Wigan Album

There must be more to this soldier's story - did he or his family emigrate to Australia?

Hi Maggie. He made the trip with his wife and young family including my grandfather in 1904, though he had family [Wigan Winny's] here since the gold rush [1850's].He enlisted in 1916 and served on the Western Front until he was hospitalised for gas poisoning. On his return to the front he suffered gunshot wounds at the Battle of Messines .No doubt a harsh gig for a 44 year old musician.He returned to Australia in 1918 and lived on into his 80th year.

if he was stood up he would look just like the old statue in mesnes park , not this new thing . lovely old photo with a story .

I so agree with you about the statue in Mesnes Park. The one they have there now looks like a chess player - it is lifeless. Thomas Wilding Winstanley was obviously very strong and brave and very like the statue that was on the Plinth in Mesnes Park when I was a girl. I have not met anyone that likes the one there now.

Maggie. You can blame a very inebriated sailor for the damage to the statue, as I have mentioned on a previous occasion. Towards the end of the second world war, or shortly after the war ended, this sailor smashed the arm off the statue, the one holding the standard. When he appeared before the magistrates', his excuse for his actions, was." He looked as if he was fed up of holding the flag." The story must be somewhere in the annals of the Wigan Observer.

Never heard that story Albert. As a girl, I always thought it was a lovely statue even without it's arms. I was amazed when I saw on Wigan World the photo of him with the flag and gun. Still much better than the lifeless statue they have there now. Coppull have a far nicer WWI statue of a soldier at there war memorial and they are only a small place.

Hi,
Garry Winstanley, I was wondering if you have any further information or photos on Thomas or the family history on that side of the family as Thomas is my great great grandfather (Harold is my great grandfather). If you are interested and could email me on mattsontherun@hotmail.com that would be great.
All the best,
Matt