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Australia

Oscar was the son of Gustav (George) Abraham WISTRAND (WILSON) & May Hannah NORTHEY and was born on the 18th of January 1885 in Daveyston, SA.

It is not clear when his parents married and at some point his father took on the surname of WILSON.

His father was the son of Alfred Hilarion WISTRAND & Carolina Abrahamsdotter REENSTIERNA and was born on the 31st of December 1854 in Stockholm, Sweden.
His mother was the daughter of Joseph NORTHEY& Isabella DOUGLAS and was born on the 9th of August 1855 in Amherst, VIC.

Oscar was the seventh child born into this relationship of 11 children.

His mother was previously married to John Aldolph PETERSON on the 1st of August 1872 in the Presbyterian Church, Ripon Street, Ballarat, VIC.

Gustav had departed from Sweden on the 25th of September 1876 on board the Winifred and arrived in Melbourne on the 2nd of January 1877.
He had then gone to Ballarat in search of work, but had failed.

John had asked Gustav to stay at there home until he gained work, but things did not work out well for John.
On the 23rd of June 1877 May left John accompanied by Gustav.

Then on the 7th of October 1881 John and May were divorced and by this time May and Gustav had moved to South Australia and 3 of Oscar’s siblings were born.

When Oscar’s parents originally moved to South Australia his father had gained employed in the Surveyor-General's Department in Adelaide.
Then with his health failing, he relinquished the position and took charge of a school under the Council of Education, at Belvidere.
He was then employed as a school teacher at Wellington, for four years, when he resigned and entered the Training College.

After a while he resumed school teaching, having charge of the schools at Finniss Point.
He was then transferred to Daveyston where Oscar was born.

Oscar’s father was a well-known contributor to the newspaper columns and his stories of the goldfields, which appeared in The Pictorial Australian, were keenly appreciated. He also wrote the book "Sketches of the Victorian Goldfields" and was a leading Chess Player in the colony.

They were then transferred to Freeling and Stockport and in January 1893 they were transferred to Manoora Public School and Oscar attended school here.

Oscar was only 8 years old when his father died suddenly at their home on the 5th of August 1893 in Manoora. He had been suffering from an ear abscess and inflammation of the brain had set in.
They buried him in the Manoora Cemetery.

Oscar’s mother then moved the family to Railway Town, Broken Hill and she then re married to Walter B CARLIER in 1900.

Oscar married Blanche Adelaide STEWART on the 14th of July 1909 at the residence of Mr Coles, in Pt Pirie, SA.
Blanche was the daughter of Robert STEWART & Sophia Harriet CROCKER and was born on the 22nd of October 1881 in Gladstone, SA.

They made their home in Solomontown, Pt Pirie and welcomed their first child; George Vivian, on the 25th of May 1910.
Harold was then born on the 19th of September 1911 and in 1913 Oscar joined the Pt Pirie Defence Rifle Club.

At the age of 31, Oscar enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 18th of January 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 410 and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.

On the 28th of April Oscar returned home to Pt Pirie to say goodbye and Captain A.R EWENS of the Pt Pirie Rifle Club presented him with a wristlet watch that was suitably inscribed.

Oscar embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916.

Whilst he was overseas little Addie Jean was born in August 1916, sadly she died on the 3rd of December 1916 in Broken Hill.
Blanche had moved to Broken Hill when Oscar was overseas and lived with his mother.

He served overseas for 3 years and then embarked for Australia on the 4th of July 1919 on board HT Wiltshire and disembarked in Adelaide on the 16th of August.

Three days later Oscar returned to his wife and young family at One-mile Crossing. He was met at the Solomontown Railway Station by the ANZAC Hospitality Committee and the Red Cross Society, with 13 fellow soldiers.
They were conveyed to the Town Hall and an extended welcome home was given to them by the Mayor, the President of the Father’s Association and the Returned Soldiers Association.

Oscar was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of October 1919.

They then welcomed Roy Wistrand into the family on the 8th of May 1920 and a few years later they moved to Riverton.

Blanche was admitted into the Parkside Mental Hospital on the 16th of December 1925 suffering from acute Mania and Pericarditis.
Sadly, she died there 12 days later, on the 28th of December.
Oscar then married Laura Grace TREWEEK in 1928.
Laura was the daughter of William Henry TREWEEK & Sarah BARRETT and was born on the 16th of June 1897 in Mathinna, TAS.

By 1930 they had moved to Commercial Road, Salisbury and Oscar was employed as a foreman linesman for the Adelaide Electricity Supply Company.

He joined the Salisbury RSL and then became a Mechanic and they then moved to Gawler Street, Salisbury.

With the outbreak of WW2, his son Harold enlisted on the 5th of July 1938 (S7795), but he only attended a few home trainings.

In 1939 Oscar was unemployed so, aged 54, he enlisted into the AMF on the 4th of October 1939 in Adelaide and allotted the service number S212494 and posted to A Company, 4th Garrison Battalion.

His eldest son George then enlisted on the 16th of May 1941 (S85897), followed by Roy 2 months later, on the 7th of July (QX46555).

George then discharged from the Army and enlisted into the RAAF on the 4th of May 1943 (140231).

Oscar was then transferred to the 25th Garrison Battalion on the 28th of September 1943 and then discharged from service on the 1st of March 1944.

Oscar died on the 26th of December 1967 in North Adelaide and was buried 3 days later in the Salisbury Memorial Park; General B, Plot 308.

Laura died on the 2nd of September 1984 and was buried with Oscar in the Salisbury Memorial Park; General B, Plot 308.

Military

WW1

At the age of 31, Oscar enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 18th of January 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 410 and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
He listed his wife, of Square Street, Waterworks Town, Port Pirie, as his next of kin.

On the 1st of February he was transferred to A Company, 1st Depot Battalion and then on the 7th of March he was posted to the newly raised 43rd Battalion, B Company at Morphettville Camp.

The Battalion consisted of men who had but recently enlisted, and were practically raw recruits, most of whom had joined up in January and February.

Early in April musketry was commenced throughout the Battalion with each section forming a separate squad and undergoing ten days progressive instruction in the art of handling the rifle, the course being completed by the firing of an application and grouping practice on the miniature range in the dry bed of the Sturt River.
An open range was prepared in the sand hills between Glenelg and Henley, where for two days portions of the Battalion were engaged with the service rifle; but the working of these targets proved so slow and tedious that arrangements were made to secure the use of the butts at Port Adelaide, special trains conveying the troops to and from this place. Two complete days firing was given to each company, during which grouping, application, snap shooting, and rapid practices at 100, 200, and 300 yards were completed.
Oscar gained four days leave, known as "long leave," on the 19th and this embraced the Easter Holidays, this being the last furlough granted prior to the Battalion's departure from Australia. The free weekends still being maintained and to those living within thirty miles of Adelaide, when desired, was extended to Monday morning.

The Battalion attended a number of functions and ceremonies, chief among which were the presentation of colours at Glenelg, the Military Tattoo on the Jubilee Oval, and the farewell dinner provided in the Exhibition Building by the Cheer-up Society; while occasional trips to the theatre were arranged, special trains usually being provided for the conveyance of the Unit to and from Morphettville. A certain amount of amusement was supplied within the camp on several occasions by concert parties.

During the whole period of training, equipment and clothing were gradually issued and they were fitted out for departure, signing for every article received and having numerous inspections to ascertain what shortages existed. The health of the men also received continuous attention, vaccination and two inoculations being administered in the early days, while dental inspections and subsequent treatment rectified any defects of the mouth.

The first week of June was spent in final preparations to embark on the 9th of June, the quartermasters and clerical departments being the most busily engaged. A final pay was drawn and as much leave as possible granted and by the 8th all preparations for embarkation had been completed, and the transport section had left for the Outer Harbour.

Dawn of June 9th was breaking behind the Mount Lofty Ranges when reveille sounded, rousing the whole camp to the activities of final preparations for departure, including the handing in of camp equipment and stores.
At 9.40 a.m. the first train, bearing Headquarters and A and B Companies, left Morphettville Station followed half-an-hour later by a second train with the remainder of the Battalion.
On reaching Port Adelaide the train proceeded by the old route down St. Vincent Street, where a large and enthusiastic crowd assembled to bid farewell to the unit. An hour later the Outer Harbour was reached and there followed a rapid embarkation on board their transport, HMAT A19 Afric.

Oscar embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916 and Oscar now realised that this was the commencement of the long, long trail, the end of which none could foretell.

The journey through The Bight was cold and rough, causing sickness to 70 per cent of the men. Land was first sighted at daybreak of the 13th of June and after passing through King George Sound they anchored in Albany Harbour at 11.30 am, when coaling immediately commenced.
The next day the boat drew alongside the wharf, and all were allowed ashore for a few hours.
At noon the same day the journey was resumed and soon the shores of Oscar’s homeland receded from view.
That night it was learnt that the next port of call would be Colombo. As the result of a long period of calm weather that followed the departure from Albany, it was possible to conduct training, consisting of musketry, physical exercises, bayonet fighting, and boat drill, limited in extent by the small area of deck space available.

As the tropics were approached, permission to sleep on deck was granted, and a large majority, including Oscar availed themselves of the privilege. By day a minimum amount of clothing was worn, the heavier uniform being abandoned for the lighter and more comfortable suit of dungarees.

Early on the morning of June 26th the island of Ceylon was sighted and by 10 a.m. the transport anchored in the harbour of Colombo. Coal barges were soon drawn along side the boat and coaling operations, conducted by the natives, commenced.
That afternoon they were taken ashore on lighters and marched to the military barracks in Colombo. There a wet canteen was placed at the disposal of the troops and native vendors of views, fruit, etc., offered their goods. As this was the first opportunity for some weeks of purchasing articles from other than the ship's canteen a brisk business resulted.

The following day the journey resumed at 3.45 p.m.
The voyage to Suez differed very little from the previous fortnight, except that during the four days in the Red Sea extreme heat was experienced, causing exhaustion to several of the stokers, whose work was undertaken for two days by volunteers from the troops.
By noon of July 11th Suez was reached and all preparations for disembarkation were completed.

Orders were, however, received from the military authorities that the journey was to be continued through the Mediterranean and at 4 pm an entrance was made into the Canal, the interesting surroundings of which attracted attention for sixteen hours. Along the bank were encamped Australian and English troops, who formed a portion of the Canal Garrison. An opportunity to converse with some of these was afforded by the boat being delayed for an hour at Ismalia.

By 8.30 am on the 12th the Canal was cleared and entry made into Port Said, where a transport conveying English troops southward was passed. Natives were again employed in coaling, which caused much inconvenience to those on board, as no leave ashore was granted. Numerous hawkers in small dinghies visited the boat, but not being allowed on deck were obliged to transact their sales by means of rope and basket.
Here an A 4.7 naval gun was mounted aft and manned by Royal Navy gunners and on departure at 2pm on the 13th, H.M. destroyer "Telmar," which had seen service with the Australians on Gallipoli, acted as their escort. These protective measures against submarines were augmented by the pre cautions of constant changes of course, screening of lights, and increase of sentries, whose duty was the outlook for enemy craft.

On passing Malta, the "Telmar" was relieved by a larger destroyer, but before departing semaphored "Australians, good-bye and good luck," on receipt of which cheers were interchanged between transport and escort. Daily routine on board continued until Marseilles was approached on the evening of July 19th, when at 10 pm the pilot was taken aboard, but the harbour was not entered until eight o'clock the next morning. This ended a six weeks successful journey on the "Afric".
It was here that Oscar was promoted to Lance Corporal at sea.

At 3 pm on July 20th they disembarked and moved to Arran-Point Station, where they immediately entrained and at 5.35 pm left for Havre.
The journey through Southern France was most interesting, new types of villages, cultivation, and railway organisation being introduced. The scenery, especially that of the Rhone Valley, was superb, and the bright mid summer day showed the surroundings at their best.

A halt was made near Avignon, where hot tea and rations were issued, and on resumption of the journey the troops quickly settled down for the night. At 8 am on the 21st the train passed through Lyons, and at 3.45 pm Dijon was reached, and the French Red Cross workers served tea and cake to the Battalion.
Breakfast next morning was partaken of thirteen miles from Paris, Juvisy, from which, after a halt of two hours, the journey continued through Versailles, along the Seine Valley to Nantes, where a break was made for another meal, thence to Rouen and Havre.
Here the Battalion detrained and marched to a Rest Camp, where most of the men spent a cold night on cobbles. The following afternoon embarkation for England took place, and at dusk the Channel transport commenced its six-hour journey, reaching Southampton at daybreak and they disembarked at 7.30 am.
After two hours waiting on the wharf they were entrained for Amesbury Station on Salisbury Plain, where the Battalion detrained. An hour later Lark Hill was reached and the whole afternoon devoted to settling down in No.12 Camp. This was the training area for the 43rd Battalion prior to its departure for the front.

The first few days were spent in settling down in this new camp, which was one of about fifty of similar design located at Lark Hill, most of which were so fitted as to accommodate a complete battalion.

They spent the next few months here in training and Oscar was promoted to Corporal on the 22nd of October.

Towards the end of November, when they had been fully equipped for overseas, a divisional march, covering a distance of eighteen miles, was accomplished, the full issue of clothing and equipment, less blankets, being carried, the day proving most strenuous on account of the oppressive heat.

During the first three weeks of November final preparations and issue of equipment for the trip overseas were completed, and the dates of departure of the Division were expected to cover the last week of November 1916, the 43rd Battalion eventually sailing on the 25th, prior to which the camp was thoroughly cleaned and the bulk of stores returned.

The early morning of November 25th was a repetition of June 9th. For the purpose of the move the Battalion was divided into three parties, leaving Lark Hill Camp in time to entrain at Amesbury Station by 7.15am. The weight of equipment carried by each man was far in excess of that borne on any previous march, as in addition to full marching order, two blankets, 150 rounds of ammunition, with steel and gas helmets, made a burden in all cases exceeding 80 lb.
At dusk the trip across the Channel commenced and a heavy sea was experienced, causing sea sickness to many on board, while a bleak wind with frequent showers of hail made the entry into the harbour at Le Havre and the period of waiting intensely cold.

Disembarkation and unloading commenced at 11 am and during the afternoon there followed the memorable route march to No.1 Rest Camp, situated on a hill about three miles from the wharf. Here they remained for the night, leaving at 6.30am next morning for the railway yards, where a troop train, consisting chiefly of cattle trucks, was waiting, and at 11.30am they left for Bailleul.
The journey, via Rouen, Abbeville, Boulogne, Calais, and St. Omer, occupied thirty hours, halts being made en route for the issue of rations and hot drinks.
Detraining was completed before dark, but by the time the unit moved from the station night had set in. For the march to billets, packs and blankets were carried by motor lorry. Locating these billets caused great difficulty, owing to the lack of information and absence of guides, and it was not until after 10 pm that they were settled for the night.

On the 1st of December they moved to Steenwerck and it was here 2 days later that Oscar suffered from Synovitis and was admitted into an Australian Field Ambulance for 9 days.
He rejoined his unit but then became ill with the mumps on the 18th of December and was admitted into the 11th Dressing Station and the following day he was transferred to the 7th General Hospital in St Omer.
Oscar spent a further 3 weeks here before rejoining his Battalion on the 9th of January 1917 in the front line at Armentieres.
He then suffered from Enteritis on the 23rd of January and was admitted into the 9th Australian Field Ambulance and taken to their Dressing Station.
Oscar rejoined his Battalion on the 9th of February in the line at Armentieres.

They then moved to Ploegsteert Wood and then on the 1st of May they left Armentieres and joined the remainder of the Brigade at Les Trois Tilleuls, proceeding through Steenwerck and Vieux Berquin to Petit See Bois. The following day they moved through Pradelles, Borre, and Hazebrouck to billets at Ebblinghem.
On the 10th of May Oscar was appointed Acting Armourer Sergeant and after 2 weeks here they commenced their journey back to Armentiers.

Oscar was then detached to 3rd Division Headquarters on the 6th of June and promoted to Sergeant Vice a few weeks later.
He rejoined his Battalion on the 27th of August at Abroult for further training.

They then moved into the Warneton area and their objective was Windmill Post which over looked the low ground east of Messines and consisted of the remains of an old French mill, surrounded by tall trees and hedges, situated on Warneton-Gapaard Road.

Having completed their task after many weeks, they was relieved by the 41st Battalion and they moved back by small parties to Douve Camp, at which they arrived in an utterly exhausted condition, were given a hot meal, and, throwing aside their mud-soaked clothing, "turned in" for a well-earned rest.

They remained here resting and training until the 2nd of October when they entrained for Ypres for the offensive.
Then on the 31st of October Oscar was detached to 3rd Division Armourer Shop as Staff Sergeant.
He was granted 2 weeks leave on the 24th of January 1918 and then on the 12th of February he was transferred to the AAOC (Australian Army Ordnance Corps) and detailed to the 43rd Battalion as Armourer Sergeant.

He was Responsible for inspecting and repairing weapons and maintaining records of equipment.
They then moved on to the reserve trenches at Villers-Bretonneux and by the end of June they had moved to Hill 86 and were then relieved on the 27th, moving to the Allonville area the next day to consolidate for the Battle of Hamel.

As the Brigade had not previously worked with tanks, practices were given in advancing with them at their training ground near Vaux en Amenois, where they gained an insight into their tactics and methods of advance.
They then moved into the Hamel area and at two minutes past three on the morning of the 4th of July, light harassing fire was opened, with the object of assisting the aircraft in drowning the noise of approaching tanks, and eight minutes later an intense barrage fire opened, under cover of which the attack commenced.
In two hours, all objectives were obtained, and 1,400 German prisoners were captured, as well as many weapons.

In August and September they helped drive the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line and on the 16th of September Oscar was attached to 3rd Division Armourer Shop at Suzanne.
Here he was responsible for ensuring the physical security of the arms room, Coordinating with leadership for deployment and redeployment operations, and ensuring accountability for weapons.

On the 11th of November 1918 the Armistice was signed and the guns fell silent.
Seven days later Oscar was granted 2 weeks leave to England and then rejoined his unit at Ramburelles.
He spent his last Christmas in France before marching out to Le Havre as part of the Quota 45 for return to England on the 8th of May and was allocated to Group 3 whilst awaiting embarkation home to Australia.

Oscar embarked for Australia on the 4th of July 1919 on board HT Wiltshire and disembarked in Adelaide on the 16th of August.

He was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of October 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.

WW2

At the age of 54, Oscar enlisted into the AMF on the 4th of October 1939 in Adelaide and allotted the service number S212494 and posted to A Company, 4th Garrison Battalion.
He listed his wife, of Salisbury, as his next of kin.

On the 6th of November 1941 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and then graded to storeman and promoted to Acting Sergeant the following month.
He was then transferred to the 25th Garrison Battalion on the 28th of September 1943 and then discharged from service on the 1st of March 1944.