WINTERFORD, William Joseph
| Service Number: | 1731080 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, 2 June 1945 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Clare Hospital, South Australia, 24 August 2022, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 6 Jun 1966: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 1731080, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1966: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 1731080 |
Joker
I worked with Bill in the mid 1990's for about four years, I was an NCO. Bill was an Armourer (gun plumber) for the Australian Defence Force at Bulimba Barracks, Brisbane. Some may have said He was a little......short or gruff with people. Truth is, He didn't suffer fools, I thought He was great. Bill loved a yarn, and had a wicked sense of humour.........sometimes at others' expense with loud booby traps activated by the less wary.
When I'd open the installation every morning, Bill would be the first there and usually had a story or joke to pass on, always set my day up with a smile.
Awesome man.
Submitted 19 June 2018 by Stephen McGuigan
Biography contributed by Robert Kearney
Military Medal 1731080 Private William Joseph WINTERFORD Royal Australian Infantry Corps.
Private Winterford has served as a National Serviceman since 30th June 1965, and with 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in Vietnam since June 1966. He was a section machine gunner until he was wounded during operations in Phuoc Tuy Province in July 1966.
On 25th July 1966, during an action between C Company and a Company of Viet Cong, Private Winterford engaged two enemy machine guns which were accurately engaging the company, with his own machine gun. Exercising excellent fire control, he quickly succeeded in neutralising the enemy guns.
When an attack was mounted on the right flank of his platoon position, Private Winterford used his machine gun to such devastating effect that the enemy were forced to withdraw. Shortly after, whilst still engaging enemy groups, Private Winterford was seriously wounded in the left arm and his machine gun destroyed.
Whilst obviously in great pain and suffering loss of blood, and though still under enemy fire, he conducted himself in such a courageous manner as
to set an example and inspire those fighting with him.
This display of professional skill and of his personal courage throughout the action was in the highest tradition of service, and reflect great credit
upon himself, his Regiment and the Australian Army.
London Gazette - See Link to the left of this page
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