TOWNSVILLE – The Town Band, which usually played in the street every Monday night, took a break the week John Henry George Stokes died in 1918.
He was one of the band’s leading cornet players, the Townsville Daily Bulletin reported.
Known as Jack, the 22-year old, was a train conductor, and had left Charters Towers on the passenger train on Friday night for Hughenden.
There he was discovered missing, and by backtracking from where he had last been seen, a lengthsman was sent from Prairie to start a search.
He found Stokes unconscious besides the line about eight miles from Prairie. He was taken to Hughenden Hospital, where he died without regaining consciousness. An inquiry determined no-one saw Stokes fall.
A special train conveyed his body home to Townsville, his home town, the next day.
Six months later his band would be part of a huge procession celebrating Armistice Day.
Source: Cairns Post, Tuesday 30 July 1918 – p5
Morning Bulletin, Wednesday 31 July 1918 – p10
Townsville Daily Bulletin, Saturday 10 August 1918 – p4
Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 6 August 1918 – p 6
Way to go Australia 
Thanks Sharon. Love reading your interesting posts.
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