Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Winifred Catherine LIDDY was the daughter of James LIDDY & Honora O'CONNELL and was born on the 25th of September 1884 in Gumbowie, near Petersburg (Peterborough), SA.

Her father was born in 1849 in County Clare, Ireland and was the son of Jeremiah LIDDY & Maria DRISCOLL.

Her mother was born in 1847 in County Kerry, Ireland and was the daughter of Cornelius & Mary O’CONNELL.

James & Honora were married on the 22nd of November 1881 in St James Church, Jamestown, SA.

Winifred was the second child born into this marriage 4 children, 2 boys & 2 girls.

Her mother was previously married to Andrew LYSAGHT on the 28th of November 1868 in Manoora, SA.

Honora & Andrew had 6 children before Andrew died from inflammation on his lungs on the 10th of January 1881 in Yongala, SA.

Her father was a farmer and the Liddy family lived on section 150, Hundred of Yongala.

The land contained 483 acres and was located on the northern corner of Cleary & Earle Roads, Sunnybrae.

On the 18th of May 1891 Winifred attended her first day of school at the Gumbowie Public School 1st School, which was about 3 miles from their home.

At the end of 1891 Winifred left Gumbowie School and attended the Sunny-Brae School for the next 7 years, she then returned to the Gumbowie School on the 4th of July 1898 and remained here until she left school, at the age of 15 years, on the 14th of November 1899.

In April 1898 her sister Dorothy married James William QUINN in Willunga and made her home there. The following year Winifred became an aunty for the first time.

In 1899 her sister Bridget and Anastasia (Essie) went to live in Willunga with Dorothy.

On the 30th of June 1900 Bridget died in Willunga and they brought her home and buried her in the Petersburg (Peterborough) Cemetery.

Winifred was 17 years old when her father died from a cancerous tumour on the 25th of June 1902 at their home in Gumbowie, SA. Upon his death Thomas took over managing the farm for his mother.

On the 21st of June 1906 her brother Thomas was ploughing a paddock about a mile from their home when a severe thunderstorm struck at 4pm. He unyoked and turned the horses loose, but when in the act of closing the wire gate he was struck by lightening and killed instantly.

In December 1908 a bush fire was started near Gumbowie by a spark from the engine on the 1 o'clock mixed train from Petersburg. A special left Petersburg at about 3 o'clock with a gang of men, and they soon got the fire under control before much damage was done, though a high wind was blowing.

The Liddy family lost about 15 acres of standing crop.

Winifred began her nursing training in the Adelaide Hospital in 1912 and after 3 years she gained her qualifications and became a member of the South Australian Branch of the Royal British Nurses Association.

On the 13th of November 1915 she completed her questionnaire for enlistment into the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS).

At the age of 32, Winifred enlisted into the Australian Military Force, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) on the 25th of November 1916 in Keswick, SA and was appointed as staff nurse at the 7th Australian General Hospital, Keswick.

On the 18th of April 1917 she enlisted into the AIF and was posted to the 1st Australian Hospital ship HS Karoola.

The Karoola was initially used as a troop transport (HMAT A63), first sailing from Australia in June 1915 to Egypt. From there she sailed to Southampton where she was converted to a hospital ship with accommodation for 460 patients, including 288 cots.

The Sunny-Brae residents held a farewell evening for her prior to her departure for the front.

Winifred embarked from Melbourne on board HS Karoola on ANZAC Day 1917, this was the Karoola’s 7th voyage.

The Karoola transported Army Medical, Australian General Hospital, and Hospital Transport Corps reinforcements to England, before returning with invalided soldiers.

Winifred and the Karoola completed 7 voyages in the following 2 years, with 3 of these being to England and the other 4 being from Sydney to Fremantle, via Melbourne & Adelaide and return.

Winifred disembarked in Adelaide from her final voyage on the 21st of June 1919.

On the 6th of August the residence of Peterborough held a welcome home for her in the local Town Hall.

Winifred was discharged from the AIF on the 20th of August 1919 and returned to duty in the AMF at the 7th Australian General Hospital, Keswick.

Winifred was discharged from the AMF on the 26th of January 1921, but remained at the Keswick hospital.

Winifred married Joseph Michael BECK on the 23rd of September 1925 in St Josephs Catholic Church, Willunga, SA. Joseph was a postmaster.

Joseph was the son of Henry Edward BECK & Catherine RYAN and was born on the 25th of April 1876 in Watervale, SA. His parents were married in St James Catholic Church in Macclesfield on the 19th of November 1871.

Joseph was previously married to Winifred Mary HUNTER on the 1st of June 1921 in the St James Church, Jamestown.

Winifred had died on the 7th of April 1924 in Quorn and Joseph buried her with her parents in the Jamestown Cemetery.

In September 1924 Joseph was promoted and transferred to Pt Lincoln.

After they married they remained in Pt Lincoln where they welcomed their first child; Carmel Joseph, on the 5th of October 1926, followed by Kevin James on the 21st of August 1928.

In December 1938 they were transferred to the Pt Pirie Post Office and then in April 1940 Joseph took 12 months Long Service Leave from the Postal Department.

In August 1943 they purchased a home at 25 Anzac Highway, Glenelg, but where than transferred to the Clare Post Office.

In May 1944 Joseph finally retires from the Postal Department and they moved back to their home in Glenelg.

Joseph died on the 5th of July 1955 in Daw Park and Winifred buried him in the Centennial Park Cemetery; Catholic A, Path AX, Plot 640A.

Winifred sold their home the following year and moved in with her son Kevin at 32 Dunrobin Road, Hove and later to 28 Dunrobin Road, Hove.

Winifred died on the 31st of January 1966 in the Yarowie Private Hospital, Henley, SA
Her cause of death was General Arteriosclerosis

She was buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery; Catholic A, Path AX, Plot 640A with Joseph.