William came to Australia in 1905. According to his death certificate he was only 16 years of age at the time. Immigration records at the State Archives show that he came to Australia on the S.S. Dorset and was aged 21.

The Dorset left Liverpool on October 7th 1910 and arrived in Brisbane on December 5th of the same year. The Dorset is advertised in The Courier Mail of December 5th as “The Fast Screw Steamer”. It was a vessel of 11,300 tons and the Commander was W. L. Prentice. It was due to leave Brisbane again on December 7th taking wool, general cargo including refrigerated cargo. Excellent accommodation was offered (amidships) for Salon and Third class passengers. Fares ranged from £14-14/ – to £18- 18/-. After arrival in Brisbane William went to Toogooloowah where he worked on a farm.

He later worked as a waiter at the Johnsonion Club, a club for professional people such as doctors and lawyers. The club went into receivership late in 1991. While working there he met Anne Brizzle who worked as a cook. She came to Australia with her brother William on the Duke of Portland. She was aged 18 and William 20, arriving in Australia in 1900. William and Anna married at the registry Office, Red Hill, on June 30th, 1913 and the lived at Fernberg Road, Paddington, a suburb of Brisbane.

William enoisted in the Australian army on July 10th, 1917, aged 28 years and 6 months. He is described on the enlistment papers as being 5feet 7inches in height, 120 pounds in weight, with hazel eyes and black hair. He embarked from Adelaide in the ship Valencia on January 5th, 1918, and disembarked at Plymouth on March 4th, 1918. On May 27th, he was taken to the Delhi hospital with haemorrhage. The following day he was admitted privately to the military hospital in Tidsworth with haemoptysis. The following year, on February 11th he was taken to the hospital in Waymouth. He returned to Australia on the Valencia on July 20th 1919 and joined the nursing staff. He was discharged from the army on October 11th, 1920, having received the victory medal, British War Medal No. 32733 and a star. William returned from the war ‘totally and permanently disabled’ though at the time of his death there was some dispute about this.

On his return to Australia it seems that he may have had tuberculosis or some other lung problem, because he received a soldier settlement at Fleur Baix, near Stanthorpe, where there was a sanatorium. The block, in the Parish of Marsh, Portion 392, was developed into an orchard, and the fruit taken to Fleur Baix, then by train to Brisbane. A four roomed house was built at the cost of £278-1-7.

William’s wife Anna suffered from arteriosclerosis, chronic nephritis, and uraemia. It seems that she may have suffered a stroke and ripped her arm on a nail in the wall. By this time, partly because of Anna’s illnesses the family owned a Humpmobile car, so she was taken to hospital in Stanthorpe. Sr. Masel refused to treat her until he received £5.00. The money had to be borrowed and some time elapsed before the money was obtained, but by that time it was too late to save her life. William seldom said anything against other people, but naturally, he was always deeply hurt about Dr. Masel’s lack of concern and action. Anna died on October 2nd, 1932, aged 49 years.

Theodora Webber worked as house maid for the Munson’s. Her family, of German origin, lived nearby. Four years after the death of Anna, William married Dora, at the Webber residence, on June 26, 1937.

Life on the orchard was difficult, and not a lot of money was to be made. Expenses often were greater than the income. Later they took up blocks nearby which soldiers had walked off.

In later years William suffered from stricture of the gullet. He had frequent trips to the Repatriation Hospital at Greenslopes. He died on December 16th, 1867, aged 78 years, from a myocardial infraction. He had suffered from atherosclerosis for many years and diabetes mellitus for about eight years. The funeral service was conducted by Pastor Norm Minge in the Presbyterian Church at Stanthorpe, where the Lutheran congregation held services. He was buried at the Stanthorpe cemetery, Por. 6, Row V., No. 11.

In recognition of William’s long connection with the area, Munson’s Lane at Thulimbah is named after him.