William Slade Vincent

12.2
Time in Victoria

Pensions to war veterans were subject to English cost of living reviews, and on that basis William’s pension was reduced from 8s (shillings) per day to 7s 7d (7 shillings and 7 pence) per day from 1st July 1924.

On 22nd September 1924, the War Office received a request from William for an application for the re-issue of his war medals (including the M.C.) as they were lost at sea in 1919, on his way back from England.

Application for re-issue of War Medals [92]

The letter was signed Act/Captain William Slade Millar, 28 Walker Street, North Geelong, Vic. The address was a boarding house he was staying at. William was never an Acting Captain, and he had a habit of embellishing his service in the army as will also be seen in his obituary. (In the letter, “Captain” was mispelt).

It is assumed, after William’s request, the medals were replaced and are shown in the photograph below. The photograph does not include the M.C. and its whereabouts is unknown.

Service Medals [93]

On 23rd September 1924, he changed his address to c/o R. Vincent Esq, “Prospect House”, Western Beach, Geelong, Victoria. Mr. R. Vincent was another uncle of William’s.

Robert Vincent was a part owner and one of the first directors of the Federal Woollen Mill and Beaumont Hosiery companies, North Geelong. It was opened in 1915 and closed in 1972 and was a major employer in the area. [94]

Robert Vincent of “Prospect House”, Geelong [95]

The woollen mills were situated north of the Geelong suburb of Rippleside.

Federal Woollen Mill, North Geelong [96]

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[92] National Archive of UK – Service Record William Slade Vincent
[93] Compliments Gez Vining
[94] - [96] Victorian Collections