Interesting graves in South Australia: Dao Thanh

At Stenhouse Bay at the toe of Yorke Peninsula overlooking the sea can be found the lonely grave of a man who caused a lot of people some problems due to the circumstances of his death. Some writers could not even decide the poor man’s nationality and he was originally described as a Tongan (ie a man from the Pacific island of Tonga) when in fact he was Vietnamese born in Tonkin (the past name for the former North Vietnam).
Dao Thanh died at sea after breaking his neck in a shipboard accident at 6:30pm on 25 March 1940 aboard the SS Notou on approach to Stenhouse Bay to collect a consignment of gypsum for Noumea. Although it would seem that the vessel was in local South Australian waters, the death occurred on a foreign vessel and this resulted in some difficulties. Eventually it was decided to bury Dao Thanh ashore with a Buddist ceremony and there the grave remained unmarked until the present headstone was erected by the Vietnamese community in 1997. The death was never registered.
Reading the records gives an insight into the dilemma faced by authorities and they tell the story as well I can. The Advertiser 12 Jun 1980 features the story but the best account can be found in the book by Harold Norandale, To and about Yorke Peninsula, Coffey Printing, Stirling SA, 1983 p48.
An unmarked grave here contains the body of a Tongan seaman who was a foreman on the vessel “SS Tota”. His name was Dao Thanh Le and he was 27 years of age. On the 25th March 1940, he broke his neck in an accident on board his ship. The ship pulled into Stenhouse Bay and shortly afterwards he died. Permission was given to bring his body ashore and bury it. A carpenter from the Waratah Gypsum Company made a coffin and he was given a Buddhist funeral.
This event caused some consternation among the local JPs who could see visions of Coroners inquests, post mortem and general bad luck thrown in.
However the ship berthed safely at 9:30 am 26th. After tying up loading commenced at 11 am and continued without trouble until finished at 10:30 am 27th. Ship sailed at 11:15 am direct to Noumea, vessel got fairly well out from Jetty on leaving, approx. 120 ft. on clearing wharf. Breast rope was carried along, tide running, slight S.W. wind, sea very calm. Ships siren blew 3 long blasts just as full ahead was given which I interpret as a farewell to the member of the crew left behind.
The death of the Tonganese caused some trouble, as apparently no person in authority knew what to do, as they had no precedent. By authority I mean those persons who sit in sumptuous offices and sip tea, spend the tax payers money and refer to the office boy when they want to know anything. They live a shelving life, shelving things on to someone else. However, by dint of much telephoning, exhausting of patience, and general gnashing of teeth, we were at last given permission to bring the chap on shore. Then there was a rush to make a coffin and we had to be sure it would fit, so a live man test was made. The Doctor found the neck had been broken. Meanwhile our carpenter was not feeling so good, nerves I suppose. Then came the fixing of the corpse in the coffin. This was done by the Tonganese friends of the deceased. They performed the last rites according to the Buddhist religion. Some cards which we took to be money were placed in the coffin at the head and feet. The coffin lid was then fixed by our carpenter, who seemed to whack the nails with unnecessary vigour. The coffin was then carried to the burial site overlooking the sea. Before being lowered 4 candles were placed on the coffin and lit, also a bowl of rice and chopsticks, probably to light his way in the darkness and feed him when he gets wherever he may be going. After the grave was filled in, one of the crew said some part of a litany which ended the proceedings.
This was a sad affair and we don't want anymore of them. A rail will be erected around the grave and a plate put up showing name of deceased. Dao Thanh - 27 years - born in Tonkin.
Every time I see this grave, I cannot help thinking, what a wonderful place to spend eternity!

Dao Thanh Le Tonkinios Died at sea 25-3-40 Lower 2nd plaque: To commemorate Dao Thanh The first Vietnamese to Arrive at Yorke Peninsula South Australia Died on 25-3-1940 Erected by the Vietnamese Community of SA 13.11.1997

Sources:

Harold Norandale, To and about Yorke Peninsula, Coffey Printing, Stirling SA, 1983 p48
Advertiser 12 Jun 1980
Photographs by Theresa Jack