John Frederick William (Will) WEGENER MBE

WEGENER, John Frederick William

Service Number: Officer
Enlisted: 1 May 1916, Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Captain
Last Unit: 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column
Born: Blumberg, South Australia, 27 March 1879
Home Town: Footscray, Maribyrnong, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Career Soldier/Arms Inspector
Died: Natural causes (Myocarditis and Coronary Fibrosis), Footscray, Victoria, 23 May 1942, aged 63 years
Cemetery: Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria
Memorials: Angaston District WW1 Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

1 May 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Melbourne, Victoria
6 Jun 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: ''
6 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne
13 Nov 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Captain
5 Aug 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Captain

My Great Grandfather (what I know)

He was born Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Wegener on 27/07/1879 at Blumberg (now known as Birdwood), South Australia. Now known as John Frederick William , he was best known as Will among those close to him.

I know little of his childhood but on 07/02/1896 he joined the South Australian Permanent Artillery thus beginning his career as a soldier. When Australia was proclaimed The Commonwealth of Australia he transferred into the Royal Australian Artillery. Sergeant Wegener passed with honours in Light Horse and Infantry 1904. He attended the School of Gunnery at various times between 1903 - 1910.

By 1908 he was a Company Sergeant Major. In 1913, 3rd Class Master Gunner, J. F. W. Wegener of 3rd Military District, was to be Warrant Officer (2nd Class Master Gunner), 2nd Military District (Newcastle), and to remain attached to 3rd Military District until further notice.

He reached Warrant Officer 1st Class Master Gunner and later appointed Lieutenant on 01/05/1916. He had by this time served for 18 years in the army with 1 year and 10 months at Central Administration.

Will was attached to 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column Headquarters, and embarked at Melbourne on 06/06/1916 aboard the HMAT Wandilla out of Melbourne, then 26/06/1916 aboard HMAT Barambah, bound for England then France. During the course of his war service Will was promoted to the rank of captain.

WO 28/08/1919.
'Brought the notice of Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered in connection with the war.' Awarded an M.B.E.

Returned to Australia via "Leicestershire" 21/06/1919.

Post war became Inspector of small arms, working at small arms factory Footscray and later involved with setting one up in S.A.

He died at his home in Footscray on 23/05/1942.

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