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Audrey 1946
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Audrey with Janice 1947
Audrey Worsley was the only daughter of Edna and Robert Worsley. She had an older brother Morris Richard and a younger brother Harold Wesley. Her parents divorced and her mother remarried. The children's stepfather Frank was abusive, making her home life difficult. The children would often stay with one of Edna's sisters Aunt Lillian and Aunt Mary. Both the boys were regularly sent to the Burnside Home for Boys. http://cdn.uniting.org/burnside-stories/index.html However, when things were settled at home, Edna would bring them back, one by one, and things would go forward for a while until Frank had enough and off they would go again
Audrey began working in the shoe department at David Jones in 1936 when she was 14. All of the female staff wore black dresses with either a string of pearls or a lace collar. When Audrey got the job, Edna bought two remnant pieces to make Audrey a uniform. The fabric pieces were two different shades of black but she made a dress anyway. Then she dyed a pair of brown shoes black for Audrey to wear. The dye made the shoes stink. Audrey 's first day was in a mismatched dress and smelly shoes. As the Second World War got underway, Audrey left David Jones to work in munitions factory, because it paid better wages. One day, less than a year after starting, her glove got caught in one of the machines. She was able to slip her hand out of it before suffering any injury, but was frightened and quit soon after. She spent the remainder of the war working at a shop called “Stitches” that altered and repaired military uniforms.
Primarily to escape her home life, In 1942 at the age of 20, she married Alan Oswald McLure, a 26 year old chemist's clerk. Only one week into the marriage she realised that she had married someone very like her step-father. They were both working, but when they came home in the evening, he would sit in a chair and tell her to take his boots off, then sit while she made dinner, cleaned up, etc. Audrey returned home and later divorced him. However, she was pregnant from that short marriage and gave birth to Janice in 1944.
Although she was not yet divorced from Alan McLure, Audrey was a young, vivacious woman and was not about to sit around home alone. The Trocadero, a famous Sydney dance hall, had been converted to use for allied troops. Audrey often went to the Trocadero with her friend Joy Thomas. One evening early in 1943 Joy excitedly told Audrey that she had met a handsome American sailor, Eugene Mogis, the night before and was planning to meet him at the Trocadero again that night. In February of 1943 Joe and Eugene had arrived on the Otus in Sydney for rest and recreation. Her crew was looking forward to getting off the ship and having some fun. Joy told Audrey that Eugene had a friend that Audrey might like to meet. That night at the Trocadero, Audrey met Joe Alexander, a chief boatswain's mate in the U.S. Navy. He was tattooed with thick wavy dark hair and a big smile He was intelligent and well-spoken and she had the time of her life dancing with him.
As the days passed while Joe had leave, he and Audrey spent a lot of time together. Audrey loved his American accent and the fact that he would hold her hand, gaze into her eyes and recite poetry to her. They often danced the night away and would go to eat breakfast when the dance hall closed. Audrey was totally enraptured. Eventually, Joe's leave was over and he had to return to his ship. They exchanged addresses and promised to write. And write they did. Audrey and Alan divorced on November 5th, 1944.
In April 1947 Audrey, Janice and Audrey's mother Edna boarded the SS Phoenix to take Audrey to her new life in America with Joe Alexander. The SS Phoenix would be the last ship to transport war brides to America. It is estimated between 12000 Australian women married US servicemen during the 1940s. The ship arrived on the 2nd May 1947 and Joe and Audrey were quickly married on the 5th May 1947. Audrey's mother Edna would have been at the wedding too. Joe and Audrey settled in Newport Rhode Island and on the 19th May, 1951 they had a church wedding at St Mary's Church, Newport. They had five more children together. In the early 80s they moved to Jacksonville, Florida where Louis died on March 4th, 1984. Audrey lived for another thirty five years passing away on March 9th, 2019.
Most of this information (including the photos) was provided so kindly by Audrey's daughter Georgeann Engels.
Audrey began working in the shoe department at David Jones in 1936 when she was 14. All of the female staff wore black dresses with either a string of pearls or a lace collar. When Audrey got the job, Edna bought two remnant pieces to make Audrey a uniform. The fabric pieces were two different shades of black but she made a dress anyway. Then she dyed a pair of brown shoes black for Audrey to wear. The dye made the shoes stink. Audrey 's first day was in a mismatched dress and smelly shoes. As the Second World War got underway, Audrey left David Jones to work in munitions factory, because it paid better wages. One day, less than a year after starting, her glove got caught in one of the machines. She was able to slip her hand out of it before suffering any injury, but was frightened and quit soon after. She spent the remainder of the war working at a shop called “Stitches” that altered and repaired military uniforms.
Primarily to escape her home life, In 1942 at the age of 20, she married Alan Oswald McLure, a 26 year old chemist's clerk. Only one week into the marriage she realised that she had married someone very like her step-father. They were both working, but when they came home in the evening, he would sit in a chair and tell her to take his boots off, then sit while she made dinner, cleaned up, etc. Audrey returned home and later divorced him. However, she was pregnant from that short marriage and gave birth to Janice in 1944.
Although she was not yet divorced from Alan McLure, Audrey was a young, vivacious woman and was not about to sit around home alone. The Trocadero, a famous Sydney dance hall, had been converted to use for allied troops. Audrey often went to the Trocadero with her friend Joy Thomas. One evening early in 1943 Joy excitedly told Audrey that she had met a handsome American sailor, Eugene Mogis, the night before and was planning to meet him at the Trocadero again that night. In February of 1943 Joe and Eugene had arrived on the Otus in Sydney for rest and recreation. Her crew was looking forward to getting off the ship and having some fun. Joy told Audrey that Eugene had a friend that Audrey might like to meet. That night at the Trocadero, Audrey met Joe Alexander, a chief boatswain's mate in the U.S. Navy. He was tattooed with thick wavy dark hair and a big smile He was intelligent and well-spoken and she had the time of her life dancing with him.
As the days passed while Joe had leave, he and Audrey spent a lot of time together. Audrey loved his American accent and the fact that he would hold her hand, gaze into her eyes and recite poetry to her. They often danced the night away and would go to eat breakfast when the dance hall closed. Audrey was totally enraptured. Eventually, Joe's leave was over and he had to return to his ship. They exchanged addresses and promised to write. And write they did. Audrey and Alan divorced on November 5th, 1944.
In April 1947 Audrey, Janice and Audrey's mother Edna boarded the SS Phoenix to take Audrey to her new life in America with Joe Alexander. The SS Phoenix would be the last ship to transport war brides to America. It is estimated between 12000 Australian women married US servicemen during the 1940s. The ship arrived on the 2nd May 1947 and Joe and Audrey were quickly married on the 5th May 1947. Audrey's mother Edna would have been at the wedding too. Joe and Audrey settled in Newport Rhode Island and on the 19th May, 1951 they had a church wedding at St Mary's Church, Newport. They had five more children together. In the early 80s they moved to Jacksonville, Florida where Louis died on March 4th, 1984. Audrey lived for another thirty five years passing away on March 9th, 2019.
Most of this information (including the photos) was provided so kindly by Audrey's daughter Georgeann Engels.
Audrey, c1943
Saying goodbye to Audrey, Sydney 1947
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Louis c1943
Aboard the SS Phoenix
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T
Morris Richard Worsley (Dick)
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Morris 1947
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Morris (known as Dick), was the eldest child of EDNA MORRIS. Edna was pregnant with Dick when she married Robert Richard Worsley. Dick's father was Eric Sylvester Youngman. After Edna and Robert divorced, Edna married Frank Whitehouse when Dick was ten years old. Frank did not want Edna's children from her previous marriage and made it known to the Worsley children. When Dick was about thirteen and attending high school he had a big fight with Frank and he left home to live with his Aunt Lillian Worsley. Due to the stressful home situation Dick didn't finish high school and began working at Woolworths in the bulk store.
In 1938 he enlisted in the Civilian Military Forces, giving his next of kin as his mother Edna Whitehouse at 25 Birdwood Ave, Lane Cove. He was single and his occupation was Silk Screen Artist. Dick suffered a traumatic event at this time and one eye was damaged. On January 11th, 1941 Dick married Beryl Smith and they had one daughter Denise Robyn. They divorce in 1946. Dick was called up for active service on October 1st, 1941 still in the CMI. However in April 1942 he joins the Australian Imperial Services, in the 55th Battalion and was deployed to Papua Guinea. In June 1943 Dick attended the Small Arms School at Bonagilla Victoria and finished 4th out of 27 students. His Instructional Ability is detailed as 'Possesses considerable instructional ability. Good knowledge. Exercises good control.' His personal note is 'Very fair appearance and bearing. Cheerful boyish disposition with tendency to take routine tasks too casually. Takes criticism well. Is obviously keen to do well and anxious to impress. Is quick to learn and grasps points readily.' He is recommended as a Unit Instructor In active service in Bougainville he was shot in the leg by a Japanese sniper. He was flown to Brisbane where he his full leg was amputated. He was terminated from service on 12/9/1945.
In 1946 Dick is listed as residing back at the Whitehouse home at Birdwood Ave, Lane Cove. In this year he completes his matriculation and is probably working with his brother Harold who has a fruit barrow in the city. The Birdwood Ave house had a large tennis court and it was here that that Dick met Diane Francart who he married on May 22nd, 1948. Dick is listed as an Arts student on the marriage certificate. He did complete a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology and Government. The couple had three children ; two boys and a girl.
After many moves while renting houses, the couple managed to get a low interest war services loan and bought a house in 1959 at 15 Rose St, Croydon Park. This was the house where they raised their children and spent many happy years as a family here.
Over the years Dick had many jobs; silk screen artist, Education Officer, clerk for the Post Masters General and for the Repatriation Commission, company representative for a printing firm and as an Adult Probation Officer and even Kiosk Operator (Dick and Diane ran a kiosk at the Western Hospital, Croydon. Dick retired in September 1980 and died in 1982. He was posthumously granted a Ministers Citation for his work in the Probation and Parole Service. His wife Diane received this on his behalf. Diane died on January 26th, 1997.
In 1938 he enlisted in the Civilian Military Forces, giving his next of kin as his mother Edna Whitehouse at 25 Birdwood Ave, Lane Cove. He was single and his occupation was Silk Screen Artist. Dick suffered a traumatic event at this time and one eye was damaged. On January 11th, 1941 Dick married Beryl Smith and they had one daughter Denise Robyn. They divorce in 1946. Dick was called up for active service on October 1st, 1941 still in the CMI. However in April 1942 he joins the Australian Imperial Services, in the 55th Battalion and was deployed to Papua Guinea. In June 1943 Dick attended the Small Arms School at Bonagilla Victoria and finished 4th out of 27 students. His Instructional Ability is detailed as 'Possesses considerable instructional ability. Good knowledge. Exercises good control.' His personal note is 'Very fair appearance and bearing. Cheerful boyish disposition with tendency to take routine tasks too casually. Takes criticism well. Is obviously keen to do well and anxious to impress. Is quick to learn and grasps points readily.' He is recommended as a Unit Instructor In active service in Bougainville he was shot in the leg by a Japanese sniper. He was flown to Brisbane where he his full leg was amputated. He was terminated from service on 12/9/1945.
In 1946 Dick is listed as residing back at the Whitehouse home at Birdwood Ave, Lane Cove. In this year he completes his matriculation and is probably working with his brother Harold who has a fruit barrow in the city. The Birdwood Ave house had a large tennis court and it was here that that Dick met Diane Francart who he married on May 22nd, 1948. Dick is listed as an Arts student on the marriage certificate. He did complete a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology and Government. The couple had three children ; two boys and a girl.
After many moves while renting houses, the couple managed to get a low interest war services loan and bought a house in 1959 at 15 Rose St, Croydon Park. This was the house where they raised their children and spent many happy years as a family here.
Over the years Dick had many jobs; silk screen artist, Education Officer, clerk for the Post Masters General and for the Repatriation Commission, company representative for a printing firm and as an Adult Probation Officer and even Kiosk Operator (Dick and Diane ran a kiosk at the Western Hospital, Croydon. Dick retired in September 1980 and died in 1982. He was posthumously granted a Ministers Citation for his work in the Probation and Parole Service. His wife Diane received this on his behalf. Diane died on January 26th, 1997.
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Harold
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Harold was the third son of Edna Worsley. While she was still married to Robert Worsley Edna and Robert had separated soon after Audrey was born in 1922. In their divorce proceedings in 1927 Edna was accused of infidelity with Herbert Hewitt and in her divorce papers Herbert Wesley Hewitt is named.. Robert refused to pay paternal maintenance for Harold stating that he didn't believe he was the father. Harold's older brother Dick was also later revealed to also not be the son of Robert (see above). It is likely that Harold was the son of Herbert Wesley Hewitt (1896 -1959).
When Edna re-married Frank Whitehouse in 1930 Harold was soon after sent to Burnside Orphanage at North Parramatta. This experience in institutional care must have affected Harold deeply. Rejected by the father he knew as Robert Worsley and then sent away as a young boy because he was in the way of his mother's new marriage is heartbreaking to think of. Dick and Audrey were also banished at different times but stayed with Robert Worsley's sister Lillian. All of the children returned from time to time only to be sent off again. That experience would have been re-traumatising for Harold.
Harold completed primary school at Lane Cove Public School and then for a short time went to Crows Nest Technical High. In 1939, at thirteen years old he enlisted in the Air Training Corps and was issued a Cadet number. By 1943 he was working for Mr Speter, Greengrocer, 226 Burns Bay Rd, Lane Cove. In World War 2 he served in the RAAF as a steward, enlisting on 12/9/1944 . He was discharged on 25/3/1946. In 1952 he married Grace Kathleen Woodley.
They had four sons together, one who died in infancy.
it seems at some time he purchased the business as, following his marriage, Harold is listed as a green grocer and his wife as a shop assistant at the same business. In later years he had a fruit and vegetable barrow in the city, possibly George St. Since the 1930s , barrows were sprinkled right through the city.
Harold's wife Grace died on 14/1/2017 and Harold passed away only one week later on 22/1/2017. They had been married for 65 years.
Unknown Barrows Sydney George St 1971
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L-R: Lyle and Frank Whitehouse, Harold Worsley
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