The body of a man who, police believe, fought desperately for his life three months ago, was found yesterday.
Papers found on the body identified him as Percy Stanley Madden, about 60, a totally and permanently disabled World War I veteran.
He was found accidentally within 30-feet of the fire gutted bottle depot of Busby and Sons Pty. Ltd., less than 200 yards upstream from Grey Street Bridge, South Brisbane. Station Officer Stan Lucas, of Fire Brigade Headquarters, made the discovery when investigating smouldering timber piles at the water's edge.
The body was jammed in rubbish about five feet deep on a collapsed section of rotting wharf decking six feet from the river. Police believe that Madden was standing on the rubbish covered decking when it gave way, burying him.
He had tried to claw his way free, but sank deeper in the debris which continued to cascade on him, or he died from exposure or heart failure in desperate attempts to extricate himself.
Police said that Madden was a sergeant in the Anzacs who landed on Gallipoli. He was gassed later.
'Madden, Percy Stanley (1886–1954)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/madden-percy-stanley-13934/text24825, accessed 19 April 2024.
1886
Singleton,
New South Wales,
Australia
July,
1954
(aged ~ 68)
South Brisbane, Brisbane,
Queensland,
Australia
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.