WOOD Wilf   

Compiled by Gordon Freegard based on research by Merilyn Stewart

Written by IRIS & COLIN GRAINGER

"Wilf came to Victoria in 1913. He worked in market gardens and sent back for Hilda as they were engaged.
Hilda arrived in March 1915 and married on 21st April 1915. Wilf enlisted on 15th February 1916 and went to France on the same ship as Hilda came out on, which was converted to a troop ship—"Euripides."
Their first child, Grace Winifred, was born in September 1916. Hilda and Grace went to WA Gnowangerup in 1917, I guess so that Hilda could see her brothers. They boarded with Mabel and Albert Freegard and remained friends for the rest of their lives.
In the meantime, Grace had to go back to Victoria before Wilf was discharged on 28th March 1919.
They had two sons, Robert and Ernest. Robert was a sickly lad and was advised by doctors to go to a warmer, drier climate, so they moved to Gnowangerup, approximately in 1926.
They lived with Ted and Emily Clarke at first, then they managed to rent an old bootmaker's shop somewhere near the railway line. No water, they had a 100-gallon tank—they carted water a bucket each and a tub between them from the railway standpipe every dry day, maybe several times a day.

  WILF WOOD         #1
 

  HILDA ON HER 21st BIRTHDAY WEARING ENGAGEMENT RING 6th January 1913         #2
 

    WILF & HILDA WOOD WEDDING 21st April  1915         #3
 

I have been told you could eat your meals off the floor; it was so clean. Wilf made all their furniture from kerosene boxes. Hilda was always handy with her sewing machine and needle.
They met up with the Parkers again, as George came from where Hilda lived while Hilda was in England.
They bought a house next door to where Hugh had his little cottage.
Harold was born in Gnowangerup in 1928. The three eldest went to school there.
The family moved to Kojonup during the Great Depression, while Wilf worked on the main roads.
Wilf worked hard all his life and never saw his firstborn child until she was nearly 3.
He was very badly wounded in the war and had shrapnel in his body when he passed away at 84 years of age.
Hilda worked hard all her life, having boarders for so many years, eventually moving to Bridgetown. It was about 10 years before she left us.”

Hilda passed away in March 1994 in her 103rd year.

HILDA WOOD (nee CLARKE) oN HER !))th BIRTHDAY cth January 1992            #4
 

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