Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

He was awarded his Military Medal By General Birdwood (UK) on 6 March 1920

John Clifford Wickham was born Lady Alice Mine, Humbug Scrub 24th January 1890. John’s Parents were John Edward Wickham and Martha Ann Hamlin. Edward was 24 years old when he married Martha Ann Hamlin aged 20 years old at the residence of Mr. Hall of the Lady Alice Gold Mine on the 26th of December 1888.  Martha’s father was John Hamlin. 

Edward and Martha had several children: Harold James who was born a year after John, was born on the 29th of October 1891. Claud Stanley was born on the 18th of July 1893. Two years later, Ivy Marie Beatrice was born on the 23rd of June 1895 at Solomontown, Port Pirie. And then Lillian was born on the 6th of June 1899 in Adelaide.

John Clifford was 24 years old when he enlisted on the 23rd of November 1914 at Oaklands. He had spent 1 ½ years with the cyclists Rifle Club. He worked as a Painter before the war, and was appointed to the 3rd Reinforcements of the 2nd Infantry, 10th Battalion.

After signing enlistment papers on 23rd of November 1914, John embarked from Australia on the 24th of February 1915 on the “RUNIC” and sailed to the Middle East (Egypt).  He went to Gallipoli and fought there.  He was admitted to hospital on Lemnos Island with influenza and then returned to Gallipoli.  He became ill with synovitis of the knee and was admitted to a hospital ship.  He then was sent to Malta on the 5th of October 1915 and admitted to a Casualty Clearing Station and then admitted to St. Paul’s Hospital, Malta and finally transferred to All Saints Camp on the 16th October. After treatment, he re-joined his unit in January 1916 for futher training in Egypt. (NAA: B2455)

John was promoted to Lance Corporal at the beginning of March and later Corporal on the 23rd of March 1916.
John embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force from Alexandria to Marseilles.  In France he was to be Lance Sergeant from 2nd July 1916.  On the 27th of July 1916 he was admitted to Rouen Hospital with a gunshot wound to his left foot.  (Playford’s Past, Playford Library Service )- City of Playford/ NAA2455
  
 
Military Medal
 
In the operations near JEANCOURT on 18th of Sept 1918. Sgt. WICKHAM’S platoon met strong opposition from an enemy post in a quarry.  Leaving his Lewis guns to occupy the attention of the enemy post, he moved round the flank and succeeded in bombing the enemy out of the post, thus enabling the entire garrison to be captured and the advance to be continued.  His daring, skill and initiative alone made this possible.   (Playford’s Past, Playford Library Service )- City of Playford
 
 
After taking leave in early 1918 hHe was promoted to Sergeant in March 1918 and in July 1918 John went to a school of instruction. In October 1918 he was admitted to hospital with scabies, and not much later with influenza. (NAA: B2455)

John was married at Bath Street, United Free Church, Glasgow, Scotland to Jean Barr Kennedy on the 12th of December 1918 by William Sutherland, Minister.  Jean’s father was Samuel Kennedy, and he was a tinsmith.   (Playford’s Past, Playford Library Service )- City of Playford

  
He was returned to Australia on the “BREMEN” and was discharged on the 21st of September 1919. John died 46 years after WW1 ended on the 18th of September 1964 aged 74 years old. He now lies at the Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, SA RB W9 29.