Obituaries Australia

Colonel Charles Frederick Stokes, the officer commanding the Fourth Infantry Regiment, died suddenly and under tragic circumstances yesterday morning. He had been at Newcastle, which is the headquarters of his regiment, and returned thence by train on Saturday night. He remained in Sydney till yesterday morning, when he caught the first boat to Manly, where he has been residing with his family for some time past. Shortly after 10 o'clock he went out for a bicycle ride with his daughter, and the two proceeded as far as Narrabeen. On their return the colonel walked, it is said, partly up a rather stiff incline, then mounted his machine, and essayed to ride the remainder of the way up the hill. Miss Stokes was in front, and, wondering why her father did not overtake her, she turned round and saw him lying on the road with two men bending over him. Turning back, she was informed that he had fallen from his bicycle, and had not risen after falling. To all appearance he was then dead. The body was taken to Narrabeen, where Dr. Watkins, of Manly, was sent for, and on arrival pronounced the colonel dead. After this the remains were removed to Fernbank, Manly, where he had resided. Dr. Angel Money, who has been consulted on several occasions during the past few months by the colonel, gave a certificate that death was due to heart disease. The doctor states that he was first consulted by Colonel Stokes about June last, and that he then found him suffering from disease of the aorta, or great artery. He cautioned his patient against undertaking any exercise involving physical exertion.

Colonel Stokes has been connected with the military forces of the colony for about 20 years. He was purely a colonial officer, his first appointment dating from December, 1870, when he was gazetted lieutenant. He was promoted to the position of captain in 1882, was made a major in 1884; in August, 1885, he was appointed officer commanding the Fourth Infantry Regiment, and in February, 1892, he was promoted to the rank of colonel. In addition to his command, he was a member of the Local Defence Committee. In September last his son, Dr. Frank Stokes, died, and the death of the young man was a great blow to the father, who has never been, to use a common expression, the same man since. He leaves a widow, a son, and several daughters. Only recently the colonel was appointed honorary A.D.C. to Lord Hampden, the Governor.