Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Returned to Australia and discharged 16 Aug 1916 - "brain injury & fractured skull"

"A SOLDIER'S LETTER.

Frank Reddit, a Murgon soldier, and a friend of Alan Wilson (son of the late Mr. John Wilson, Thorn-street), writing to Mrs. H. Berghauser from the Mena House Hospital, Mena, via Cairo; on the 3rd of May, says:-

"Just a few lines to let you know how the Murgon boys fared in the first battle with the Turks at Gallipoli. Well, we tried hard to land just before daylight, but met with hot opposition. This was on Sunday, the 25th of April. In spite of all the hot fire we were under, we did land, and drove the Turks back about two miles, but we were cut up a big lot. It was just grand to see the boys fighting like lions, and better still to be with them. Well, you will have heard all about us, and what we have done, so I think I had better tell you about ourselves - that is, the Cloyna and Murgon boys. We were in the first landing party, and, of course, we got the hottest part of the slaughter. After being at it as hard as we could for 9½ hours, I got a bullet through my left upper arm, and was compelled to retire. On getting back to the shore I was taken on board one of the hospital ships. Once on board I started to look about to see if any of the Murgon boys were there, when I met Alf Whalan. He is wounded in the same place as myself. The next I met wasy Bill Curtis, wounded through the left arm. The next I met was your brother, Alan Wilson. He was wounded in the head with shrapnel. The doctors operated on him and removed a bullet, which had fractured his skull and the bone was pressing on the brain; but that was removed, and he was able to rest in ease. There is no need for you to worry about him, because he treats it as a huge joke. When I last saw him a few days ago he was very cheerful, but the doctors will not let him up. He is in another hospital, at Alexandria, so I cannot go to see him, but I expect a note from him any time to let me know how he is doing. I will be fit to return in a few weeks, also some of the others. P.S. Do not let your mother worry about Alan, as I assure you he will he all right in a few weeks' time. Our boys are in the front all the time, and put in good work with their shooting and bayonets." - from the Queensland Times 25 Jun 1915 (nla.gov.au)

Alan Wilson was one of a group of ten men who were members of either the Murgon or Cloyna Rifle Clubs. All ten enlisted in Gympie on 2nd September 1914 and were placed into “B” Company of the 9th Battalion at Enoggera with consecutive service numbers. Alan had been born in Ipswich but by the time of his enlistment at age 21, he was farming at Cloyna.
 
The ten mates remained together during the voyage from Australia and the period of training in Egypt. On 25thApril, the Murgon Ten were in the first group to land at Anzac Cove.
 
Alan Wilson received a head wound during his time on Gallipoli. He was originally returned to duty but it was subsequently discovered that he had a fractured skull. A medical board concluded that Alan should be sent back to Australia as a result of his skull fracture and brain injury. He was discharged as unfit for further service in 1916 and granted a disability pension.