Raymond DonoghuePrint Page

The Plaque commemorates Raymond Donoghue (1920-1960), a tram conductor who was awarded the George Cross posthumously.

On Friday 29 April 1960 Donoghue was the conductor of tram 131 as it left the city, bound for Springfield (Moonah). About 4.45 p.m. it collided with a lorry in Elizabeth Street and the tram, with air-brake pipes fractured and emergency electric brakes ineffective, began rolling downhill, gaining speed towards the city. Assisted by passengers, Donoghue tried to apply the handbrake, but without effect.

He then moved the passengers as far back into the car as possible, doing his best to calm them. As the tram rushed backwards at 64 to 80 kilometres per hour along Hobart`s main street in peak-hour traffic, he occupied the cab, sounding the warning gong and struggling to apply the handbrake.

Neglecting ample opportunity to save himself by retreating into the passenger compartment or jumping clear, he continued to warn traffic until his tram struck tram 137 at the foot of the Elizabeth Street hill. Both were projected almost the length of a city block before stopping near Bathurst Street. Donoghue was killed instantly and forty-three passengers were injured, four seriously. It was the Hobart tramways most serious accident.

Note: The George Cross (GC) is the second highest award of the United Kingdom honours system awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger", not in the presence of the enemy, to members of the British armed forces and to British civilians. Posthumous awards have been allowed since it was instituted. 

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