William Winstanley

Died 29 Oct 1894 in Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New Zealand

Biography

TWO WELL-KNOWN GEELONG PEDESTRIANS DROWNED.

Intelligence was received in Geelong on Friday that two well-knows athletes - A. Sherry and W. Winstanley - were drowned in the ill-fated Wairarapa. The two young men accompanied by a third in the person of Michael HIlckey, of Geelong West were proceeding to New Zealand upon a running tour, an enterprise in which they had previously proved successful. Hickey journeyed with the unfortunate young fellows as their trainer, and it was from him that the relatives of the young men mentioned above received the sad intelligence.

On a prior occasion when New Zealand was visited by them they did not pass under their correct names, but Sherry adopted that of "J. Donovan," and Winstanley was known as " W. Stanley."

As their friends were not sure of the steamer upon which they embarked for Maoriland and their correct names did not appear in the list of the passengers of the Wairarapa on her fatal trip, they were hopeful of the safety of the young men. Those hopes were, how ever, dispelled by the brief telegram despatched from New Zealand announceing that his companions were drowned. The names of "J Donovan," and "W. Stanley" are included in the most recent list published of the missing passengers. The friends of these young men, particularly Sherry, who was known throughout the colonies to patrons of athletic sport, will regret to hear of the sorrowful termination of their career.

Sherry was one of the best long distance runners of Australia, and perhaps of the world. Winstanley was also a successful quarter-mile runner.

Research Notes

From Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Name taken from published Casualty/Passenger lists / Published reports / NZBDM Death Registration

Can you add any information? Please help grow this WikiTree profile. Everything you see here is a collaborative work-in-progress.

Sources

• "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz).
  • Death Registration / 1894/5530 / Name: Stanley, W / Aged: NR