Of Tragedy and Valor
Leonard Bolger

Leonard Bolger was born in 1871 at Port Victor (Victor Harbor) to parents Edward R Bolger and mother Mahalia Bolger (nee Weymouth).

Leonard volunteered for the SA Naval Force S.A. in 1899 for 3 years and extended for another 3 years in 1903. He served on the aboard the HMCS Protector.

HMCS Protector was a large flat-iron gunboat commissioned and purchased by the South Australian government in 1884, for the purpose of defending the local coastline against possible attacks in the aftermath of the 'Russian scare', of the 1870s. She arrived in Adelaide in September 1884 and served in the Boxer Rebellion, World War I and World War II. 

 His occupation was  listed variously as Storekeeper, Fisherman & Harbour Master. He also drove the Horse Tram at Victor Harbor.

MARRIAGE: Witnesses: Charles Cakebread, Farmer, of Encounter Bay & Rose Rumbelow Encounter Bay. He was shown as aged 23 yrs, storekeeper of Enc. Bay

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The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889-1931) - Saturday 21 August 1920 - Page 8 - 

"BOLGER — HOWE. — On the 21st August, 1895, at Encounter Bay, by the Rev. T. A. Williams, Leonard, youngest son of Mr. E. R. and the late M. Bolger, of Encounter Bay, to Fannie,youngest daughter of the late Mr. J. C and E. Howe, Footscray, Victoria. Present address —"Yarramlea," Narrung."

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The Argus, Tuesday, 21st August 1945 - "GOLDEN WEDDING - BOLGER-HOWE.- On August 21, 1895, at Encounter Bay (S.A.). by the Rev. T. S.Williams, Leonard, youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Bolger, to Fannie, youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Howe. (Present address, Goolwa S.A.)"

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Victor Harbour Times (SA: 1932-1986) – Friday 24 August 1945 – Page 3 -

'MARRIED 50 YEARS.

Mr. and Mrs. L. Bolger, of Goolwa, celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding at the Victor Harbour Town Hall on Tuesday night last when about 50 guests attended. They were married at Encounter Bav on 21st August 1895, by the Rev. T. S. Williams. Mr. Bolger is the youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Bolger, and his wife was formerly Miss Fannie Howe, youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Howe. The loyal toast and that of "The Forces" were proposed by Mr. W. G. Sawyers, and that of the couple by Mr. E. L. Bolger, of Port Lincoln. Musical items were rendered by Mr. W. Barnett, Mr. K. S. Rumbelow, and A.C.1 Stan Barber, and dancing was indulged in by the younger members of the party. Members of the family present were Messrs. E. L. Bolger, Mesdames H. Turner, K. Harris, N. Sawyers, and D. Lewis.'

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The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931-1954) - Wednesday 23 August 1950 - Page 20 - 

" 55th Wedding Anniversary BOLGER. — Mr. and Mrs. Bolger, Goolwa, wish to announce the 55th anniversary of their marriage, which was celebrated at Encounter Bay on August 21, 1895."

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The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931-1954) - Thursday 21 August 1952 - Page 16 -

" BOLGER.— Jean, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. Bolger, late Narrung and Goolwa, wishes to announce her parents 57th anniversary of wedding, solemnised Encounter Bay, August 21, 1895. Present address, Port Albert, Victoria."

OCCUPATION: 

BIOGRAPHY: His S.A. Naval Record gave date of volunteering as 21.6.99 for 3 years & 22.5.03 also for 3 years.  At age 18 - 28 his complexion was dark, his hair D.B. (Dk. Brown?), his eyes blue and he had a scar over his eye.

A newspaper cutting (not dated) states "Leonard Bolger, 29, began driving the tram on December 17,1900".

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In 1944 he bought a property at 87/90 Esplanade Town on the Goolwa (I hold a copy of a Water Rates bill in which he states that he took possession of this property on Feb 2nd, 1944.)

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The Victor Harbor Times and Encounter Bay and Lower Murray Pilot (SA: 1912-1930) Friday 18 July 1924 Page 3 -

'JOTTINGS - Mr and Mrs Len Bolger and daughter have been spending a holiday at Victor Harbour.

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The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901-1929) - Friday 3 June 1927 - Page 4 

“Hindmarsh Island Cup. The opening meeting for the season on Hindmarsh Island was held under the auspices of the Great Southern Coursing Club. The fixture was a great success. Hares were numerous. The President (Mr. E. W. Williams) is a real live wire, and with the secretary (Mr. C. G. Steven) made admirable arrangements. The cup, which was donated, by Mr. Preston, was won by Mr. S. Perk's The Ace, which ran consistently showinig pace and working nicely. The Ace is by The Only One ex Acacia, and was whelped in Victoria, and sent over by Mr. Leonard Bolger to his nephew, Mr. Darc Honeyman, of Victor Harbour. The latter, in turn, handed the dog to Mr. Perks, who prepared him for the fixture. The Ace ran as a puppy at Murray Bridge, winning two courses before going under to the winner, Warpath.”

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The Argus, Friday 7th August 1931, Page 7 - "FISHING FLEET IN GALE.

Boats Driven Out to Sea.

PORT ALBERT, Thursday - A fierce gale struck the Port Albert fishing fleet when it was nine miles out to sea at 1 o'clock this afternoon. The fishing gear was abandoned, and the boats almost filled on the run to the boat harbour entrance. Grave fears were entertained for Messrs. Beansland and Lipscombe, who were last seen with sails set some miles out to sea. Messrs. Goulden Bros and crew, and Mr. L. Bolger and crew, after reaching port, decided to go in search of the missing men. They found them returning. They had been driven out to sea several times."

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Gippsland Times (Vic.:1861-1954) Thursday 16 January 1936 Page 1 -

"... To detect a snake crossing a fresh water stream is nothing extraordinary, but many people are unaware that sea water is not a deterrent when such reptiles are intent upon shifting quarters. While at work last week beaconing the channel leading to Boat Harbor, Mann's Beach, Mr. Len Bolger noticed a snake swimming across the channel. It was soon disabled with a boat hook, and when taken aboard fought desperately. The snake was found to be of the tiger species, and measured 5 feet. - 'Standard.' "

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The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: 1860-1954) Tuesday 24 August 1937 - Page 2 - "TASMANIAN FISHING BOAT

Arrives at Port Albert

The fishing boat Lerunna, which was sold recently by a Hobart owner, Mr. W. Gates, to Mr. L. Bolger, of Victoria, reached Port Albert at 6 p.m., on Saturday after an uneventful trip. Mr. Bolger will use her in the shark fishing industry. He stated that there was a market for sharks in Melbourne up to £3 cwt. being paid for sharks about 5ft. long. The Lerunna left Hobart on August 18."

RESIDENCE: Death Cert. stated 32 years in Victoria and 49 years in South Aust. He lived (at various times) in Victor Harbor, Goolwa, Narrung & Port Albert.

          1927 - Victoria (see The Register 3/6/1927)

          1931 - Port Albert, Vic (electoral roll)

          1936 - Port Albert, Vic (electoral roll)

          1944 - 87/90 Esplanade Town on the Goolwa (water rates account).

          1948 - 87/90 Esplanade Town on the Goolwa (general rates account).

DEATH: Senility (3 years). He died aged 84 years.

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931-1954) Tuesday 27 October 1953 Page 20 -

"BOLGER.— On October 26, at Yarrum (sic), Victoria, Leonard, beloved husband of the late Francis, dearly beloved father of Jean (Mrs. J. Rosenzweig, Tanunda), devoted granddad of Barbara, Kay, Maisie, Ruth and Geoffrey, late Narrung and Goolwa, South Australia. In his 82nd year. Resting where no shadows fall. Funeral Tuesday, Yarrum (sic)."

BURIAL: Photo - Headstone: "BOLGER / In loving memory of / Fannie Bolger / 1873 / 1952 / loved wife of Leonard Bolger / Father & Mother United"

Not showing on Yarram New Cemetery Index - copy of death certificate sent to Yarram Gen. Group for correction.

PROBATE: No Will found in Victoria from 1950 to 1959 but I do hold a copy which was apparently not probated.