HMNZT Tahiti

HS Marama

Maunu Cemetery Whangarei

Frederick Adolphus Winless, one of 4 children, all of whom survived, was the eldest of 3 sons who had a younger sister.

His father William Morgan Wanless born at Pelton Fell, County Durham, had lost both his parents by the age of 17 and in 1871 aged 20-years is listed as head of the household at Swinburne Place, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, employed as an engine fitter he had managed to keep the family together. His sister Sophia (18) took care of household duties, Paulina (12), Frederick Adolphus (9) and Robert (6) were scholars. Sophia was married in 1873 at Gateshead, County Durham, to boot manufacturer, John Alsop Wilson, William Morgan in 1878 in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, to Mary Jane Cattell, who was born in circa 1854 in Somerset. In 1881 William and his brother Robert were at Front Street, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, living with their sister’s family, his wife Mary Jane, their son Frederick Adolphus, born August 30th 1880 at Gateshead, and sister Paulina, with his widowed aunt, grocer, Isabella Stoves, at 136 Sodhouse Bank, Gateshead, (now known as Sheriff Hill). Frederick Adolphus had moved to Manchester, living at 159, Oldham Road, as a boarder in the home of chemist, Richard H. Williams, and was himself an apprentice chemist.

Ten years later, grocer, William and Mary Jane had a home of their own at 6&8, Elm Street, Benwell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, and a second child Bertram Cattell Wanless born in 1884, William James Cattell and his twin May Athaline Hayman Wanless were born, June 10th 1891, baptised, July 1st. Between 1891 and 1901 the Wanless family moved to Westerhope where William was a provisions dealer for his own account, Frederick Adolphus (20) a confectioner’s apprentice, Bertram (16) a commercial office clerk, William (9) remained at home with his mother, the family employed a domestic servant 45-year old Margaret Nixon, the whereabouts of May is unknown, however, she was again living at home by 1911. William was general dealer for his own account assisted by his wife Mary Jane and May (19). Frederick (30) was a pastry cook at a bakery, Bertram (26) a clerk for a confectionary manufacturer and William (19) a market gardener, Margaret Nixon was still their housekeeper.

Frederick Adolphus Wanless left the family home and emigrated to New Zealand during 1914 as had his uncle Frederick Adolphus and aunt Miss Lena Wanless, who were living at Kawakawa, North Island, where his uncle was a practicing chemist. He was living with his aunt in 1916 employed as a pastry cook for a Mr A. Wrigley at Whangarei.

When Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany in August 1914 she did so without consulting her dominions, however, there was a huge outpouring of support. Frederick Adolphus Wanless had undergone medical examination in October 1915 but rejected for war service as the board had encountered a problem with his left lung. He volunteered again at Whangarei in February 1917, wishing to join the 27th Reinforcements, he was assigned as Private 49790 and departed from Wellington aboard the, RMS Tahiti, June 12th 1917, an ocean going liner requisitioned as a troop ship which became known as His Majesty’s New Zealand Transport Tahiti. Prior to his departure he had made a will which he left in the hands of his uncle Frederick and nominated his aunt Lena as next of kin.

Arriving at Devonport, England, August 16th 1917, the troops marched to Sling Training Camp an annexe of Bulford Camp in Wiltshire. Private Wanless remained at Sling until his departure to France with the 2nd New Zealand Regiment, April 17th 1918, once disembarked they marched to Etaples arriving the same day. Two days later he had joined the 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment in the field, which had initially been formed in Egypt in 1916 from where it was evacuated and had been sent to the Western Front.

The 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment fought in several major battles including the Battles of Broodseinde, Messines, Passchendaele and The Advance to Victory.Evacuated as sick Private Wanless was admitted to the 2nd N.Z. Field Ambulance, July 14th 1918, where he remained for almost 10 days before returning to his unit and rejoined the 2nd Battalion, July 28th. Five weeks later, August 31st 1918 he was wounded on active service in France, a gunshot wound to the right arm and taken to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station for assessment. Unfortunately, due to the severity of his wound his right arm was amputated before he was transferred to the 12th General Hospital at Rouen where he was placed on the severely ill list, however, September 1st it was reported he was still dangerously ill but improving. Taken from the General Hospital at Rouen he was transferred to England, October 3rd, removed from the service list and admitted to the 1st New Zealand General Hospital, Brockenhurst, Walton-on-Thames, October 5th 1918.

After the Armistice of November 11th 1918 and when he was well enough to travel, Private 49790 Frederick Adolphus Wanless, returned to New Zealand aboard the requisitioned ocean liner Hospital Ship Marama, which left Southampton, December 19th 1918. Private Wanless received a war pension due to his disability and the development of varicose veins in both legs, he was discharged, September 17th 1919, “no longer physically fit for war service.” Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

He was married in 1935 to Catherine Winifred Kneebone, born 1898 at Coromandel, North Island, New Zealand, daughter of immigrant Thomas Kneebone of Cornwall and New Zealander Elizabeth Ann Stephenson. They had two children of whom one known by name, Athaline Elizabeth Wanless, born, September 30th 1936. In 1949 they were living at 6, Bernard Street, Whangarei, Frederick is listed as a pensioner.

Frederick Adolphus Wanless died November 5th 1951(71) and was buried within Maunu Cemetery, district of Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand, his widow Catherine Winifred Wanless nee Kneebone (73), October 11th 1972 and interred at Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand. Their daughter Athaline Elizabeth Wanless died in 2016, Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand.

Frederick's father William Morgan Wanless had died, March 25th 1916, his mother Mary Jane Wanless nee Cattell, November 22nd 1955 registered in Northumberland and County Durham respectively.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.