River crossing was his last action

There is nothing sadder than coming across a headstone that denotes the last burial place of a young person. This was the case for Vincent Banford O'Farrell who is buried at Longreach Cemetery. He was drowned at only 16 years and 10 months old.

Final resting place for Vincent Banford O'Farrell and his father James at Longreach cemetery. Photo: Kym Warner

It was November in 1917, when many of Vincent's generation were at war. There had been plenty of heavy rain across the centre of Queensland, followed by much flooding. Little Gin Creek, just outside of the town of Longreach would have been swollen and a danger for anyone to cross.

For whatever reason Vincent was in that part of the country on horseback, he decided to brave the river, to his detriment. He was washed off his horse and swept away, never to be seen alive again.

A black tracker by the name of Sam Johnson, according to local newspapers of the day, saw the accident and dived in to save Vincent but was unsuccessful. Police followed up with a search the next day but had no luck.

Search parties continued and Vincent's body was finally discovered in Little Gin Creek, 200 yards downstream from where he had attempted to cross. He was buried in the same grave that his father would join him in 10 years later.

James O'Farrell, a native of Kilkenny, Ireland came to Australia at the height of the Franco-Prussian war and worked for Cobb & Co as they set up a mail service in the district. He had lived in Longreach for 27 years.

References

• 'Vincent Banford O'Farrell', Findagrave, accessed 12th March, 2025, Vincent Banford O'Farrell (1901-1917) - Find a Grave Memorial

• 'Heavy rains', The Cairns Post, Friday 23 November, 1917, Page 4

• 'A Boy Drowned', The Brisbane Courier, Friday 23 November, 1917, Page 8

• 'The Central West', Townsville Daily Bulletin, Friday 23 November 1917, Page 5

• 'Obituary - Mrs A E O'Farrell', The Central Queensland Herald, Thursday 3 July, 1941, Page 27

• 'The Longreach Drowning Fatality', Morning Bulletin, Saturday 24 November, 1917, Page 4

• 'Mr J. O'Farrell', The Capricornian, Thursday, 10 March, 1927, Page 26