HE was born in Longham and died, savagely, at the hands of aborigines, half a world away on the coast of South Australia.

Today little is known of Rolles Biddle, who met his end in 1842 but Peter Hurt, a teacher who emigrated to Australia 25 years ago, stumbled upon his grave at the town of Port Lincoln.

Many Dorset people emigrated to Australia in the 19th century and the museum there also contains examples of Dorset buttons.

"Whilst I was in Bournemouth visiting my parents I went to Longham and left a copy of the picture with the landlord of the White Hart," said Mr Hurt, who went to Oakmead School for Boys. He and his wife, Lesley - they were married at St Andrew's, Kinson - have two sons and he teaches English and geography in Adelaide.

So who was Rolles Biddle? One website indicates a Quaker called Rolles Biddle was born in Longham on July 7, 1812 and died at the age of 29. A Rolles Biddle was certainly living at Port Lincoln at the time of the 1841 census. But what of his death?

In 1847 G F Angas published a book called Savage Life and Scenes in Australia and New Zealand that provides an account of what happened. He was on board a Royal Navy cutter that sailed from Kangaroo Island to Port Lincoln with its fine harbour.

"Among the natives congregated on this occasion were one or two connected with the murder of some settlers some years since," Angas wrote. These included the spearing of a 12-year-old lad in 1840 as well as the killing of a Port Lincoln flock-owner and hut-keeper in early March 1842.

Then he tells of the tragedy at the sheep-station of Mr Rolles Biddle on March 29 that year.

"Mr Biddle with Charles Tubbs and his wife, who were elderly people, and a man called Fastins, were at the hut.

"Several natives had been observed lingering about the neighbourhood and the voices of others heard shouting at a distance."

Fastins went out and spears thrown at him but, given a loaf and potatoes, the natives retired only for 40 to return an hour later flinging spears, one of which wounded Fastins in the leg.

Mr Biddle and Mr Tubbs fired a pistol and gun, the latter hitting, it was believed two men.

But the walls were breached and the Europeans forced to the ground.

Angas wrote: "Old Tubbs, the only survivor, in narrating the matter says, The hut appeared filled with spears'.

"The poor old woman crept under the bed; all received separate wounds, and each pulled out the spears as they were thrown, no farther effort on their part being possible.

"At length a spear entered the breast of Mr Biddle, who could only exclaim, Oh Charles, I am a dead man!' and immediately expired."

A pitchfork was used to finish off Fastins and Mrs Tubbs who had also been wounded with sheep-shears.

Mr Tubbs eventually recovered consciousness and was found by shepherds.