Cecil Mair - 1897-1919
Box Hill Cemetery
MOTORING TRAGEDY
THE BENDIGO SENSATION.
PROMISING LIVES ENDED.
BENDIGO, Thursday. - The news of the
sensational motor-car accident at the inter-
section of High and Wattle streets shortly
before midnight, which resulted in the
death of three young men and severe in-
juries to the other occupants of the car,
caused widespread sorrow in the district.
Leslie Marks, who was killed instantly,
was 26 years of age, and only returned from
the war about two months ago, having been
attached to the Australian Artillery. He
was a son of the late Mr. H. M. Marks.
Cecil Mair, who was killed, was 22 years of
age, is a medical student, and a son of Mr.
James Robert Mair, of Mont Albert. The
other victim, Robert Haines, was 23 years
of age, and was a clerk in the Common-
wealth Bank, Melbourne. He only re-
turned from the war a month ago. his
father, Mr. Robert Haines, is the manager
of the Bank of Australasia, at St. James,
and formerly resided at St. Kilda.
The three occupants of the back seat of
the car were killed. Marks sustained ter-
rible injuries to his chest and had his neck
dislocated, Mair and Haines sustained
fractures of the skull and laceration of the
brain, besides terrible facial injuries, and
their features were scarcely recognisable.
Mair and Haines, though unconscious, lived
for about 20 minutes after the accident.
Victor Marks, who is also a returned sol-
dier, and was driving the car, was badly
cut about the face. Harold Bush, who is
assistant clerk of courts at Bendigo and
a returned soldier, escaped with a severe
shaking, and Miss Molly Vahland though
suffering acutely from shock and minor in-
juries had a lucky escape.
The party had attended a welcome home
to Warrant-officer H. Kirby, son of the late
Major E. W. Kirby, solicitor, and were
returning to the city when the accident hap-
pened. Mair and Haines were the guests
of the Marks family, and had only arrived
in Bendigo on the previous day. There
were four privately-owned cars conveying
the guests, and the car which was driven
by Mr. Marks was travelling about 250
yards behind the other cars as they came
along High street to the city. Mr. H. C.
Enticknap, who witnessed the smash, states
that the leading cars were travelling at a
fast rate of speed, and as the car driven by
Mr. Marks approached the curve in the
road it ran wide, and the cap of one of
the rear wheels, collided with a
stout elm tree. The force of the
impact snapped the axle and the hood of
the car and seat were reduced to fragments.
The three occupants of the back seat were
apparently dashed against the tree, as when
persons hurried to the spot the three bodies
of the victims were lying beside the trunk
of the tree, amidst the scattered fragments
of the rear portion of the car. The mo-
mentum of car after the impact caused
it to turn a complete somersault, and it
rolled over about 15 yards farther along
the road. The occupants of the front
seat were shot forward and landed on the
tar pavement. The tyres of the car were
uninjured, but the car itself, which was a
valuable one, was wrecked. The scene of
the accident was visited by large crowds
of people on Thursday. Mr. D. Berriman,
P.M., opened an inquest on the victims in
the afternoon, and after taking formal evi-
dence adjourned the inquiry to a date to be
fixed.
Mr. Cecil J. G. Mair had gone through
a particularly brilliant educational course
at Melbourne Grammar School, Geelong
Grammar School, and the Melbourne Uni-
versity. Though only 22 years of age, he
was in the fifth year of his medical course,
and was treasurer of the students' repre-
sentatives' council. He was a fine all-round
sports, bright and genial in disposition,
and the leading spirit amongst a host of
closely attached friends. He was the son
of Mr. J. R. Mair, merchant, of Flin-
ders lane and Mont Albert, and Mrs.
Mair, and both his parents survive
him. He desired to go to the war but was
required by the authorities, like a number
of other students, to remain and finish his
medical course. His younger brother,
Frank, who recently returned from the
war, was in Bendigo on holiday when the
lamentable accident took place.
Cecil Mair - 1897-1919
Box Hill Cemetery
MOTORING TRAGEDY
THE BENDIGO SENSATION.
PROMISING LIVES ENDED.
BENDIGO, Thursday. - The news of the
sensational motor-car accident at the inter-
section of High and Wattle streets shortly
before midnight, which resulted in the
death of three young men and severe in-
juries to the other occupants of the car,
caused widespread sorrow in the district.
Leslie Marks, who was killed instantly,
was 26 years of age, and only returned from
the war about two months ago, having been
attached to the Australian Artillery. He
was a son of the late Mr. H. M. Marks.
Cecil Mair, who was killed, was 22 years of
age, is a medical student, and a son of Mr.
James Robert Mair, of Mont Albert. The
other victim, Robert Haines, was 23 years
of age, and was a clerk in the Common-
wealth Bank, Melbourne. He only re-
turned from the war a month ago. his
father, Mr. Robert Haines, is the manager
of the Bank of Australasia, at St. James,
and formerly resided at St. Kilda.
The three occupants of the back seat of
the car were killed. Marks sustained ter-
rible injuries to his chest and had his neck
dislocated, Mair and Haines sustained
fractures of the skull and laceration of the
brain, besides terrible facial injuries, and
their features were scarcely recognisable.
Mair and Haines, though unconscious, lived
for about 20 minutes after the accident.
Victor Marks, who is also a returned sol-
dier, and was driving the car, was badly
cut about the face. Harold Bush, who is
assistant clerk of courts at Bendigo and
a returned soldier, escaped with a severe
shaking, and Miss Molly Vahland though
suffering acutely from shock and minor in-
juries had a lucky escape.
The party had attended a welcome home
to Warrant-officer H. Kirby, son of the late
Major E. W. Kirby, solicitor, and were
returning to the city when the accident hap-
pened. Mair and Haines were the guests
of the Marks family, and had only arrived
in Bendigo on the previous day. There
were four privately-owned cars conveying
the guests, and the car which was driven
by Mr. Marks was travelling about 250
yards behind the other cars as they came
along High street to the city. Mr. H. C.
Enticknap, who witnessed the smash, states
that the leading cars were travelling at a
fast rate of speed, and as the car driven by
Mr. Marks approached the curve in the
road it ran wide, and the cap of one of
the rear wheels, collided with a
stout elm tree. The force of the
impact snapped the axle and the hood of
the car and seat were reduced to fragments.
The three occupants of the back seat were
apparently dashed against the tree, as when
persons hurried to the spot the three bodies
of the victims were lying beside the trunk
of the tree, amidst the scattered fragments
of the rear portion of the car. The mo-
mentum of car after the impact caused
it to turn a complete somersault, and it
rolled over about 15 yards farther along
the road. The occupants of the front
seat were shot forward and landed on the
tar pavement. The tyres of the car were
uninjured, but the car itself, which was a
valuable one, was wrecked. The scene of
the accident was visited by large crowds
of people on Thursday. Mr. D. Berriman,
P.M., opened an inquest on the victims in
the afternoon, and after taking formal evi-
dence adjourned the inquiry to a date to be
fixed.
Mr. Cecil J. G. Mair had gone through
a particularly brilliant educational course
at Melbourne Grammar School, Geelong
Grammar School, and the Melbourne Uni-
versity. Though only 22 years of age, he
was in the fifth year of his medical course,
and was treasurer of the students' repre-
sentatives' council. He was a fine all-round
sports, bright and genial in disposition,
and the leading spirit amongst a host of
closely attached friends. He was the son
of Mr. J. R. Mair, merchant, of Flin-
ders lane and Mont Albert, and Mrs.
Mair, and both his parents survive
him. He desired to go to the war but was
required by the authorities, like a number
of other students, to remain and finish his
medical course. His younger brother,
Frank, who recently returned from the
war, was in Bendigo on holiday when the
lamentable accident took place.