Dilyan's Grave - Boddington

Greg, I walked in from the roadside marker and didn't find the grave. Gotta have another look now. I read in a history of Boddington that Dilyan wasn't from the local tribe.

Hi Greg

thanks for posting that. I will check it out when next passing.

I have started recording the actual GPS co-ordinates of what I call "Lonly Graves" that I have come across in my bush wanderings.

Unfortunately I only thought of doing the precise co-ordinates in recent years and so whilst I have in few in my memory that I will re vist in time to actually plot......I have only now got 6 actaully plotted with the GPS

I have always found it quite sobering at these sites...a time for quiet reflection on how easy I got to that spot..and how safe I am right there and now in comparison to the circumstances that led to that grave at that spot at that time.

I did post on here some time back looking for any sort of data base but the reples I got were old townships etc..which although of interest were not what I called "lonly"....as I was seeking those ones & twos in the middle of no where...sort of died and burried there on the spot...I am sure there are many known and many not known

cheers

Graeme

Hi everyone,

My records indicate as follows

DILYAN’S GRAVE
DILYAN - buried adjacent the BODDINGTON cemetery on the north side.
An Aboriginal, who was so highly regarded by the late Sir John Forrest that he presented him with a silver-mounted and inscribed fowling piece, and named a spring of water (which Dilyan found in his wanderings while looking after sheep) in the North-West after him.
Dilyan rendered service on a survey expedition, led by HS Ranford, which visited Cambridge Gulf in the 1880's and marked out the town of Wyndham as well as effecting other important surveys. Mr BS Ranford of Bannister, wrote to the Western Australian Historical Society asking that Dilyan's grave be marked in some way to commemorate him.
Further Reference: Western Ancestor dated June 1980 Vol 1 No 6 - Journal of Western Australian Genealogical Society (article Lonely Lonely Graves" by FT Bray); Western Mail - 18.7.1935 & 1.7.1937; The Horses Came First by Albert Schorer.
Author's note: Dilyan's grave is not beneath the monument, but some little distance away.
Source- Coate Yvonne & Ken, Lonely Graves OF West Aust., Hesperian Press.
Book available from
http://www.hesperianpress.com/index.php/booklist/2011-06-16-12-23-53/m-titles?start=20

Other records state,

Dilyan was an Aborigine who accompanied a survey expedition to Cambridge Gulf in 1886. He rendered sterling service to H.S. Ranford, the surveyor in charge and was presented, on his return, with a silver-mounted fowling piece by John Forrest. (Dilyan spring at Wyndham was named after him). He later worked for B.S. Ranford in the Williams District. (Corr 1309/37, 8641/12 and 1059/56,Biographical References at W.A. State Archives, "West Australian" 6th Sept.1968 and "Narrogin Observer" 17th April 1969). Dilyan is believed to have been killed by other Aborigines for breaking some tribal law but the exact date and manner of his death are uncertain. In April 1937, B.S. Ranford contacted the W.A. Historical society and provided details on dilyan's life and a rough sketch map showing the whereabouts of his grave. The W.A.H.S. initiated action to have the site protected and the Lands Department reciprocated by arranging for the survey of a small reserve.(Reserve 21924 was surveyed on 13th June 1938 - W. Hepple Brown Field Book 291page 7 - and declared on 11th November 1938) a plaque erected by the Historical Society at this grave was unveiled on 13th April 1969 ("Narrogin Observer" 17th April 1969).


DILYAN SPRING – origin of name
Comm C.P.Vereker (1888) of H.M.S.Myrmidon - Adm Roll Chart 53 - Adm Chart 1388H.S.Ranford (1886) FB 34 p.14 - KT Plan 158.Named after Dilyan, who discovered it, an Aborigine who accompanied Ranford to Cambridge Gulf in 1886. (See Dilyans Grave)For information on the meaning of this spring see notes by Ranford`s brother in Corr. 1309/37 p.2.


Cheers to all

I think I read the alternative description of Dilyan's origins in the book Becoming Boddington, by J. Ferrell. I don't have a copy to refer to though.