every reason to find the day extremely agreeable.
The Argus, 27 December 1867
One of the Naval Brigade had rammed home a charge, the gun missed fire, and he used the rammer again while the captain of the gun stood with his thumb on the vent, the charge exploded and the result was that, the unfortunate gunner who was in front of the gun was hit, knocked over board, lifted onto the bank, and found to have lost his hand. The captain of the gun, by the reaction, had his thumb split up, and a wound of a serious character thereby inflicted.
Illustrated Australian News, 4 February 1868
The Argus, 4 January 1873
Served 1865 - 1869
Source Victorian Naval Brigade 1860 - 1871 courtesy of Tom Corfmat, Victorian Colonial Infantry Association Inc. |
