Body on Somerton Beach

[Abby Normal]

Wow! What a fascinating story of DNA detective work and the sadness lurking in family history research. Poor Charles Webb.

amazing that no one came forward from his family not only when he went missing but when the body was found.

[Pcdunn]

Wow! What a fascinating story of DNA detective work and the sadness lurking in family history research. Poor Charles Webb.

[Enigma]

Somerton Man Charles Webb's true identity revealed in family photographs and divorce papers - ABC News

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be watching the programme on the ABC tonight which should be very interesting.

[DJA]

Somerton Man Charles Webb's true identity revealed in family photographs and divorce papers - ABC News

[Enigma]

He may have been employed with the former State Electricity Commission of Victoria, which was a major employer at the time and the sole provider of electricity for the State, a.k.a. the SEC also known as the Slow, Easy and Comfortable.

[harry]

Electrical Engineers were extensively employed in the shipping industry.It was felt at the time,the man had connections to that industry.Could account for the lack of knowledge of SM's whereabouts prior to being found.

[DJA]

Digitalis - Wikipedia

[Abby Normal]

A search on the Dept of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll indicates he was was not.

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ww2

thanks enigma

interesting. wonder how he got the undectable poison he used to kill himself then?!?

[DJA]

Yep.Still rationing clothing here in 1948.

[Joshua Rogan]

if im not mistaken, hand me downs were much more prevalent back then, regardless of your age or backhround (unless you were rich) and especially during war time.

Yes, I believe even in Australia that clothing was rationed during the war, and had only just ended when he died.

[Enigma]

was webb in the military or intel during the war?

A search on the Dept of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll indicates he was was not.

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ww2

[Abby Normal]

was webb in the military or intel during the war?

[Abby Normal]

if im not mistaken, hand me downs were much more prevalent back then, regardless of your age or backhround (unless you were rich) and especially during war time.

[DJA]

Good possibility.
Not much else requiring electrical engineers back then.
The Hawthorn Exchange was bigger than it looks,with much of it underground.

[Enigma]

A possible employer in the 1940s would have been the Hawthorn Telephone Exchange,375 Burwood Road,next door to Swinburne.

That would mean he was a Public Servant employed in the PMG Department.