Farrance, Percy

[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

...

P. Farrance, first grade steward 23 London

...

["Story of the Koombana", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 31 March 1912, page 12]

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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, 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:--

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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, 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:--

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P. Farrance, 23, London, assistant steward;

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["Announcements", The Western Mail (Perth, WA), Saturday 04 May 1912, page 23]

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Deaths.

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FARRANCE.--On or about March 21, lost at sea on the s.s. Koombana, Percy, only son of Mrs. Farrance, Kent, England, age 24 years.

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Gone, but not forgotten.

--Inserted by his loving friend, Irine Collier.

AB notes:

looks like Percy had lost his father, and had a girlfriend in WA

["Church Chat", The Independent (Footscray, Vic.), Saturday 01 September 1917, page 3]

Concert at Baptist Church.

One fo the most enjoyable concerts ever held in the ? Baptist Church eventuated on Saturday night last. Miss Irene Collier was the star artist, and in her duet with Mr. Jones and again with Miss Marina Taylor, and also in her own musical monologue, she was irresistible and quite captivated the audience with her charming style.

AB notes:

no guarantee that this is the Irene Collier. Will keep anyhow, in case other information shows a link.

[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 img 851

[letterhead

ELDRIDGE,

CHISLEHURST, KENT.]

July 2nd, 1912

Dear Sir,

I have heard from your

Shipping Office at Adelaide

that I was to apply to you

for any thing that was due

to my son Percy Farrance

who was lost in the

S/S Koombana and

I shall be much obliged

if you would kindly

forward any thing through

the Board of Trade London

I should be much obliged

if you could tell me if

my son was insured in

any way as he used

to be when on the

ships in England

I remain

Yours Faithfully

Mary Farrance