Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"...Second Lieutenant Alfred Edwin Winterford, 25th Battalion, of Atherton, Qld. Winterford, a land commissioner, had served 15 months in the 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry as a Sergeant during the South African War of 1899 to 1902 & embarked on 13th January, 1900 on the ship Maori King and returned to Australia on 3rd May, 1901 on the ship Tongariro.

He served from March, 1900 to March 1901 in Cape Colony, South Africa, West & East Transvaal & was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Driefontein & Cape Colony Clasps.

 He enlisted in the AIF in January 1916 and was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in August 1916. 2nd Lt Winterford embarked from Sydney with the 19th Reinforcements, aboard HMAT Wiltshire (A18) on 7 February 1917. He arrived in France for service on the Western Front on 9 July 1917 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Lt) on 1 September 1917. On 4 October 1917 he was wounded in action by a gunshot wound to the thigh. He returned to the front on 7 April 1918 and was killed in action in France on 10 June 1918. Lt Winterford was 44 years of age." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

"LIEUTENANT WINTERFORD KILLED.  Valued Public Servant  

Information has been received by the Department of Public Lands that Lieutenant Alfred Edwin Winterford who prior to enlisting with the Australian Imperial forces held the position of Land Commissioner at Atherton, was killed in action in France on 10th June. By the death of Lieutenant Winterford on the field of duty the public service of Queensland has been deprived of one of its most promising officers. He joined the public service on 18th August, 1896, as a clerk in the Treasury, but having had considerable bush experience, he was transferred to the Lands Department on 19th October, 1898, and was appointed a Crown land ranger for the Cunnanuilla, Charleville, and Thargomindah districts. While in this position the South African war broke out, and Mr. Winterford volunteered for service with the second contingent, joining as a private and reaching the rank of sergeant. In this campaign he served under Colonel Chauvel, being recommended to General Barker for gallantry in an affair at Pan Siding, and was awarded the South African medal and five clasps. Resuming his departmental duties in May, 1902, the deceased officer served as land ranger in the Ipswich, Nanango, Gympie, Brisbane, Toowoomba, and Bundaberg districts, until on 1st May, 1911, he was selected for promotion to the position of deputy land commissioner and land agent at Atherton, being subsequently given full status as land commissioner for the Atherton and Herberton districts, which position he relinquished to volunteer for active service.

After qualifying for a commission, Lieutenant Winterford left in February, 1917, for the front in France. Where he continued fighting until he made the supreme sacrifice. Big alike in frame and capacity, the ability, energy, and sterling character of the deceased officer had marked him for departmental advancement, had not the war called him. As an assessing and valuing officer, he was firm and impartial, his reports being remarkable for their accuracy and detail, while in administrative work as a land commissioner he showed great initiative and a comprehensive grasp of the settlement problem of the north. Alfred Edwin Winterford will be long remembered, not only for his good efficient service to the State, but in the case of those who worked with him and know him best for the straihgt forward manly rule of conduct that guided all his actions." - from the Brisbane Telegraph 29 Jun 1918 (nla.gov.au)

"Mrs. A. E. Winterford, Corra Lynn, Hendra, has been notified that her husband, Lieutenant A. E. Winterford, was killed in action on June 10. Lieutenant Winterford enlisted as a private in the A.I.F. early in January, 1916 and passed for his commission as 2nd lieutenant at Duntroon in June of the same year. When the exemption courts were held Lieutenant Winterford represented the military in the North. He left for abroad early in February, 1917, as O.C. of the 19 Rfts. of the 25th Battalion, and received his second star in France last September. On October 4 he received severe gunshot wounds in the left thigh, which kept him in England for six months; he rejoined his battalion early in April. Lieutenant Winterford saw much service as a sergeant during the South African war, 1900-1901.

In civilian life he was well known throughout Queensland, particularly in the North, where he held the position at the time of enlistment as Land Commissioner for the Atherton and Herberton districts. He was a prominent Mason, and member of the Brisbane Grammar Schood Old Boys' Association, and much respected by all with whom he came in contact. He leaves a widow and two young sons. Only a few weeks ago news was received of the death, from wounds, of Mrs. Winterford's brother, 2nd Lieutenant G. S. H. Robinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. B. Robinson, of Corra Lynn, Hendra." - from the Queenslander 06 Jul 1918 (nla.gov.au)

Father William WINTERFORD and Mother Margaret HANNAH

Wife:  Margaret Brereton ALFRED, lived at 'Morlancourt', Annerley, Queensland.