Cole, William Alexander

Corporal William Alexander Cole - 35th Fortress Company Engineers

William Alexander Cole was born in Fremantle WA in 1894 to Lionel and Esther Cole. He was one of eleven children, with Mary (1884), Arthur (1886), Owen (1888), Frank (1892), Esther (1896), John (1899), Harry (1901), Alex (1905), Dorothy (1910) and Edna (1913).

The family lived at 545 Edmund Street in Fremantle (later renumbered to 73 Edmund) and Frank was educated at Fremantle Boys School.

After leaving school he took up work as a painter.

William was a member of the Citizen's Military Forces, serving with the 35th Fortress Company of Engineers in Fremantle, being based mainly at the North Mole on Fremantle Harbour.

William tried to enlist when the Great War commenced in August 1914 but was knocked back due to Varicose Veins in his legs. He tried to enlist again in July 1915.

The medical examiner recorded William's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 11 & 1/4 inches tall;

Weight - 138lbs;

Chest measurement - 34-36 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Brown.

It appears was again knocked back as medically unfit for service overseas but he continued to serve in the Citizens Military Forces within WA. William spent the war years serving in Fremantle with the 35th Company of Engineers.

In North Fremantle in 1916 William married Elizabeth Josephson. They would have three children, a son Frank was born in 1917 followed by Norma in 1918 and William in 1922.

By 1931 the family were living at 220 South Street (later renumbered 108 South St) During this time William was working as a painter.

The family then moved to 157 Hill St (later renumbered to 3 Hill and then renamed to Knutsford Street in 1951) 

They lived here in Hill St/Knutsford Street through much of the 1940's and 50's.

In 1958 they then moved to 22 Carter St Hamilton Hill. They resided here through to the 1980's.

William Alexander Cole died on the 3rd October 1985 aged 91. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican Mon AA 1426.