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Edgar Harold Casson (1873–1909)

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Edgar Harold Jeffries Casson (1873-1909) railwayman and trade union official 

Birth: October 1873 in West Derby, Liverpool, England, son of John Casson (1837-1878), bookkeeper, and Matilda Elizabeth, née Jeffries later Richardson (1841-1926). Marriage: 14 January 1897 at Perth, Western Australia, to Susan Adelaide Holmes (1871-1952). They had one daughter and five sons, two of whom died in infancy. Death: 9 June 1909 on the Perth esplanade. Religion: Anglican. 

  • After the death of his father his mother migrated to Victoria with her son and daughter and remarried.
  • Entered service in Western Australian Working Railways Department, Traffic Branch as a checker on 15 August 1896. Resigned 25 June 1902.
  • A pioneer WA railway unionist, in 1902 he was a founder and general secretary of WA Amalgamated Society of Railway Employees. Represented the society on various occasions in the Arbitration Court.
  • Early in June 1909 he gave notice of intention to resign and was relieved of duties and was known to be financially embarrassed.
  • Cause of death a bullet wound, self-inflicted.
  • Son John Edgar (1898-1995), a civil servant, served in Australian Imperial Force in World War I.

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Citation details

'Casson, Edgar Harold (1873–1909)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/casson-edgar-harold-33151/text41356, accessed 10 December 2023.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

October, 1873
West Derby, Lancashire, England

Death

9 June, 1909 (aged 35)
Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Cause of Death

suicide

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

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