Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William was the oldest of nine children born at Harrow in Victoria to John and Charlotte Minnocks. A pioneering early settler, Joseph’s father, John Minocks, left County Clare in Ireland with his twin sister and a brother while all were still youths. He met and married Charlotte Home who lived in Victoria, in 1870. Working initially as a carrier, John then became a sheep farmer. Sadly, Charlotte died in August 1891 leaving John Snr to care for their nine children. He later moved to live at Narracoorte then Pinnaroo.
Aged in his 41st year, William enlisted to serve in November of 1915, following his two younger brothers, Joseph and John. The trio were well known as hard working labourers who frequently worked as a team around Pinarroo, Murray Bridge and in the South East as well as the Brown’s Wells area where they worked to grub and clear roads by hand. They were tall and powerfully built, with the Advertiser of February 1917 reporting that ‘The Minocks Brothers were three of the finest men who have left these shores, all being over 6 ft, and very powerfully built.' (The perception of locals regarding the brothers’ heights was at variance with the actual height measured when they enlisted.)
John and his brother, William, were, tendered a public farewell in the well-attended Pinaroo institute on December 30th 1915. He eventually proceeded to France to reinforce the 32nd Battalion in November of 1916. He had a few minor altercations for missing Parade in August 1917 before transferring into the 3rd Pioneers Battalion in France but was gassed in May of 1918, recovering for over a month before re-joining his unit for a few months before again being hospitalised and transferred to England in September of 1918. He was finally invalided to return to Australia on the 1st December 1918 arrive Feb 16th 1919.
The following day, on the 17th February, 1919, William of the 32nd and 3rd Pioneers married Florence Page at the Murray Bridge Manse, three years and over three months after enlisting. His community were delighted, organising a huge celebration the following month. A huge crowd gathered at the joyously decorated Pinnaroo Institute to welcome back Private William Minnocks, John Snr’s surviving son. Speeches, singing, presentations and dancing plus a selection of songs by the Pinnaroo Brass Band were some of the highlights.
William had seen over two years’ service in France. Pinnaroo and Border Times reported that the chairman of the Cheer Society described William as “the son of one of the Pinnaroo pioneers, and everybody, he felt sure, was glad that he was back with them that evening. Private Minnocks had been through heavy fighting at Bullecourt and Passchendale, and he knew he was a typical soldier.” He added that is was “a pleasure and a privilege to express his feelings in regard to men who went away to fight for King and Country, and he thought we all owed them a debt of gratitude. Private Minnocks heard the call of the Empire and he needed no asking but he went. Regarding Mr Minocks (who was present) although he had lost two sons in the war, it must be some comfort to see one return home to him again.”
Other speakers wished Private Minocks and his wife good health and a happy future. “Australian soldiers had engraved their names on the scroll of fame, and he felt sure Private Minnocks had been no exception to the rule.” A close friend of William’s, Mr McKenzie, added that “Mr Minnocks, senr., had given two of his sons for freedom’s cause, that we may live; the grand old man should feel proud that in three of his sons enlisting it was a record from one family in Pinnaroo. One of the late soldiers, John Minnocks, had risen to the rank of Sergeant. Mr McKenzie concluded by wishing that the future days of Private Minnocks and his wife would be May days.” On behalf of the people of Pinaroo, a presentation of a handsome pipe and case was made to William before a lusty singing of “For he's a jolly good fellow”, three cheers for William and then for his father.
William and Florence had three children, John William Norman (Jack) born 30th November 1919, named after his uncle, Hilda, born in July 1921 and Florence Grace Dawn (Grace) born in November 1923. William’s father had been seriously wounded in an accident but lived to welcome this next generation, then at the age of 82 died at Pinaroo on the 25th August, 1928. He had been living at Nurse Armstrong's Private Hospital, Pinnaroo, for nine years. Of his large family three had survived, William, Edward and his daughter, who had remained in Victoria.
The young family enjoyed the peace which followed the war, but their life was certainly interesting. Florence wrote to the Advertiser in January of 1933 of an unusual incident in which they were all involved. “Yesterday my children saw on the road near our gate what they took to be a parcel. Imagine their horror when they got near it to find a snake and a frilled-neck lizard in a deadly combat. My husband who was near, soon dispatched the snake, which measured 5 ft. The lizard, although not marked, seemed in a bad way. It had evidently been bitten, and died several hours later, much to the children's sorrow, as it had been about the homestead for several years.”
Two of William and Florence’s children followed in their father’s and uncles’ footsteps by serving in WWII. Hilda served in the WAAF and Jack, who rose to become a Captain in the 2/43rd Battalion serving in Egypt but was tragically killed on the 2nd November 1942 aged just 22.
By February 1947 William and Florence left Glossop to live in Murray Bridge. They celebrated the wedding of their daughter Grace to Kenneth Wilkinson in May, with Hilda being the bridesmaid. In memory of her brother John, Grace named their first son John William in his honour. The young couple had a second son, David on the 9th February, 1941. Grace’s mother, Florence died just days prior to the birth of David on February 15th 1952 aged 72. William died the following year on the 8th August, 1953 at the Repatriation Hospital, aged 79. He was proud of the medals he had earnt Joseph had earned, the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory medal and his service to Australia.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion