People Australia

William John (Bill) Hargreaves, also known as Hargraves (1890-1969) moulder and trade union official

Birth: 2 December 1890 at Footscray, Melbourne, Victoria, son of native-born parents William Henry Hargreaves (1865-1926), a police constable, of English descent, and Minnie Ann Kerr (1886-1947). Marriage: 1920 at Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales, to native-born Lily May O’Neill (1892-1953). They had three daughters and one son. Death: 29 January 1969 in hospital at Kogarah; usual residence Merton Street, Kogarah Bay. Religion: Congregational. 

• Apprenticed as a moulder.
• President of the Federated Moulders’ Union of Australasia in 1924-1925.
• Federal secretary from 1931 to 1958 of the Federated Moulders’ (Metals) Union of Australia.
• In 1937 was appointed by the Foundry Workers’ Joint Committee to gather information about foundry hazards, which helped to establish that silicosis could be contracted by foundry workers.
• In 1947 prepared for circulation among members a history of the union, founded in 1872 with a membership of 64; in 1947 the membership was about 3000.
• Cause of death: cachexia, carcinoma of left lung and congestive cardiac failure
• Actor John William Hargreaves (1945-1996) was his grandson.

Sources
Australian Foundry Worker, October, 1958.