GAMACK, Wilton Campbell
| Service Number: | 3806 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 April 1915, Liverpool, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, 15 April 1895 |
| Home Town: | Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Parramatta Superior Public School New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Railway Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 6 November 1917, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Port Macquarie Cenotaph, Rollands Plains Public School Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 3806, 19th Infantry Battalion, Liverpool, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1916: | Involvement 3806, 19th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Jan 1916: | Embarked 3806, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney | |
| 6 Nov 1917: | Involvement Private, 3806, 19th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3806 awm_unit: 19 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-11-06 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Wilton Campbell GAMACK, (Service Number 3806) was born at Port Macquarie, NSW, on 13 April 1895. His parents were James and Mary Elizabeth Gamack. Wilton attended Parramatta Superior Public School.
Wilton joined the NSWGR&T on 16 November 1910 as an apprentice clerk in the Traffic Audit Branch at Sydney. On 13 April 1913, his 18th birthday, his position title changed to junior clerk and his position kept that title until 13 April 1916, being his 21st birthday, when it changed to clerk. This last change occurred after he had been given leave to join the Expeditionary Forces, which was granted on 11 May 1915.
His date of joining the AIF was 19 April 1915.
On 6 November 1917 he was reported missing in action, and a later Court of Enquiry determined he had been killed on this date. Depositions in his Red Cross Enquiry File describe what happened. Corporal E.B. Dickson wrote: ‘He was attached to the Transport Section 19th Battn. On the night of 6.11.17 he was one of a party of 15 whose duties were to convey, by pack horses, rations to our battalion who were in the line on the Ypres front. On this particular night the enemy were shelling very heavily especially at a point, Westhoek Ridge, we were obliged to pass. A big shell burst where Pte. Gamack was. The N.C.O. in charge of the party when he discovered a man was missing, made a search but could find no trace of the man or the horse. As it was a very dark night, it was thought advisable to make another search next morning which was done very thoroughly but with the same result. Enquiries were made at the different dressing stations but without success. There is no doubt in the minds of the Sgt. of the party and those who were with him that he was blown to pieces.’
Wilton Gamack is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium.
Submitted 15 July 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Wilton Campbell GAMACK was born in Port Macquarie, NSW in 1895
His parents were James GAMACK & Mary Elizabeth BRANSDON who married in Port Macquarie in 1887
He enlisted in Liverpool, NSW on 28th April, 1915 and embarked with the 19th Infantry Battalion, 9th reinforcements on 20th January, 1916 on the ship HMAT Runic
Wilton was Killed in Action in Belgium on 6th November, 1917 & his name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial & the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial
-----------------
Two of his brothers also served in WW1
1. Bruce Macquarie GAMACK (SN 2306) was also Killed in Action in 1917
2. Alexander Bransdon GAMACK (SN 4354) Returned to Australia - also served in WW2 (SN89508) - discharged 1945
Another brother served in WW2
1. Charles Keith GAMACK (SN N427435) - discharged 1945
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Wilton Campbell GAMACK (Service Number 3806) was born at Port Macquarie, NSW, on 13th April 1895. His parents were James and Mary Elizabeth Gamack. It is uncertain when the Gamack family moved to Parramatta. However, Wilton attended Parramatta Superior Public School.
Wilton joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways on 16th November 1910 as an apprentice clerk in the Traffic Audit Branch at Sydney. On 13th April 1913, his 18th birthday, his position title changed to junior clerk and he kept that title until 13th April 1916, being his 21st birthday, when it changed to clerk. This last change occurred after he had been given leave to join the Expeditionary Forces, which was granted on 11th May 1915.
He joined the AIF on 19th April 1915. He was posted to the 9th Reinforcements to the 19th Infantry Battalion with the rank of Private (Service No. 3806). He nominated his father as his next of kin.
He travelled via Egypt and left Egypt for for France on 27th March 1916. He was taken on strength at the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot on 5th April 1916. He joined the 19th Infantry Battalion on 13th May 1916.
On 26th May 1916 he was wounded in action but remained on duty. He then started to experience recurring problems with scabies and was admitted to hospital three times between 21st September and 25th October 1916. On the last occasion he was not discharged until 28th December 1916 when he was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot where he stayed until 19 April 1917. While he was at the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot he was appointed to temporary Corporal and Sergeant positions at various times but when he left there his rank reverted to Private. He re-joined the 19th Infantry Battalion on 20th April 1917. On 16th August 1917 he was sent to England on leave until 27th August 1917.
On 6th November 1917 he was reported missing in action. A later Court of Enquiry determined that he had been killed on this date. Depositions in his Red Cross Enquiry File describe what happened. Corporal E.B. Dickson wrote: ‘He was attached to the Transport Section 19th Battn. On the night of 6.11.17 he was one of a party of 15 whose duties were to convey, by pack horses, rations to our battalion who were in the line on the Ypres front. On this particular night the enemy were shelling very heavily especially at a point, Westhoek Ridge, we were obliged to pass. A big shell burst where Pte. Gamack was. The N.C.O. in charge of the party when he discovered a man was missing, made a search but could find no trace of the man or the horse. As it was a very dark night, it was thought advisable to make another search next morning which was done very thoroughly but with the same result. Enquiries were made at the different dressing stations but without success. There is no doubt in the minds of the Sgt. of the party and those who were with him that he was blown to pieces.’
Wilton Gamack is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. The Australian War Memorial gives his place of association as Parramatta, NSW.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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