Gilbert WICKHAM
Personal
Born: 7 October, 1887
Birth registration: Reg. No. 004762, page 15869
Birthplace: Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Parents: George John Wickham
Mary Ann King
Died: 11 March, 1964
Place of death: Queensland; Reg. No. 000120, page no. 3063
Burial place: Monto No. 2 Cemetery Section 1, Plot 11, Monto, Queensland, 12/03/1964
Awards and Honours
- 1914-1915 Star
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
Battalions
15 Battalion, 8th Reinforcements
Events
Enlistment
Regimental Service Number: 2649
Enlistment date: 28 May, 1915 Brisbane
Age at enlistment: 27 years 7 months
Religion: Methodist
Marital Status: Single
Next of kin: Mother: Mary Ann Wickham, Melton railway station
Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Weight: 151 pounds
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Green
Hair: Brown
Distinctive marks: Vaccination x 2 left shoulder; Scar on left shoulder
Embarkation ship: HMAT A55 Kyalyan.
Rank: Lance Corporal
Return Date: 27 September, 1917
Return Vessel: Suevic.
Arrival at Australia: 18 November, 1917.At: Melbourne
Discharge Date: 8 December, 1917
Further Enlistement Information: Royal Australian Garrison Artillery (No. 1085); undeclared, possibly because the NSW Police Gazette, 17 December 1913 lists Gilbert as a deserter from this unit from 2 December 1913. He had had under 6 months service at the time.
War Service Summary
16/08/1915 - Embarked from Brisbane
23/10/1915 - Joined Battalion; Lemnos
21/11/1915 - Admitted to hospital with Measles light Horse Field Ambulance, Fishermans Hut, Anzac, Gallipoli;
05/12/1915 - Rejoined unit; Gallipoli
25/12/1915 - Disembarked from the Ionian at Alexandria as part of the final evacuation of Gallipoli
11/02/1916 - Promoted to Lance Corporal
01/06/1916 - Proceeded to join British Expeditionary Force.; ex Alexandria
08/06/1916 - Disembarked from the Transylvania at Marseilles
08/08/1916 - Wounded In Action; Gun Shot Wound to the right buttock; Boulogne
16/09/1916 - From hospital; Etaples
04/10/1916 - Re-joined his Battalion; in the field
11/04/1917 - Wounded In Action; severe Gun Shot Wound to the chest penetrating his left lung; at Bullecourt, France as that was where his Battalion was in action
17/05/1917 - Embarked to England aboard Aberdonian from Rouen; admitted to hospital
18/05/1917 - 1st Southern General Hospital
29/09/1917 - Returned to Australia from England.
18/11/1917 - Disembarked Melbourne
14/12/1917 - Granted a pension of 30/- per fortnight from 9 December, 1917
War Service Commemerated
Life After the War
Place/s of residence:
Ipswich, Queensland
1925-1958 - Mulgildie Rd., Eidsvold, Queensland; with his brother Walter and Walter's wife, Julianna
1963 - Kalpowar; with Walter
Occupations:
Farm Hand
Farmer
Date of death:
11/03/1964 - Queensland Reg. # 000120, page no. 3063
Place of burial:
12/03/1964, - Monto No. 2 Cemetery, Monto, Queensland, Section 1, Plot 11. Also buried here is his brother Walter. Walters wife Julianna is buried at Monto No. 1.
Additional Information
Other relevant information:
Brother, Walter Wickham, 417, also served
Walter and Gilbert both served in World War 2 with 10th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps, Qld
Walter Gilbert attended Melton State School and are on the School honour board.
Gilbert Wickham is printed on the Express Honour list but Walter is not
There is a Wickham Street in Melton South.
The Bacchus Marsh Express
5 May 1917, p 2
It is with much regret we record the death of "Bob" Pratt, a Melton native, who lost his life on April 18th, in France, serving King and Country. R. Burton, son of Mr. William Burton, Melton South, has been wounded a second time; and G. Wickham, son of Mrs. Wickham, Melton South has been wounded.
Sources
Service Record
Embarkation Roll
North Burnett Regional Council cemetery records.
Newspaper accounts