New Tablet Erected At Memory Cove

We now come to the last phase of this interesting history. Mr. W. White of Port Lincoln, in response to a request, stated in 1924 that the Memory Cove plate with the inscription was evidently covered with sand and debris and could not float far. There had been some very heavy rains during the latter part of November, 1923.

With this information, the President of the Marine Board wrote privately to the secretary to the Minister of Marine, stating that the copper plate erected by Captain Flinders had been washed away and in the 60's fragments had been found. Mr. Searcy informed the secretary how a fresh plate had been erected in 1897 and how "after a long lapse (of time) a big bush fire had again destroyed the mark. This was about a year ago. Our local harbormaster obtained a report and said the plate was there among the debris. Since then heavy rains have covered it up apparently with sand and soil. Would it not be a nice thing to have the plate again re-erected, this time on an iron post or train rail ?"

A bronze tablet was made by Messrs. A. W. Dobbie & Co. Ltd. and on August 26, 1924 it was erected a short distance from the previous site of the memorial, on higher ground and away from the action of the sea. The work of erection was performed by the staff of the Conqueror. We are not told whether they had any ceremony comparable with that when Mr. Gill erected the previous one.

NEW TABLET ERECTED

In the Archives, there is a drawing of the new tablet and post. The tablet is shown as about 2ft. by 1ft. 7in., bolted to a cast iron pipe 6ft. 6in. out of the ground. The pipe is set in concrete and the top plugged with cement. Through the courtesy of the acting general secretary of the Public Library Board, I was able to peruse a letter from the late Mr. John Bagot Labatt, Deputy Chairman of the Harbors Board, who stated that the tablet was erected by the Harbors Board, with the acquiescence of the Minister of Marine. The inscription on it was stated to have "been accepted as an authentic reproduction of that placed on the original tablet by Captain Flinders." It was said that the whole was very substantial and should stand for a considerable period of time.

My friend, Mr. G. H. Elmer, of the Chief Engineer of Railways Office, Adelaide, a keen photographer and yachtsman, while at Memory Cove in 1934, took a photo of the tablet, which bears out Mr. Labatt's contention, that it reproduced the original wording. In framing the wording, Flinders' log and the fragments of the original plate existing were used, preference being given to the wording of the latter. The only regret is that it is not a line by line reproduction. The wording of the new tablet should be recorded, so that 100 years hence, there will be no dispute about it. As far as can be traced, the wording on the new tablet has not previously been printed, neither has a photo of it appeared. It states: —

MEMORY COVE
H.M.S. Investigator. M. Flinders Comr.
Anchored here February 22, 1802.
Mr. John Thistle the Master
Mr. William Taylor Mid. and
Six of the crew were most
unfortunately drowned near this
place from being upset in a boat.
The wreck of the boat was found
but their bodies were not
recovered.
' NAUTICI CAVETE ! '

It was fitting that Mr. Searcy being associated in finding one of the fragments in 1866 should be responsible for the erection of the substituted memorial in 1924. All honor to him for taking the steps he did to perpetuate the memorial and also to the Government for providing the money to carry out his desires.

MEMORIAL FOR OTHER PIONEERS

A month after the erection of this tablet, the general secretary of the Public Library Board, took the same matter up with the department of Education and suggested the erection of a new tablet at Memory Cove with the correct inscription. This was to consist of a granite pillar, rock faced, about 6ft. 6in. high, with the inscription placed near the top, and on the wide side of the pillar. It was then discovered that the Harbors Board had already erected a tablet, and in consequence the new and more elaborate scheme was abandoned.

The scheme outlined was similar to that which I suggested for a memorial at Port Lincoln to commemorate Flinders, Eyre, Hack, Darke and others to whom the Peninsula owe so much. It is hoped that in the near future some thing of this, nature will be done, particularly in view of the Port Lincoln Centenary celebrations in 1939.

Mr. Wade, the new proprietor of Thistle Island, has been written, asking if he will look after the present memorial tablet and occasionally report either to the Harbors Board or the Surveyor General, more particularly when he notices anything remiss. If is an onerous duty, but such a commemorative tablet should not be left entirely without some oversight.

Next week an article on the Stamford Hill monument will appear.