Person:James Ludkin (1)

1881 - With parents at Bordeaux House, Tharston, Norfolk. Agricultual labourer, aged 20, born at Tharston, Norfolk.

1888 - Emigrated to Australia on the "Waroonga", arriving 21 July.

1908, 28 February - Report in Rockhampton newspaper: "Constable Warfield of Yaamba telegraphed to the police at Rockhampton yesterday that a fisherman named James Ludkin, residing in Alligator Creek, was drowned at 9 o'clock on Thursday between Wattlebank and Crawfords".

Rhonda Maher writes: For some days after this event was reported, his body had not been found, but we assumed that it was eventually recovered as his death certificate states he was buried at the Homestead, a cattle station, at Lake Learmouth, Yaamba. It is not sure how this appeared on the death certificate as it has now been discovered that his body was never recovered. There was a memorial garden made in his memory at the top of the creek in front of the homestead at Etna Creek where he had been living. At the time of the drowning, the weather had been extremely bad and the river was in full flood. James was bringing a boat to shore in the flood when a crocodile surfaced, the boat was swamped and James not seen again. I'm sure an inquest should have been held, but as yet a copy has not been found. On information received recently from a grandson, it appears that James had a wooden leg. It is thought that James lost his leg in a mine accident which occured overseas before coming to Australia.