ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Newspaper account of death:
On Wednesday morning, intelligence was received in Perth, of a man named Thomas Prendeville having been lost in the bush. The man, who at times laboured under insanity, had been residing in the neighborhood of Williams’ Lake, about six miles north of Perth; on the preceding evening he had gone with his wife to meet some cattle returning from the bush, and on hearing them coming, his wife desired him to return home, which he apparently did, but, on her returning to the house she ascertained he had not been there. Immediate search was made for him but without success, as also on Wednesday, when notice being sent to Perth of the occurrence, the native constable accompanied by some natives, was despatched to track him up, but after having done so for a distance of about ten miles, the search was given up for the night, and the party having no provisions with them, returned to Perth. On the following morning they again followed up the track, and ultimately found the unfortunate man lying dead in a swamp near the Ferry on the Fremantle road. He had received a severe contusion on the forehead, occasioned, it is supposed by a fall, as while tracking him the party came to a spot where they found a quantity of blood on the ground. In his wanderings he had taken a most circuitous route, leading through swamps and almost impassable places, a distance of about sixteen miles, though not more than eight in a direct line.
Prendeville had been a soldier belonging to the 51st Regiment, and was invalided on the detachment leaving this colony; he was interred yesterday, with the customary military honours. After the death of Thomas, his widow Ellen married William White of the 51st Regiment in 1848.
[Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal 21 Aug 1847].