Obituaries Australia

Widespread regret will be felt at the death of Mr. Arthur Thomas Walter Battershill, which took place in a private hospital at Wynnum Central on Saturday afternoon, after a short illness. The deceased, who was in his 64th year, was born in Brisbane. His late father came out to Australia on a special mission for the Queensland Railways, and settled in Brisbane. For more than two decades the late Mr. Battershill took a keen interest in sailing. For three years he occupied the position of vice-chairman of the Queensland Yacht Racing Association, and was a member of the sailing committee. He was also a prominent member of the Wynnum and Manly Sailing Club, of which he was at one time commodore. When the Wynnum and Manly Club's activities were revived last season Mr. Battershill undertook the organising secretary's duties. For many years he was also the club's Q.Y.R.A. delegate. At an early age he was sent to England to be educated, and before returning to Queensland as a young man he made his mark in cycling and soccer football, both as an official and an active rider and player. In August, 1893, he won the five-mile race for the Raglan Referee and Sunbeam Companies' Silver Challenge Cup and gold medal, defeating R. C. Knight and H. W. Smoothey. The latter was the holder of the county championship for 1891-2. In the early '90's he was secretary of the Maldon Cycle Club, and in 1893 sub-captain of the East Essex Cycling Club. He was also identified as a player with the Maldon and Heybridge Soccer clubs. He joined the Railway Department about the beginning of the present century, and at the time of his death was a member of the staff of the Roma Street Station. Deceased is survived by his widow, two sons (Messrs. A. T. W. Battershill, Yeronga, and S. R. Battershill, Wynnum), two daughters (Mrs. H. Jackson, Wynnum, and Miss Mona Battershill), and two grandchildren. The funeral will take place from Cannon and Cripps's funeral parlour, Adelaide Street, at 2.30 p.m. to-day to the Toowong Cemetery.