Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Suffering a shattered elbow from a GSW at Gallipoli, Harold had his arm amputated and was returned to Australia and discharged on 27 Mar 1916

"A RAILWAY INCIDENT. CONTROVERSY OVER RETURNED SOLDER.

Serious friction between the Kalgoorlie branch of the Amalgamated Union of Railway Employees and the Railway Department was narrowly averted yesterday. The cause of the threatened dispute was the Commissioner's attitude towards a returned soldier named Wooltorton, who lost an arm at the war, and who had been employed as a crosing keeper. As he was receiving less than the prescribed minimum wage for that class of work, the union summoned the Commisioner before the Arbitration Court two or three weeks ago for a breash of the award. The union won the case, and it was admitted that the man was doing the work as satisfactorily as if he had both arms.

Since that date, it is stated, the man has not been allowed to return to work, nor has he been given any other employment. On Monday of last week the executive of the union waited on the Minister to urge that Wooltorton be reinstated but no answer had been received. Yesterday morning, when Mr. A. McCallum (general secretary of the A.L.F.) opened his office, he found a telegram which had been delivered on Saturday afternoon, couched in the following terms:-

"Meeting Kalgoorlie branch railway employees last night unanimously decided hold stop-work meeting Monday afternoon if departmnent does not reinstate Wooltorton. Confer with Haynes and advise - Clifford A.L.F. dist. sec.)." A letter confirming the wire was received, in which the writer stated that the men were determined that Wooltorton must be reinstated. Mr. McCallum, with Messrs. Haynes (secretary) and Moore (president of the Railway Employees' Union) conferred with the Minister (Mr. C. A. Hudson) over the telephone, and asked him if he would receive them in order to discuss the situation. This Mr McCallum informed a representative of the "West Australian" the Minister refused to do. The refusal was communicated to Kalgoorlie, with the additional information that another endeavour would be made to interview the Minister to-day. About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, however, an hour before the time fixed for the Kalgoorlie meeting, the Minister informed Mr. Haynes that Wooltorton would be reinstated at the minimum wage." - from the West Australian 31 Dec 1918 (nla.gov.au)

"WOOLTORTON.- On December 20, 1944, at Belmont, Harold Samuel of Sydenham-street, East Cannington, dearly beloved husband of Anne and loving father of William, Harold, Dora, Joseph (deceased) and Peter: aged 53 years.

WOOLTORTON.- On December 20, 1944, at Belmont, Harold Samuel, of Sydenham-street, East Cannlngton, loving uncle of Nancy (Mrs D. Hinkley), Edie (Mrs P. K. Snowball), Jack and Victor Kember.

WOOLTORTON.- On December 20, 1944, at Belmont, Harold Samuel, of Sydenham-street, East Cannington, dearly loved brother-in-law of Mr and Mrs J. Merry, and loving uncle of Leo (RAN), Jack (RAAF), Nancy and Brian." - from the West Australian 21 Dec 1944 (nla.gov.au)