Bushfire Memorial Print Page 
The monument commemorates Johan Hendrick Hilliger, Robert Henry Johnston, George McCorkill and John Francis Wiltshire-Butler who died in the course of duty with the Forestry Department on 2 January 1958 while fighting a bushfire.
Fifteen children have been left fatherless by a tragedy in which four forestry workers were burnt to death in a bushfire near Nannup on Thursday afternoon. The victims were: George E. McCorkill, 62, Jan Hillier, 37, married with four children under 12, Robert Henry Johnston, 30, married with three children under 7, and John Francis Wiltshire-Butler, 37, married with eight children under 12. McCorkill was unmarried. They were members of a gang of workmen stationed at Willow Springs, a tiny Forestry Department settlement in thick scrub 18 miles south-east of Nannup) and about 170 miles from Perth. An overseer and six men went to a wild-front fire in the Nannup area and were assisted by local volunteers. The Willow Springs men were making a break on the edge of the fire when apparently, the wind turned and drove the flames on them.
The Canberra Times, 4th January 1958.
Note : In the newspaper article above Johan Hendrick Hilliger is incorrectly refered to as Jan Hillier.
Location
| Address: | Kearney Street, Lions Park, Nannup, 6275 |
|---|---|
| State: | WA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -33.982215 Long: 115.765521 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Fire |
Dedication
In memory of
Johan Hendrick Hilliger
Robert Henry Johnston
George McCorkill
John Francis Wiltshire-Butler
Who perished in a bushfire in the course of duty with the Forest Dept. on 2nd January 1958
