Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Howard Stanley Tregenza was born at Woodville, Adelaide, SA on the 12th of February 1891, the son of Edward James Tregenza and Laura Mary Lloyd (SA Birth Registration 474/210). Edward James Tregenza was the superintendent and accountant controlling the Destitute Asylum (the Magill Home, Magill) from 1884 until his retirement in 1923. Laura Mary Lloyd was the third daughter of the Rev. Thomas Lloyd. Howard’s brother Bernard Walter Tregenza was born in 1896.

Schooling

Howard attended the Pulteney Street School where he passed his Primary Examinations in October 1903.

In 1904, Howard moved to St Peter’s College. He passed his Junior Examinations in that year and his Senior Examinations in December 1905.

Howard was in Sixth Form at St Peter’s College when his mother, Laura Mary passed away, at Kintore Avenue, Adelaide, aged 39 years.

Howard gained passes in two subjects (Applied Mathematics and Inorganic Chemistry) in the Higher Public Examinations in December 1906.

Howard passed five subjects Higher Public examination subjects (Latin, Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry) in December 1907. He was second in the Honours List for under age students in Physics and gained a credit in Inorganic Chemistry.

Adelaide University

Howard commenced studying for a Diploma in Commerce at Adelaide University in 1908, gaining a pass in Banking and Exchange in December 1908. Howard’s WWI enlistment states that he was a School Teacher, but no further evidence of his teaching career has been located. Howard then commenced a Bachelor of Arts in 1913, passing Compulsory Mathematics in November 1913. Howard was studying at the University in 1914.

University Sport

Rowing
Howard rowed for the Arts School in the Junior Fours at the Adelaide University Boat Races in July 1914.

Cricket
Howard played cricket for the Adelaide University B Grade Team in the 1914/15 season.

World War I

Howard enlisted on the 11th of May 1915 (Service Number 4781). He was 24 years and 3 months of age, 5’ 8¾“, 148 lbs, with a dark complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His father was listed as his next-of-kin. At the time of his enlistment Howard was a School Teacher. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on the 15th of June 1915.

Howard was briefly at Gallipoli before being taken on strength at Lemnos, a Greek island in the north Aegean on the 4th of September 1915. He was then admitted to the 2nd Stationary Hospital in Mudros on Lemnos with Scarlet Fever on the 16th of November 1915, but resumed duties at the Base Depot, Mudros on the 26th of December 1915.

On the 27th of January 1916, Howard travelled from Lemnos to Alexandrina and served at Abbassia, Ismalia and Mustafa in Egypt before leaving via Alexandrina on 14th of September 1916 bound for the UK.

From the 28th of September 1916 to the 16th of April 1917, Howard was at the Australian Army Medical Corp Training Depots at Parkhouse and Dartford in the UK. He then proceeded overseas to France on the 7th of June 1917 and was taken on the strength of the 4th Field Ambulance. On the 12th of October 1917, Howard was wounded in action (gassed). On the 26th of October he was transferred to the War Hospital in London with Trench Fever.

Howard was then at the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield in December 1917 and during January and February 1918.

On the 5th of March 1918, Howard returned to the AAMC Training Depot at Parkhouse before returning to France on the 27th of March 1918.

On the 27th of April 1918, Howard was sick and was in a Line of Communication Hospital, he was discharged to the Base Depot on the 6th of May 1918.

He was then at Rouelles and Le Havre in France until the 19th of December 1918 when Howard re-joined the 4th Field Ambulance.

Howard returned to England on the 13th of January 1919 and then was repatriated to Australia with the AAMC Staff onboard the HMAT Kashmir, arriving in Australia on the 18th of April 1919. Howard was discharged on the 12th of July 1919.

Career and Family Life

After returning to Australia, Howard returned to Adelaide University and passed Compulsory Physiography in November 1919. Howard does not appear to have completed his BA and no records have been located by the profiler for the period from 1920 to November 1928.

In November 1928, Howard was appointed a Meteorological Assistant, Grade 1, Third Division, in the Meteorological Branch, Central Staff (probably in Melbourne).

Howard was living at 441 Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne in 1931 and in December 1931, he was selected by the Public Service Board for a free place at University to study toward a Degree of Bachelor of Science.

Howard was living at 273 Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne in 1934.

On the 7th of September 1935, Howard’s father, Edward James Tregenza, passed away at Port Gawler, aged 75 years.

In the Electoral Rolls of 1936, Howard’s address was c/o Mrs Capewell, Bell Vue Road, in the Subdistrict of Kangaroo Ground, 26 km north-east of central Melbourne and in 1937 he was living at 26 Jolimont Terrace, East Melbourne.

In March 1938, Howard arrived in Tasmania by air from Melbourne. In October 1938, he was promoted to the position of Weather Officer (£306 - £510), Third Division, Field Staff (Aviation), Western Junction, Tasmania.

Howard did not serve in WWII. This may have been because the Meteorological Service was considered to be an ‘essential service’. The Meteorological Service was absorbed under the RAAF during WWII and many of its members moved with the service to the RAAF, but no WWII record has been located for Howard.

In 1943, Howard’s address was 31 Elizabeth Street, Launceston, Tasmania and his occupation was civil servant. On the 9th of August 1943, Howard married Enid Ormonde Fordyce, the elder daughter of Mrs. William Fordyce and the late Mr. William Fordyce, at St John’s Launceston, Tasmania.

Howard and Enid were to make their home in Melbourne. They had a daughter, Ruth Ann Cleveland Tregenza, who tragically died at a young age in 1945 at Elsternwick, Melbourne, Vic.

Howard and Enid had returned to Tasmania by 1949, as the Victorian Government Gazettes (1949 and 1951) states that Howard was posted to the Western Junction Aerodrome (now Launceston Airport), Tasmania and the couple were both living at ‘The Laurels”, High Street, Evandale (near Launceston).

By 1954 the couple were back in Melbourne and lived at Wattle Road McCrae (near Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula) and at 10 Harold Street, Blackburn in eastern Melbourne.

Death

Howard Stanley Tregenza passed away on the 28th of July 1958 at Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, aged 67.

After Howard’s death, Enid continued to live at 10 Harold Street, Blackburn until at least 1980. Enid passed away on the 8th of January 1982 at Box Hill, Victoria, aged 74. Howard and Enid are buried at Cheltenham New Cemetery, 45 Wangara Rd, Cheltenham, Bayside City, Victoria.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.