FatherHenry Thomas Simmons1
MotherRebecca McGee1
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

William John Simmons was born in 1903 in South Melbourne, Victoria.1,2 
He married Annie Eileen Phillips, daughter of John Phillips and Ellen O'Loughlin, on 9 July 1928 in East Melbourne, Victoria.3,4,1 
He died on 21 January 1993.5,6 

Family

Annie Eileen Phillips b. 25 Sep 1906, d. 2 Mar 1980
Children
ChartsO'Loughlin, Michael, descendant chart
Phillips, James, descendant chart

Story

William John was born in South Melbourne in 1903. He was the eighth child of Rebecca and Henry Thomas. He was known as Bill.2,7
 
Drummer
On his 1928 marriage registration, Bill was a musician and living at Coventry St, South Melbourne. He was an accomplished drummer.

His father was also a musician, who every Sunday got his band together to play for patients at the Queen Victoria hospital in Melbourne.1,7
 
Marriage and Family
Annie Eileen Phillips and William John Simmons were married at St Patrick's cathedral in East Melbourne on 9 July 1928. They had three children.1,4,3
 
After they married, they lived in Port Melbourne, in Albert St (1931), Princes St (1936), then McCormack St (1937). All three children were born around this time.8,9,10
 
In the electoral roll for 1931, William has no occupation shown. In 1936, he is a labourer and in 1937 a storeman.1,8,9,10
 
During the Great Depression of the early 1930s, Bill lost the milk round job he was doing. He went on to the 'Susso', the Australian slang term for 'sustenance' (welfare) payments.7,11
 
Dad served in the army in World War Two. When he went to sign up they initially said no, as he had two fingers on his right hand joined. But he persisted and asked what about being in the band; they said yes.

Towards the end of the war, Margaret and I were at the cinema and a newsreel came on. Dad was on the screen. He was marching. They were in India on their way to Australia but had to swap ships because the military wanted the one they arrived there on for something else. [Pat Simmons]7,12,13
 
William John Simmons initially enlisted in the Australian Army at the Melbourne Town Hall on 10 June 1940, but didn't sign the oath until eight days later in Caulfield. His service number was VX28059 and he was assigned to 2/14 Battalion. He named Annie as next of kin. He was discharged at Heidelberg Military hospital on 10 July 1944.14,13
 
By 1942, the family was living at Penola St, Preston. Annie and Bill remained in their Preston home for the rest of their lives.15,7
 
Annie bought her meat from Preston butcher Donald McDonald. Donald's sister, Irene 'Sis' Phillips, was married to Annie's brother Tom.16
 
In the electoral roll for 1949, William is a waterside worker. Daughter Pat could not recall her father doing this work.17,7
 
William John Simmons died on 21 January 1993, aged 90. He was buried at Preston cemetery with wife Annie.5
Preston cemetery
Image: BillionGraves

Citations

  1. [S594] William John Simmons and Annie Phillips, marriage registration no. 7955, 9 July 1928.
  2. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Wm Jno' Simmons entry, birth registration no. 27206, 1903.
  3. [S278] Pat Brown, personal communication, 25 August 2014.
  4. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Wm Jno' Simmons and Annie Phillips entry, marriage registration no. 7955, 1928.
  5. [S422] BillionGraves, online cemetery data, Annie Simmons entry, 1980.
  6. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, William John Simmons entry, death registration no. 2544, 1993.
  7. [S278] Pat Brown, personal communication, 22 July 2020.
  8. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Melbourne Ports, subdivision of Port Melbourne, 1931.
  9. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Melbourne Ports, subdivision of Port Melbourne, 1936.
  10. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Melbourne Ports, subdivision of Port Melbourne, 1937.
  11. [S246] 'The Susso', Wikipedia, online, Wikimedia Foundation, viewed 25 July 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Susso
  12. [S278] Pat Brown, personal communication, 5 january 2021.
  13. [S632] 'Simmons, William John', B883 Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947, control symbol VX28059, service record, 18 June 1940.
  14. [S500] 'Simmons, William John', DVA's Nominal Rolls, service summary, Second World War, service no. VX28059, viewed 24 July 2020, https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran
  15. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Batman, subdivision of Preston, 1942.
  16. [S278] Pat Brown, personal communication, 15 May 2013.
  17. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Darebin, subdivision of Preston, 1949.