Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

If there was one thing this man possessed from an early age, it was initiative, and he had it in spades, and it was amply demonstrated throughout his long life.

Not long after his father died at the St Lucia, West Indies Military Station and he was back in the home country with the family, at age 16, he signed up with a steam packet for 4 years, out of Leith, Scotland. Plying to the Far East with railway stores was not for him and he cleared out early from his indenture. He wanted an experience of real seamanship and found work on sailing ships. This took him on many exciting journeys.

After a series of assignments out of New York, has was on the four-masted barque Andromeda crossing the Great Australian Bight when he fell 80 feet from a yard arm to the deck and survived, with little help from the Captain. That was enough for young Will and he deserted in Melbourne without his final pay, with just 3s. 6d. in his pocket.

He had a series of odd jobs throughout Victoria but the war intervened, and he signed up with the 6th Battalion Reinforcements. In France, this battalion was reorganised into the 1st Australian Machine Gun Battalion. It was during an attack on St Martin’s Woods that he showed courageous initiative to change the course of the action and earn him the Military Medal.

After the War, he settled in Brunswick and married Margaret in 1922. He started the occupation of engineer, having a small machine shop under Princes Bridge with another.  He purchased a 27’ cutter which he used as a pleasure craft.

Things changed business-wise and he decided change tack, by transferring to Inverloch, sailing down in the cutter and starting cray fishing from scratch. In addition, he commenced to build a home on a block in Inverloch he’d purchased initially as a holiday base.

He successfully fished the area, overcoming many difficulties in getting the crays to market and eventually taking on wider fields. He found that in the summer season, it produced better returns to fish nearby on a daily basis and sell crays to holiday-makers, leaving trips further afield for the rest of the year.

By 1940, he had ceased fishing due to difficulties in keeping himself in suitable vessels. He lost one vessel at Deal Island on the night of 6 June 1938 when it dragged its anchor and came ashore.  So he went back to Melbourne and undertook engineering work during the war years.

Straight after the war, returning to Inverloch, he took on the job of building his own boat, the Ripple and recommenced fishing using the same formula. In 1959/1960 he built another, better boat, Ripple II.

An outstanding feature of this man’s service to his fellow man was his willingness to engage with holiday-makers and to “take people out” on his boat. Thus he became known to many, many people from far and wide and from all walks of life. He was a fascinating man, just to be with.

Another significant aspect was his many rescues of people getting into difficulties in the treacherous waters of Anderson’s Inlet, involving the need for quick action, even to the point of putting himself in danger. In some ways, this echoed the way he conducted his war service.

He eventually wound down, with his son Bob taking over the business. In his last few years, he and his son tended to head up north for warmer weather. He died peacefully at the Woorayl District Memorial Hospital, Leongatha, Victoriain 1986 at the age of 94 years, his wife Margaret having died in 1972.

P. J. McK 23 August 2021

Sources:

-Own research and personal knowledge

-Will Young and His Reminisces: Author Stephen Murray-Smith and W. C. Young

-Press Articles