William Wilkinson b 1898 Auckland, Aeronautical engineer

[CraigM63]

This is an enquiry into my elusive great-uncle, William "Bill" Wilkinson (b 1898, Auckland), who I am informed won a scholarship to the University of Auckland in Aeronautical Engineering in the 1910s-1920s-30s. I have written to the University of Auckland archives regarding this.

The University of Auckland has never offered an aeronautical engineering degree option, and in 1939 the only degree choices were in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering. According to the Auckland University College Calendar of 1939 the School of Engineering did, however, offer evening courses for cadets and apprentices preparing for the professional examinations of a number of Engineering Institutions and for City and Guilds Examinations in a number of subjects, including Aeronautical Engineering.

 

[NZfamily]

This is an enquiry into my elusive great-uncle, William "Bill" Wilkinson (b 1898, Auckland), who I am informed won a scholarship to the University of Auckland in Aeronautical Engineering in the 1910s-1920s-30s. I have written to the University of Auckland archives regarding this.

The University of Auckland has never offered an aeronautical engineering degree option, and in 1939 the only degree choices were in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering. According to the Auckland University College Calendar of 1939 the School of Engineering did, however, offer evening courses for cadets and apprentices preparing for the professional examinations of a number of Engineering Institutions and for City and Guilds Examinations in a number of subjects, including Aeronautical Engineering.

Thanks, I guess Auckland Uni will get back to me on this

[Fresh Fields]

Hello again "R"

Just returned from a busy day in Auckland. Spent allocated four hour booking, at the NZN Archive Auckland, photographing files.  Several of the files involved land, where the surname WILKINSON was somehow associated with the title. Some you have claimed as direct relatives, others unknown. Now have photos of some of the info addressed by TIMESPANNER re the PARTINGTON mill, and held land titles, and mortgages. Probate of William WILKINSON etc. AND the Mary WILKINSON one that I already had requested.

Some of the material will be of interest to you, and I can forward FREE copies to a PM'ed nominated email address for service. Downloaded my camera three times, so some 250 photos to be processed over comming days.

Other files covered 150 years of local land history, and Port of Patea history. Linking into files researched by SPADES, at Wellington, on my behalf.  Paying it forward.

Regards,

Alan.

[Fresh Fields]

Thanks for the PM.

Photos taken that may help you sort your WILKINSON, and land titles of interest, will be forwarded once I have had a chance to sort yesterdays mission. Have used two cameras, and two computers.

Alan.

[NZfamily]

Thanks for the PM.

Photos taken that may help you sort your WILKINSON, and land titles of interest, will be forwarded once I have had a chance to sort yesterdays mission. Have used two cameras, and two computers.

Alan.

Many thanks Alan

[jorose]

Possibly him in the US, 1920 census:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4RV-HD4

Possibly a reference to him being in Australia?
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116682364?searchTerm=%22William%20Leonard%20Wilkinson%22

It looks like he tried to sign up again in Brisbane in 1916 (https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx - don't know how to directly link into recordsearch).
He admitted having been discharged medically unfit from NZ and a medical board found him to have a heart murmur and also discharged him medically unfit.

I wondered, after this, did he go to Canada or the US to try again?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ67-9B7
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXYY-TM3
Yep - although he's made himself older, the birthday is the same.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KYKB-8G3
 - travel into Seattle in 1918 indicates that he came into the US first via Niagara - possibly he also tried his luck with the CEF but if they didn't accept him due to medical issues there might not be a record.

Clearly he was determined to contribute to the war effort!

[Lucy2]

WOW  ... excellent jorose.   


WLW -- Brisbane sign-up - 1916

... not sure this will work ??  ... (sometimes these links, time-out.)

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8389644

   ~    Lu

[NZfamily]

Possibly him in the US, 1920 census:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4RV-HD4

Possibly a reference to him being in Australia?
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116682364?searchTerm=%22William%20Leonard%20Wilkinson%22

It looks like he tried to sign up again in Brisbane in 1916 (https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx - don't know how to directly link into recordsearch).
He admitted having been discharged medically unfit from NZ and a medical board found him to have a heart murmur and also discharged him medically unfit.

I wondered, after this, did he go to Canada or the US to try again?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ67-9B7
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXYY-TM3
Yep - although he's made himself older, the birthday is the same.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KYKB-8G3
 - travel into Seattle in 1918 indicates that he came into the US first via Niagara - possibly he also tried his luck with the CEF but if they didn't accept him due to medical issues there might not be a record.

Clearly he was determined to contribute to the war effort!

Wow! That's fantastic Jorose. As it is stated in the 1916 Trove articles, he invented a particular type of machine gun, (my uncle tells me) to fire through the propellors of fling aircraft whilst in flight, which is why he was in the USA, working with Brownings Arms manufacturers. As I understand it, Brownings didn't give him the credit for his invention (at least that is what my uncle says), which is why he is trying to get back into the USA so often I would assume.

The census form lines up as Hoboken is across the river from New York City and was a cheap place to live if you worked in nyc. He gives his name as William L Wilkinson which fits in with the guy being researched, so fantastic work! I still haven't found any patent, Freshfields. Am yet to look for it. Maybe Brownings took out the patent. Have no  idea where to look . does the USA have a national archives - newspapers, patents?

[NZfamily]

WOW  ... excellent jorose.   


WLW -- Brisbane sign-up - 1916

... not sure this will work ??  ... (sometimes these links, time-out.)

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8389644

   ~    Lu

Thanks Lu, that link worked