Walter Richard Axford (1853 - 1918)

Born 4 Aug 1853 in Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Ann Helena (McQuillan) Axford — married 25 Nov 1890 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Died 29 Aug 1918 at age 65 in East Coolgardie, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

Son of Tom Axford and his wife Mary Ann Axford, Walter Axford was born in Tasmania in 1853.

on 25 November 1890 he married Margaret Ann McQuillan, daughter of Patrick McQuillan, in Adelaide.

He was the father of Victoria Cross recipient Thomas Leslie Axford and reportedly eight other children.

Other children of Walter and his wife Margaret were:

• Lucy Slade Axford (born 1891)
• Harry Arnold Axford (born 1893)
• Harold Dow Axford (born 1895)
• Laurence Walter Axford (born 1896)
• Gertrude Agnes Axford (born 1898)
• Florence Aileen Axford (born c 1900)
• Walter Leonard Axford (born 1908)
• Robert Decimus Axford (born 1910)

He died in 1918.

The news of the death of Mr. Walter Richard Axford, following quickly upon the announcement that his son, Lance-Corpl. Thomas Leslie Axford, had won the Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry, came as a shock to the community on Monday morning. The deceased gentleman had not enjoyed the best of health for a number of years, and last week he took to his bed, but despite the attention that was paid to him by Dr. Walker, he passed away shortly before nine o'clock on Monday morning. His end was calm and peaceful, all the members of his family, except the lance-corporal, being present at the bedside.
The late Mr. Axford, who was 65 years of age at the time of his demise was born at Bothwell, Tasmania, but at an early age he went with the other members of his family to Ballarat, Victoria, where for 20 years he was in the employ of the Ballarat Hardware Company. He was for several years an active member of the Ballarat City Fire Brigade. He left Victoria with his father and other members of the family for South Australia, where for several years they engaged in farming pursuits at Carrieton, on the Port Augusta railway. His father's failing health led to the disposal of the farm, and Mr. Axford then conducted a successful business as an auctioneer and commission agent at Carrieton, where for several years he also occupied the post of town clerk. He was a justice of the peace in that district for a long while in fact, almost for the whole period of his stay in South Australia. Like others he was forced by the terrible drought of 20 years or so ago to migrate to West Australia. He spent 12 years in Coolgardie, and occupied clerical positions under Mr. McNamara and Knight Atkins, besides acting as auditor for Harvey and Culley. Eight years ago he came to Kalgoorlie, since when he has done regular accountancy work for Mr. G. S. Harvey, of Boulder, and other business men.
The late Mr. Axford was married 28 years ago at Carrieton, South Australia, and his wife and nine children survive him, a tenth child having died in infancy. His stepmother, now 85 years of age, resides in England, where one of his sisters, Mrs. R. M. Osborne, also lives. His brother, Mr. G. C. Axford, is resident at the Wellington Mills, in the South-West of West Australia; another brother, Mr. A. L. Axford, lives at Goodwood, South Australia, and a sister, Miss Axford, resides at Abbotsford, Melbourne, Victoria. The eldest children of his family are Mrs. Rosewarne (whose husband has been wounded during the fighting on the western front); Sergeant Harry Axford, late of the 16th Battalion, A.I.F.; Lance-Corporal Thomas Leslie Axford, V.C., Mr. Harold Axford, and Miss Gertrude Axford.
The Mayor of Kalgoorlie, Mr. B. Leslie, mentioned in his report to the council on Monday that it was with mingled feelings of pleasure and sorrow that he had to congratulate the relatives of Lance-Corporal Axford upon the fact that His Majesty, the King had been pleased to confer upon the young soldier the Victoria Cross "for Valour." The news had been received at a time when Mr. Axford, senr., was in a declining state of health, but it must become a source of comfort and consolation to the bereaved relatives in their sorrow to realise that the honour conferred upon his brave and and gallant son must have been a great joy indeed to the father during his few remaining days on earth.
The mayor and councillors carried, in respectful silence, the resolution of the council to convey to the bereaved relatives the sincerest sympathy for them in their sad affliction. It was further resolved that the mayor and councillors attend the funeral in their official capacity.
Western Argus (Kalgoorlie, WA) Tue 3 Sep 1918

Sources

• Australia, Births & Baptisms - Ancestry.com. Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. Name: Walter Richard Axford; Gender: Male; Birth Date: 4 Aug 1853; Birth Place: Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia; Residence Date: 1853; Residence Place: Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia; Father: Thomas Axford; Mother: Mary Ann Jane Allwright; FHL Film Number: 284694
• Australia Birth Index - Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Walter Richard Axford; Birth Date: 4 Aug 1853; Birth Place: Tasmania; Registration Year: 1853; Registration Place: Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia; Father: Thomas Axford; Mother: Mary Ann Jane Allwright; Registration Number: 14
• Australia Marriage Index - Ancestry.com. Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Walter Richard Axford; Father's name: Thomas Axford; Spouse Name: Margaret Ann Mcquillan; Spouse's Father's Name: Patrick Mcquillan; Marriage Date: 25 Nov 1890; Marriage Place: Adelaide; Registration Place: Adelaide, South Australia; Page Number: 793; Volume Number: 165
• Birth Index - son Thomas - Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Walter Richard Axford; Child: Thomas Leslie Axford; Page Number: 382; Volume Number: 545
• Birth Index - son Harold - Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Walter Richard Axford; Child: Harold Dow Axford; Page Number: 501; Volume Number: 577
• Birth Index - daughter Lucy - Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Walter Richard Axford; Child: Lucy Slade Axford; Page Number: 436; Volume Number: 491
• Birth Index - son Harry - Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Walter Richard Axford; Child: Harry Arnold Axford; Page Number: 432; Volume Number: 514
• Birth Index - son Laurence - Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Walter Richard Axford; Child: Laurence Walter Axford; Page Number: 228; Volume Number: 593
• Birth Index - daughter Florence - Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Walter Richard Axford; Child: Florence Aileen Axford; Registration Number: 633
• Australia & New Zealand Find-a-Grave Index - Memorial # 121734191[1] Name: Walter Richard Axford; Birth Place: Bothwell, Central Highlands Council, Tasmania, Australia; Death Date: 26 Aug 1918; Death Place: Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Kalgoorlie-Boulder City, Western Australia, Australia; Has Bio?: Y; Spouse: Margaret Ann Axford
• Australian Death Index - Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Walter R Axford; Death Place: Western Australia; Registration Year: 1918; Registration Place: East Coolgardie, Western Australia; Registration Number: 142
• Copy of Marriage Certificate sighted
• Birth Registration