WINTZLOFF William

William Wintzloff was born on 19th June 1897 one of nine children to parents Charles Augustus and Emma Hughes (nee Hunt) at Woodhill near Jimboomba, Queensland. In 1902 he attended Woodhill State School and as he grew he became a farmer who stood 5ft 7 inches tall with fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. On 6th June he enlisted with Royal Australian Navy in Brisbane and signed on for 5 years. William served as a Stoker 2nd class and initially was assigned to H.M.A.S Penguin and throughout his service he joined crew on Cerebus, Brisbane, Sydney, and Torrens until he was demobilized on 8th June 1921. During a leave pass around 15-16th November 1919 while attempting to hitch a ride on the Maroochy River tramway line to Coolum he slipped and fell crushing one of his hands whereby a Dr Malaher amputated two joints on one finger and William continued his journey to Coolum. In 1919 he had married Margaret Kennedy at St. Leonard’s, NSW and it is unknown what happened to this marriage. On 17th February 1923 he married Annie Gordon Baker at St. Paul’s Church, Murrurrundi, NSW and although this marriage produced a child it ended in a Decree Nisi being granted and became public in the Sydney Morning Herald on 26th March 1930, p12 as by this time Annie had returned to Murrurrundi with the child. Following his naval service William had taken up an appointment on 1st July 1925 as a Fireman aboard the dredge ‘Forster’ at Tuncurry. Following his divorce from Annie in 1930 he married Barbara Annie Frame Lowe at Ballina the same year and they lived at Eames Avenue, Stockton. Over the years as William worked for the New South Wales Department of Public Works he progressed to become a Master Engineer on 1st July 1947 and continued to work on the dredges. The couple was frequently reported in the local newspapers for their involvement as Labor Party supporters and in fund raising when William organized Euchre tournaments to aid local clubs. During WW2 William enlisted for service on 8th April 1940 with Royal Australian Navy and served as stoker aboard Penguin 2 and numerous other ships until demobilized on 8th November 1946. During the early 1950’s the couple moved to Mittagong where William is recorded as being a baker and this followed by a return to Queensland in 1958 when they lived at Caboolture and William became a taxi driver. In 1968 they are recorded as living at Pumicestone Road, Beerburrum, presumably retired. William died on 14th August 1972 and was cremated at Albany Creek, wall 3, section 14. Barbara died in 1979.

Maroochy Shire Honor Roll, Shire Chambers, Bury Street, Nambour

Ancestry.com
Trove newspapers
Queensland and New South Wales births deaths and marriage registers
Australian War Memorial