William Edward Warland (1865 - 1955) UK/Australia/UK

William Edward Warland (8 August 1865 - 30 January 1955) was the son of Henry Warland (1821 - 16 March 1876), the brother of Henry Thomas Warland and Albert John Warland, and nephew of Philip Christopher Warland.

1881 - Fanny and Harriett Wooler in the census

According to her marriage certificate with additional details from a descendent, Fanny Wooler was the daughter of Walter Wooler (1824, Alfriston, Sussex - before 1891) and Mancel Harriot/Haryott (1827, Eastdean, Sussex - ). Walter and Mancel married in Alfriston, Sussex in 1848. Walter was a shepherd (as noted on the marriage certificate), and is said to have worked in different places on the South Downs and elsewhere in Sussex.

Both Fanny Wooler (born 1863) and her older sister Harriett Wooler (born 1861), said to have been born in Pyecombe, Sussex on the census (although the birth records show the birth for both as Cuckfield, Sussex, further north), appear in the 1881 census as servants to the (large) Botting family who lived at 33 Grenville Place, Brighton, Sussex. William Botting (aged 47) was a stated to be a builder employing 34 men. (Archive Reference RG11, Piece number 1092, Folio 82, page 8)

William Edward Warland may have known Fanny and/or her sister before he returned to the UK on 9 January 1891. His family residence at 19 Buckingham Street was only 10 minutes walk from Grenville Place in Brighton.

Arrival in Victoria - 1887: William Edward Warland - and a son left behind

William Edward Warland arrived in Melbourne, Australia, in April 1887 on board the Aberdeen as an 'unassisted immigrant' with a stated age of 21.

The Victorian Sands and McDougall directories from 1887 to 1891 show no reference to William Edward Warland. However, it appears that he travelled to Adelaide, South Australia by early 1890.

Sometime in 1890, William Edward met Mary Ann Scown (7 Apr 1867, Moonta, District of Daly, South Australia - 28 July 1955 at Petersham, NSW), the daughter of James and Mary (nee James) Scown. Mary Ann fell pregnant to William Edward Warland in around August 1890.

1891 - Return to England and birth of William Edward Loftus James Warland/Scown

Whether because of the pregnancy or not, William Edward Warland returned to England, arriving on 9 January 1891 from Sydney according to UK shipping records.

On 25 June 1891, Mary Ann gave birth in Adelaide to a son she named William Edward Loftus James SCOWN/WARLAND. He was registered separately with both the name of his mother and his father. See bottom of page for further information about the life of Mary Ann and William Edward Warland junior.

See the end of this page for more information about Mary Ann and her son.

1891 - William Edward Warland returns to England, marries Fanny Wooler

William Edward Warland married Fanny Wooler (1863 - 1923) two months after he returned from Australia, in March 1891. William Edward and Fanny Warland had the following children:

1891 UK Census

The 1891 census was conducted on 5 April 1891, after William and Fanny had married. Anne Warland, a 'tea agent and on her own means' is shown as living at 19 Buckingham Street, Brighton, with her nephew Henry Thomas Warland, a builder's clerk.

William Edward Warland, an engine fitter, and Fanny Warland are recorded at 17 Bedford Road, Horsham, Sussex.

1891 - Death of Anne Warland

William Edward Warland's aunt Anne Warland died in the third quarter (Jul - Sep) of 1891. She had been living in the family home of 19 Buckingham Street until her death. Her will indicated that her nephew Henry Thomas Warland was to sell the property and then disburse the funds.

1891 to 1900 - Life of Mary Ann Scown and her son William Warland in Australia

After she gave birth, Mary Ann then appears to have travelled to Canowindra in NSW with her young son William. She met and married the older Robert Rice (born 1832, based on death records) on 28 June 1893 in Canowindra. Robert may have already had children from a previous marriage as several members of the Rice family are recorded living in Glastonbury, Canowindra in the early 1900s. The marriage was recorded in the Thursday, 21 September 1893 edition of the Barrier Miner (Broken Hill) (page 2) as follows:

RICE - SCOWN - Thursday, June 29, 1893, at Glastonbury, Canowindra, by the Rev Canon Geer, Robert Rice, of Glastonbury, Canowindra, to Pollie Scown, only daughter of James Scown, Adelaide, SA.

Mary Ann and Robert then had the following children:

Sometime after Mary Ann's daughter Dorothy was born, the family then appear to have moved from Canowindra to Sydney, possibly because of Robert's medical condition. Robert Rice died in 1901 in Marrickville, Sydney, NSW. The Sydney Morning Herald for Tuesday 15 January 1901 (page 1) recorded the death as follows:

RICE - January 14, 1901, at his residence, Tarin, Wardell Road, Dulwich Hill, Robert Rice, late of Glastonbury, Canowindra in his 69th year. Funeral from Canowindra on Wednesday, the 16th instant.

Mary Ann then re-married Joseph Vercoe(or Verco) in 1908 in Newtown, Sydney, NSW. Joseph may have been the Joseph Vercoe who died in 1937 in Chatswood, Sydney, NSW, the son of George and Elizabeth Vercoe.

1901 UK census

The 1901 census shows that both Henry Thomas Warland and his brother William Edward Warland were living in the area of Preston, Steyning, Sussex. The two family groups were listed as follows:

5 Stafford Road, Brighton: Henry T and Alice Warland and daughter Elsie, and a boarder, Adelaide E Gibbs (a shop assistant, 'fancy trade')

165 Havelock Road, Brighton: William Edward Warland ('steam engine maker fitter), Fanny and family (Frances, Florence, Herbert, Ernest)

1907 to 1911 - Herbert Warland attends school

Herbert Warland (born 1895) attended the Municipal Secondary School for Boys in Brighton, England, from September 1907 to July 1911. A reference letter from the school dated 10 Apri l913 and likely brought with him when he migrated to Australia in 1913, stated that he was always regular and punctual in his attendance and industrious in his work. The results of his studies were 'invariably good'. He was successful in passing the Cambridge Senior Local Examinations. He took part in athletics and played football and cricket. The letter concludes that Herbert 'is a boy of gentlemanly manner and his general character was excellent'.

1911 - Census

The UK 1911 census shows the two families still living in the same locations, as follows:

Herbert Warland leaves for Australia - 1913

In early 1913, William's son Herbert Warland departed the UK with his uncle Albert Warland. They arrived in Melbourne, Australia on 14 July 1913.

World War 1 - William Edward Loftus James Warland and half brother Herbert Warland enlist

Both of William Edward Warland's sons signed up for World War 1, not knowing anything about each other.

William Edward Loftus James Warland (Service Number 635 or 635A), a boiler maker's assistant aged 24, enlisted on 30 June 1915 at Keswick, South Australia, and gave his mother Mrs Mary Ann Verco of Warddell Road, Dulwich Hill, NSW, as his next of kin. William's complexion was noted as 'dark', he had brown eyes and dark brown hair.

William ELJ Warland left Australia in November 1915 and disembarked in Cairo, Egypt on 18 December 1915 where he was assigned to B Company of the AIF 32nd Battalion. He was admitted to hospital with VD in January 1916. He was transferred to the 29th Battalion in May 1916 and with that Battalion disembarked at Marseilles on 23 June 1916. He was wounded in action with a (mild) gunshot wound to his foot on 19 July 1916 and was admitted to hospital at Boulogne on 22 July 1916. He was admitted to hospital several times from July to September 1916. In August 1916 he rejoined the 29th Battalion; on 3 September 1916 he was transferred to the 8th Light Trench Mortary Battery.

William ELJ Warland was promoted to Lance Corporal on 1 March 1917, then Temporary Cpl for two months from May to July 1917. He took leave in the UK in June/July 1917, returned to be admitted to hospital again with VD-related problems. From 26 to 30 September 1917, William fought at Polygon Wood and displayed 'conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty'. According to the citation:

'A few minutes after zero a garrison of a Strong Point which had been overlooked in the advance commenced bombing the Infantry from the rear. Pte Warland rushed the Strong Point firing his rifle and using his bayonet with great effect captured the garrison. In the last stages of the advance on to the final objective this man was continually to the front rendering valuable service and was of great assistance to his Section Commander. His fearlessness and devotion to duty is deserving of high praise'.

William ELJ Warland was promoted to Sergeant on 1 October 1917 and received the Military Medal for his 'conspicuous gallantry' at Polygon Wood the previous month.

William ELJ Warland took 5 days leave in Paris in January 1918 and in the UK in February 1918 when he was again admitted to hospital. He did not return to France until 17 May 1918 where he was again admitted to hospital with VD-related symptoms, in both May and June 1918. In July 1918, at Ville sur Ancre on the Somme, he was noted for maintaining his two trench mortars with considerable courage and coolness even when subjected to 'very heavy hostile artillery and machine gun fire'. On 29 July 1918, he fought with the 29th Battalion opposite Morlancourt where he was wounded in his right leg when his gun crew took over a Stokes Mortar; despite his wounds, he continued on and 'succeeded in establishing his gun in the old German line on the left flank'. He was said to have returned to have his wounds dressed only when ordered to do so by his Company Commander. His service history notes that he had a severe leg wound and was admitted to hospital in early August, then transferred to the UK on 22 August 1918. He remained in hospital until 22 September 1918. He returned to France on 21 November 1918.

William ELJ Warland returned to Australia on the HMAT Wyreema on 13 April 1919. He was discharged from the AIF in Adelaide on 20 July 1919. His address was 35 Charles Street, Forestville, South Australia. See also this tribute to William's service record.

1916 - Herbert Warland enlists for WW1

Herbert Warland signed up to the AIF on 26 January 1916. He arrived in Europe in August 1916 with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF)'s 39th Battalion. He served mostly around the Ypres area. He returned to Australia on 12 June 1919. Click the link above for full details of his life and WW1 history.

It is interesting to note that Herbert and William may have met or seen each other during World War 1 but not known they were half brothers.

1920 - Ernest Edward Warland marries Agnes Nairn Davidson

Ernest Edward Warland married Agnes Nairn Davidson in Brighton in 1920. They lived at 46 Carlisle Road, Hove.

1922 - William Edward Loftus James Warland marries Veronica Larkin

William Edward Warland, father's name unstated, married Veronica Ellen Larkin, aged 30, on 27 May 1922. Veronica was the daughter of William James Larkin, and they were married in the Catholic Presbytery in Adelaide. (Book/Page 291/713). There are no records of any Warland born to both parents in Adelaide to June 1927.

1923 - Death of Fanny Warland; Albert Warland and daughters arrive in the UK

Fanny Warland, the wife of Albert's brother William Edward Warland, died on 7 May 1923 aged 59. She died just days before Albert and his daughters reached the UK on 11 May 1923. They caught the train to Brighton on 12 May 1923 where they went straight to William's house. Bess Warland's diary states:

At Plymouth where we arrived on May 11th we received the terrible news of Auntie Fanny's death. It was a great shock to us. We berthed at Tilbury at 8 AM Saturday May 12th. The Brighton train left at 1 o'clock and started off on the train journey. We arrived about 1/4 to 3 to find no one there to meet us. We went straight to Uncle Harry's place. After tea at Uncle Harry's we went over to Havelock Road [William's residence]. We found uncle Will and the girls waiting at the gate. They were bearing up wonderfully. May 13. After lunch we went over to Uncle Will's place and met Ern and his wife Nan.

While in Brighton, Albert Warland and daughters stayed at Alexandra Villas, within easy walking distance of Albert's brothers' homes.

A group photograph of the three, brothers and their families in 1923.

This photograph, taken at the rear of 165 Havelock Road, Brighton (William Warland's home) shows Ernest Edward Warland (1896 - 1984), Lilian Warland, Albert Warland, Ern's wife Agnes Nairn (nee Davidson)(1896 - 1981), Bess Warland, and Albert's brother William Edward Warland

Photograph shows William Edward Warland, Ernest Warland's wife Nan (Agnes), Ernest Warland, Lilian Warland, Albert Warland, and Bess Warland at a Tea Garden possibly near Windsor Castle.

By 1923, William Edward Warland was an engine fitter and millwright.

1924 - Ernest and Agnes Warland have a daughter Jean

Ernest Edward and Agnes Nairn Warland had a daughter, Jean Warland, in 1924.

1927 - Another William Edward Warland in Victoria - was this William's son?

In 1927, one William Edward Warland appears in the Victorian Sands and MacDougall directories. In 1927 he is recorded at 40 Brooke Street, Northcote. While it is tempting to assume that this could be William Henry Warland senior, there is a possibility that this person was William Edward Loftus James Warland from South Australia. This possibility is strengthened (but needs confirmation) by the fact that (a) William Edward Warland junior does not appear in South Autralia records from 1927 (see below) and (b) there is no arrival of a William Edward Warland by ship recorded after William's rather hasty return on 9 January 1891.

From 1929 to 1935 (last known entry), William Edward Warland appears in Victorian directories at 36 Campbell Street, Bentleigh.

1929 - Herbert Warland killed in plane crash

On 7 March 1929, William Edward's son Herbert Warland was killed in the crash of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft. (See Herbert's story for more detail).

Frances Mary Warland and the Girl Guides

Frances Warland, standing, left, in a 1930s Girl Guides uniform.

The Administration Manager, Girlguiding Sales and Information Team (Trading Service, Atlantic Street, Broadheath, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 5EQ) advised in January 2015 that the uniform worn by Frances Warland in the photograph above was similar to other they have from the 1930’ period. Accordingly, it is believed that this photograph was taken around that time.

Frances Warland in her Girl Guides uniform. Undated but believed to be in the 1930s.

Frances Warland continued her involvement with the Girl Guides. The Archivist of the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service advised in December 2014 that the Girl Guides Association County Register for 1952 lists Division and District Commissioners (reference X698/1/2). It only gives initials and not full Christian names, but the Division Commissioner for Luton Division was Miss F. M. Warland of 2 Dallow Road, Luton.

See also: 4 - Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service

Late 1930s - Family photograph

The photograph below shows William Edward Warland, then aged around 60 - 65, an unidentified woman, and Florence, Frances and Ernest possibly taken in the late 1930s at the rear of their home. Another photograph taken at the same time shows only William, his two daughters, and the sae unidentified woman. It is believed that these two photographs were sent in correspondence between Florence and Frances and their two nephews (Ian and Graham Warland, the sons of their brother Herbert) in Australia.

Photograph shows William Edward Warland, Florence Warland, Ernest Warland, (unknown), and Frances Warland in the UK possibly in the late 1930s.

1939 Register UK

The 1939 Register for the UK shows the following for the Brighton 'CB' area:

Frances M (Mary) Warland (born 1892) was recorded in the Luton MB, Bedfordshire area.

Neither Ernest E Warland or his wife Agnes ('Nan') were recorded in the register, suggesting they were overseas at the time.

1950 - William Edward Loftus James Warland requests a copy of his discharge paper

On 7 November 1950 he made a Statuatory Declaration that his Discharge paper had been lost, the reason being, "My coat was burnt while working for G H Bartlett of Adelaide Boxmakers. Discharge was in pocket." A replacement certificate was posted from Canberra on 5 Dec 1950 to Ex-Sgt Warland at 32 Charles Street, Forestville SA. The last piece of correspondence in his Service Record was dated 6 Nov 1951 at which time William would have been 60 yrs old. Forestville is the suburb adjacent to Keswick Military Barracks where he enlisted.

1955 - Death of William Edward Warland

William Edward Warland died in the UK on 30 January 1955. After he died, his daughters Florence and Frances remained at 165 Havelock Road.

1962 - Death of William Edward Loftus James Warland

William Edward Loftus James Warland died on 18 May 1962, at Forestville, Adelaide. At death, his (marital) status was shown as 'married'.

1970s - Life and Death of Frances and Florence Warland

Ernest and his wife Nan, their daughter Jean and her second husband Arthur Saunders, Florence Warland and Frances Warland, and others were photographed together on 21 December 1970 at the wedding of Jean's son Gordon Bullock.

Guests at Gordon Bullock's wedding. Ernest and Nan are the couple at the far left. Their daughter Jean Saunders (with her husband Arthur are next. Florence and Frances are third and second from the right respectively.

Gordon and Lynne Bullock had two children.

In January 1974, Ern Warland reported that his sisters were both in a very poor state. Frances was blind in one eye with a cataract and had bad arthritis making it hard for her to get about. Florence also had arthritis as well as diabetes. By May 1976, Ern noted that both his sisters had 'deteriorated rapidly' and had been ordered by a doctor to a nursing home at 9 Knoyle Road, Brighton.

Jean Bullock (nee Warland) died in 1975.

The property at 165 Havelock Road was sold in 1975, according to an online real estate site.

Florence Warland, then aged 82, wrote in November 1975 from the nursing home. She said that living there was 'frustrating to say the least'. She was not allowed to go out alone so 'all the things I have always done are now more or less out of the question', and she noted that Frances could not 'work' much. Florence also noted that Ern's wife Nan was not well, especially 'after the shock of losing Jean'.

Frances Mary Warland (born 1892) died in the nursing home in her sleep at around 7.30 AM on 10 May 1976. Her brother Ern noted that she had been failing rapidly just lately and her death was 'a happy release'. Her sister Florence ('Flo') Elizabeth Warland (born 1893) died in the nursing home on 19 November 1976 at Brighton, UK.

Nan Warland (nee Davidson) moved to a nursing home by December 1978 after spending close to a year in bed. Ern noted in a letter that she had Parkinsons Disease and also had had a stroke. Her speech and memory 'went very badly'.

1980s - Death of Agnes Warland (nee Davidson) and Ernest Edward Warland

In possibly his last letter to his nephew Ian Warland in Australia, Ern wrote in December 1980. He noted that Nan was in hospital permanently with Parkinsons Disease. Ern noted that she was 'cared for wonderfully'. He noted that they had a 'wonderful little great granddaughter' who was then 9 months old.

Agnes Nairn Davidson (born 1896) died in September 1981. Ernest Warland (born 1896) died in June 1984.

2021 - Death of Gordon Bullock

Gordon Bullock died in 2021.

Page created 1985, last updated 20 April 2022 (minor fixes and updates). Copyright © Andrew Warland. (andrewwarland(at)gmail.com)