Oswald Francis Mingay MBE (1895 - 1973)

Born 1 Jul 1895 in Peak Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Winifred Helen Nimmo (Esdon) Mingay — married 26 Jul 1920 in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Theodora Florence (Wills) Mingay — married 10 Oct 1972 in Darling Point, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 8 Aug 1973 at age 78 in Saint Ives, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Ossie Mingay MBE is Notable.

Oswald "Ossie" Francis Mingay MBE was born on 1st July 1895 at Peak Hill, New South Wales, Australia. He was a son of seventeen year-old Elizabeth Mingay.^[1] Ossie was educated at Lithgow District School and Sydney Technical College. He joined the Postmaster General's Department (PMG; now Telstra) as a telegraph messenger on 1st March 1908 at Lithgow. Moving to Sydney, he was appointed a junior mechanic in the electrical engineers' branch in July 1914.

First World War

Ossie Mingay MBE is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Mingay enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 14th September 1915.^[2] He served on the Western Front, first with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade (March-December 1916) and then with the 2nd Divisional Signal Company. In March 1918 he was promoted to Corporal and transferred to AIF Administrative Headquarters. After the Armistice, Mingay led a party of post office technicians which reconstructed the civil telephone exchange at Charleroi, Belgium, where he also acted as an instructor at the Université du Travail. In 1919 he gained experience with engineers of the General Post Office, London. He was Mentioned in Despatches. Mingay returned to Sydney and was discharged from the AIF on 16th January 1920, upon which he resumed duties as a mechanic at the PMG's central exchange and wrote the wireless column for the Daily Telegraph.

He married Winifred Helen Nimmo Esdon in St Clement's Church of England (Anglican Church), Marrickville, New South Wales on 26th July 1920.^[3]

radio industry

Mingay joined the wireless branch of Burgin Electric Co. in 1922 and became manager of its radio-station 2BE in 1924. He resigned in September 1925 and formed Mingay's Wireless Manufacturing Ltd. In 1930, as the principal and proprietor, he established the Australian Radio College. That year he persuaded a publisher to bring out the Radio Retailer of Australia (1930-33). When asked to confine his comments to the trade, Mingay resigned as managing editor, formed the Mingay Publishing Co. Ltd to buy the paper and continued his editorials. His other publications included Broadcasting Business (1933-48) and Mingay's Electrical Weekly. A member (from 1922) of the State division of the Wireless Institute of Australia, Mingay and (Sir) Ernest Fisk had provided the drive to found the Institution of Radio (and Electronics) Engineers, Australia, in 1932; he was its secretary until 1940.

Second World War

Ossie Mingay MBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 1941-1942
1st Cavalry Division

During the Second World War Mingay served (1941-42) as a signals officer in the 1st Cavalry Division, Australian Militia Force, and rose to temporary Captain.^[4] In May 1942 he transferred to the Ministry of Munitions. He was a representative at Lend-Lease discussions in Washington.

retirement

In 1965 Mingay retired from business. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1966. A long-time member of the Imperial Service Club, the Royal Automobile Club of Australia, the Legacy Club of Sydney, and the Roseville Golf and Killara Bowling clubs, he helped to set up the Broadcasting Radio Electrical Industries Fellowship Club.

He married a second time, to widow "Theodora Lippmann nee Wills, on 10th October 1972 in St Mark's Anglican Church, Darling Point, New South Wales.^[5]

He passed away, aged 78 years, on 8th August 1973 at home at St Ives, New South Wales.^[6] He was survived by Theodora and the son of his first marriage.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #25734/1895
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: 7087 Corporal Oswald Francis Mingay; accessed 21 Jul 2019
3. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #11570/1920
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: N81098 Captain Oswald Francis Mingay; accessed 21 Jul 2019
5. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #tba
6. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #58279/1973

See also

• Symes, Jim. 'Mingay, Oswald Francis (Ossie) (1895–1973)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2000; accessed online 21 Jul 2019.