Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Lightning Keepers: The AIF's Alphabet Company in the Great War by Damien Finlayson has photographs of this serviceman, his mates and the following information.

Wigzell was in February 1918 a member of the Australian Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company or the Alphabet Company, as it was commonly known. The Alphabet Company was broadly responsible for maintaining tunnel systems including electricity supply, plumbing and other services to ensure that the tunnels were habitable by the troops.

According to Finlayson, 'It was around Givenchy that the Alphabet Company suffered its greatest number of casualties with 4 men killed in action or died of wounds, while an unknown number were wounded. Amongst these fatalities was 2nd Corp Arthur Wigzell who was fatally wounded on 28 Feb 1918 as he walked along the tow path of the La Bassee Canal from Bethune on an inspection visit to the Pont Fixe power station. The concussion from a stray shell blew him into the water while a fragment of the shell hit him in the temple, penetrating his skull. The temperature of the water was close to freezing and, although his fall was witnessed by some British soldiers who managed to pull his unconscious form from the water, the combined effects of his immersion and head wounds finished him. He died on 8 Mar 1918.'

The writer of this script, Keith Hugh Dodd, is the grandson of Edward Gilmore (Hughie) Dodd whose Virtual War Memorial information includes a transcript of Hughie's diary and photographs. The cover photograph shows Arthur Wignell at right of Hughie, who is seated.

Keith visited Arthur's grave in 2019 to pay his respects. Arthur is buried in the Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, located 6 kms west of Bethune. His grave is in row VII B.11.