WEIDENHOFER, Murray Robert
| Service Number: | 37337 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Petty Officer |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Murray Bridge, South Australia, 1 November 1926 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Korean War Service
| 25 Jun 1950: | Involvement 37337 | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 1952: | Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer, 37337 |
Help us honour Murray Robert Weidenhofer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
MURRAY ROBERT WEIDENHOFER
Murray was the son of Albert Ernest WEIDENHOFER & Elizabeth Louise ELY and was born on the 1st of November 1926 in Sister Bock’s Private Hospital, Murray Bridge, SA.
His parents were married on the 3rd of April 1915 in Pt Adelaide
His mother was the daughter of Thomas ELY & Louise Anny Mary SCHULTZE and was born on the 3rd of April 1889 in Pt Adelaide, SA.
His father was the son of August WEIDENHOFER & Mary Ann JACOBS and was born on the 15th of January 1888 in Woodside, SA.
Thomas was the last son born into a family of 4 children.
His family had moved in 1922 to Jervois where his father was a dairy farmer and leased block 968 in the Hundred of Brinkley, containing 49 acres, from the Irrigation Commission. He also held the adjoining property.
Murray completed his primary schooling at Jervois and spent most of his childhood on his parent’s dairy farm.
A story was told about Murray, who as a small boy, decided to “lend a hand” in the milking shed. He had often watched his father filling the tank on the milking machine with petrol, taken from a large four-gallon drum. As luck would have it, a neighbour named Ben had come across to Albert’s milking shed, just in time to observe young Murray filling the petrol tank with WATER from the rainwater tank! “Just one more will do it”, Murray said importantly, to Ben. Fortunately, the petrol tank could be drained, and no damage was done.
Murray was only 12 years old when his father, Albert died from Bronchial Pneumonia and Tetanus on the 26th of January 1939. The family continued to live at Jervois for a short period and then moved to Albert Park near Port Adelaide.
Murray attended Woodville High School.
On the 25th of January 1943, he took up an apprenticeship with the South Australian Railways at their railway workshops at Islington, as a Boilermaker. He also tried to enlist in the RAN this year but was deemed “Furlough” due to his employment.
Murray successfully enlisted into the RAN on the 23rd of May 1949 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number R37337.
He served in the Navy for twelve years, during which time he was stationed in Sydney and served in Korea and Herd Island.
Whilst on leave he married Shirley May WILSON on the 23rd of July 1953 in the St Andrew’s Church, Walkerville, SA. Shirley was the daughter of Robert Richard WILSON & Hilda Anna JOHN.
They were to have three daughters.
Murray was discharged on the 26th of April 1961.
After his naval service, Murray, having been an engine room artificer in the Navy, was able to gain employment in Port Augusta with E.T.S.A. (Electricity Trust of South Australia). He was later transferred to E.T.S.A.’s power station on Torrens Island near Port Adelaide, until his retirement.
They lived at 121 Eighth Avenue, Joslin.
Murray was an active member of the Naval Association, acting for a term as President and attending interstate conferences.
While attending one such conference in Brisbane in 1990, Murray became ill and shortly afterwards 5th of June 1990 he collapsed and died, aged 63.
His inscription appears in the Enfield Memorial Park.
Shirley died on the 25th of May 1998.