William Henry McNeill

(1880-1950)

William Henry McNeill was a hardworking police officer in Fremantle for many years. He and his family lived at 82 Glyde St, East Fremantle from 1920 until 1963.

William Henry McNeill was born 16 May 1880 at Pleasant Creek, now Stawell, Victoria. He came to WA in February 1901 on the Oroya and as police constable number 680 first worked in Boulder in 1902. His sister Rosetta, who married Thomas Bass, had moved to Chidlows Wells c. 1903. His Parents Alexander McNeill (1845- 1937) and Mary Ann Pett (1851-1923) with three of their eight daughters; Margaret, Alice Maude and Bertha moved from Victoria to WA around 1906 and farmed a small orchard at Wooroloo near Chidlow in the Perth hills.

In 1903 William married Margaretta Leicht (from Daylesford, Victoria) in Boulder. 

The bride, who was given away by her brother-in-law, Mr FB Howes, wore a handsome dress of white silk voile, trimmed with Lace and applique, crepe de chine, and sprays of orange blossom. The usual veil of embroidered tulle was worn over a wreath of her bridal flower, and she carried a lovely shower bouquet… After the ceremony the party adjourned to the residence of the bride's sister, Oroya Street, where a most enjoyable breakfast was partaken of, and the usual toasts were honored. Mr and Mrs McNeill left by the 10.30 p.m. train to Perth for their honeymoon. (reference)

1904 Their first daughter Gladys ‘Gay’ Margaretta (1904- 2003) was born 17 August at 66 Hopkins Street, Boulder.

In January 1906 Constable McNeill was transferred to Fremantle where he worked for many years.  He and his family auctioned their household goods in Kalgoorlie (reference) and moved  into the Fremantle police quarters where his other children were born: Evelyn Joyce (1907- 1940), Marjorie Isabel (1907-?), Keith Alexander (1911-1934), William Allen AKA Allen William (1912-1979) and Verna Jean (1917-1994).  

In 1920, the family of eight moved to their own home ‘Waverley’ at 156 (now  82) Glyde St, where they lived until 1968.

Policing in the early days of Fremantle seems to have been a hard job keeping a mix of seafaring visitors and ‘drinkers’ in check and under control. Police were often assaulted in the course of duty. In 1906 alone, William was struck in July (reference) and November (reference)

1909 The Evening Mail Tuesday 9 February reported ‘A Violent Foreigner, Row in Essex Street’:

A disturbance took place in Essex street, Fremantle, early this morning, which landed an Italian named Marco Poduye in the lock-up… Constable McNeill told of having been attracted to the scene, and of having heard the foreigner using language which is contrary to the Criminal Code. He went to arrest the accused, whereupon the latter violently resisted, and caused a great commotion. After a great struggle, McNeill blew his whistle, and two other constables arrived. Accused was overpowered and handcuffed, and later on lodged in the lock-up. (reference)

and the West Australian on 16 February 1909 reported ‘A Festive Native’:

Bill Skipper, a full blooded aboriginal, wearing a tailor-made suit, an uncomfortably high collar, and a geranium buttonhole, appeared and pleaded not guilty to the charge of having violently resisted arrest He admitted, however, being drunk on Saturday evening. Constable McNeill having given evidence with regard to the unseemly behaviour of the prisoner, Skipper pleaded drunkenness as the extenuating circumstance. He had, he gave the Bench to understand, partaken of five long "shandies" in quick succession on Saturday evening, and had finished up with a dish of pea soup at a restaurant. He remembered "that fella John" (indicating Constable McNeill) having spoken to him outside the restaurant, but stoutly denied having resisted arrest. (reference) 

In 1914 William McNeill was absent for three months on sick leave.  He seized the opportunity to visit family in Victoria. He was welcomed back by the Fremantle Herald in January  1915:

Constable McNeill, by reason of his unfailing courtesy and obliging disposition, has hosts of friends in Fremantle, all of whom will be pleased to hear that he is looking and feeling much better for his holiday. (reference)

In May 1917 the Fremantle lumpers went on strike for better pay and conditions. In the next 2 years there was unrest on the wharf between "Unionists" and "Volunteers", ( non Unionists ) who were employed on the wharf. This situation was exacerbated by a shortage of food, and fears of a further outbreak of the influenza epidemic that was sweeping the world. The culmination of this tension was a bloody confrontation, which took place on the 4th of May 1919, between supporters of the Lumpers’ Union and the Western Australian Police known as ‘Westralia’s Eureka’, or the ‘Battle of the Barricades’.

There was still a lot of tension in the Port and In September 1919 there was a serious disturbance in High Street in which Constable McNeill received a head injury:

ATTACK ON POLICE. Fremantle was the scene of serious disturbance on Saturday evening. During the evening three police men had their attention drawn to a Norwegian who was lying in a drunken fit in front of the National Hotel in High Street. They proceeded to pick him up, but a crowd speedily collected, and apparently misunderstanding the position, hustled the constables. Inspector Sellenger endeavoured to explain the position, and the man was taken into Foreman's stationer's shop to wait for the ambulance. The crowd meanwhile had grown to big dimensions, and endeavours were made to take the Norwegian out of the shop. The police were reinforced, and as stones, etc., began to fly the constables drew their batons. The man was taken to the hospital, but the crowd then turned its attention to the police. Constable Stevens was knocked down with a bottle; Constable Smith received a severe blow from a stone, and Inspector Sellenger was knocked down and kicked. Keeping together, the police gained the police station. So hostile was the mob that revolvers' were issued to the constables, and a demonstration was then made in force, but the crowd quickly scattered. A man named Coyle was arrested. The police marched down High street, where they encountered a number of groups singing "The Red Flag," but no trouble was experienced in clearing the streets. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of a number of the ring leaders of the disturbance. Today the Fremantle police were reinforced by a strong contingent from the city. During the affray Constable McNeill was struck by a piece of wood, and was removed to hospital in a semi-conscious condition, but he improved considerably today.  (reference)

It seems after this injury the family moved out of the Police quarters and into Glyde St. 

Williams mother died in 1923. From 1927 Constable McNeill was working on more clerical tasks and issuing number plates for motor and other vehicles.

1934 began badly when William and Margaretta were dealt a major blow with the death of their son Keith, who died aged only 23, of tuberculosis, at home on the 1 January.

The funeral of the late Mr Keith Alexander McNeill, late of the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, West Australian Government Railways, Midland Junction, eldest son of Mr and Mrs WH McNeill, of Waverley, 156 Glyde-street, East Fremantle, took place in the Church of England portion of the Fremantle cemetery yesterday afternoon. The deceased was born at Fremantle and had lived there all his life. Mr McNeill showed great promise, was studious and was keenly interested in all he undertook. He was a member of the Pride of the West Lodge, PAFS… The chief mourners were Mr and Mrs WH McNeill (parents), Mr WA McNeill (brother), the Misses G, E, M, and V McNeill (sisters), Mesdames T Bass and M Cairncross (aunts) and Mr CP Leicht (cousin)… (reference)

1934 William’s third daughter Marjorie Isobel McNeill married James Treloar in Fremantle. By 1937 they had trouble in the marriage with James advertising in the West Australian

“I will Not be Responsible for any Debts Contracted by my Wife. JAMES TRELOAR, Fremantle.” (reference)

They were divorced in 1941 on grounds that Marjorie had deserted James and Marjorie disappeared from the electoral rolls in WA. (reference)

23 June 1936

Misses Ada Sheridan and Kay Kennedy entertained a number of friends at the Hotel Wentworth on Saturday in honour of Miss Gladys McNeill, whose marriage will take place tomorrow. Afternoon tea was served in the lounge. which was decorated with wattle and green foliage. Among the guests were: Mesdames McNeill, N. Rosman, A. Sheridan, G. Hamer and Roney; Misses Evelyn and Verna McNeill… (reference)

She married Frederick Martyn Dimond, of South Kensington, London at St. John's Church, Fremantle on the 24th of June 1936. He was 47 and she was 32. They must have married early in the morning as they sailed to the eastern states on the “Katoomba” which left from Victoria Key at 11am the same day. 

From Newcastle they continued on to the U.K via Malta on the ship ‘Port of Wellington’. They arrived in Hull, England in September 1936. (reference)

Frederick Dimond, an engineer, was from a wealthy, well-educated family. In Perth he had managed the General Publicity and Advertising Contractors, at Goldsbrough House on St Georges Terrace (reference). His grandfather was a solicitor and his father a London stock broker. His mother had died in 1905 and in 1911 when he was studying at Cambridge his father employed a married couple as servants to manage the house and his needs. 

In 1914 Frederick’s father died and Fred enlisted in the army. He served in the Royal Army Service Corps as a captain and saw action in France.

In 1939 a few years after they moved to the UK the couple were living in in Fulham East and it seems Frederick re-enlisted.  He became a Captain in the West African Army Service Corps and also served in the Royal West African Frontier Force. He died on the 4th of April 1941 while on active service in Africa (drowning accident)  He is buried in Christiansborg Civil Cemetery, Accra in Ghana.

In March 1937 William’s father died:

Another of our pioneers in the person of the late Mr Alexander McNeill, late of Wooroloo, died on Tuesday last at the great age of 92 years. Mr McNeill, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, descended from an old North of Ireland farming family and came to Australia by sailing ship in his early twenties. He settled in Victoria and was at Ballarat during the Eureka Stockade. He was an orchardist at Stawell, Victoria, until he left for Western Australia 31 years ago, since when he had resided at Wooroloo… (reference)

In March 1940 Constable McNeill retired from the WA Police force. 

In the office of the Police Traffic Branch yesterday afternoon Constable William Henry McNeill, who is retiring after 39 years' service in the West Australian Police Force, was farewelled by members of the staff, who presented him with a chiming clock. The acting-chief of the branch (Inspector Drysdale), Sergeants Mills and Gould and other speakers referred to the careful and conscientious work done during the past 13 years by Constable McNeill in handling the complicated system connected with the issue of number plates for motor and other vehicles. Subsequently, Constable McNeill, who has suffered for many years from a physical disability caused by an injury received while on duty, entertained the staff to refreshments. (reference)

Sadly in May 1940 Williams second daughter Evelyn Joyce, who worked as a dressmaker, died at the age of 33:

The Friends of the late Miss Evelyn Joyce McNeill second daughter of  Mr and Mrs WH McNeill of ‘Waverley’, 82 Glyde-street East Fremantle are respectfully informed that her remains will be interred in the Church of England portion of the Fremantle Cemetery… (reference)

1942 William’s Second son, William Allen, also known as Allen William, never married. His occupation was a clerk. Alongside his father William jnr was a member of the Pride of the West Lodge, a branch of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society. In 1936 he was the Worshipful Master of the local branch. He enlisted in the Army on the 24th of July 1942 and was discharged from the Motor Regiment on the 9th Aug 1944.

Daughter Gay returned to Australia during the war but in June 1945 (aged 40) she travelled (first class) back to the UK to sort out matters to do with her husband’s death.

While Gay was in the UK she took part in an Australian publicity campaign in Scotland. An exhibition ‘PERTH SHOWN TO PERTH’ was designed to show Perth within a general background of Australia. Gay was one of the information officers answering inquires at the exhibition. (reference)

Oct 1946

Mr and Mrs WH McNeill, of East Fremantle, wish to announce the engagement of their youngest daughter Verna to Charles Edward, third son of Mr and Mrs EJ Smith of Umina, NSW.  (reference)

Youngest daughter Verna Jean married Charles Edward Smith in Fremantle in 1946. He had enlisted in the RAAF on the 29th Jan 1942 and was a leading aircraftman when he was finally discharged on the 4th of Jan 1946. After he left the RAAF, he was a salesman and they lived at Glyde St with the family and had 2 daughters.  In the early 1950s Charles and Verna moved to South Australia and Verna died there in 1994.

1949 Gay’s parents were aging and in 1949 she returned to the family home in Glyde Street to help care for them. Living at home were her brother Allen, and her sister Verna and family. [xvi]

1950 William Henry McNeill died on 15  December 1950, aged 70, at his home at 82 Glyde Street and his wife Margaretta was still living in Glyde St when she died two years later.

On Dec 3, 1952 at  Fremantle, Margaret McNeill,  of 82 Glyde-street, East Fremantle,  widow of the late William  Henry McNeill, loved  mother of Gladys (Mrs F Dimond),  Marjorie, Allen and  Verna (Mrs C Smith) fond grandmother of Pamela and Jennifer… (reference)

Gay and her brother William were still living at the family home in 1954.

Gay Dimond had an interesting life and her story can he read here: (link) When the family home was sold In 1968, she found a flat at 2/16 Parliament Place, West Perth, where she lived for most of the rest of her life. Gay died in 2003, aged 98.

Researched, written and photos shared by Lee-Anne Percival <perci1@iinet.net.au> Dec 2020