Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Richard (Dick) Gladstones Wilton was born on the 30th of October 1892 in Adelaide, SA, the youngest son of Charles Richard Wilton and Annie Isabel Gladstones. His father was a journalist who came to Adelaide, SA from Port Fairy, Victoria, and had become a long-time literary editor of The Advertiser. He also authored, under the pen name of "Autolycus", a long-running weekly column in The Courier of Mount Barker.

Dick’s siblings were John Raymond (born 1884, Belfast (Port Fairy) Victoria), Athol Gladstones (born 1886 Belfast (Port Fairy) Victoria - died 1890) Alexander Cockburn (born 1888, Belfast (Port Fairy) Victoria) and Dorothy Kenyon (born 1st of September 1890, Adelaide, SA). During their early years in South Australia, the family lived in Mt Barker.

Schooling

Dick commenced in First Form at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide in 1901 and was in the Lower Third in 1903. Dick passed his Primary Examinations in September 1905, Junior Examinations in December 1906 (coming equal ninth in the state for Geometry) and Senior Examinations in December 1907. In 1908, he was seventh in the lower sixth form (university) at PAC. Dick passed the Higher Public Examinations in December 1909.

Dick was well known at PAC for his swimming and athletics abilities. He won the Under 13 Handicap race at the PAC Aquatic Sports in March 1904. At the PAC Aquatic sports in February 1907, Dick won the Junior Championship (three lengths) and the Open Handicap. Dick was the Senior Champion at Swimming for PAC in 1908. He competed in the College Handicap race at the annual amateur swimming races at the Old Boys’ Institute (OBI) Baths in 1905 - 1908.
At the PAC Sports in 1908, Dick competed in the 150 yards flat handicap (under 16). At the 1909 PAC Sports he came a dead heat for first in the 120 yards hurdles with R.S. Davey. Dick was also a good gymnast.

In February 1909, Dick played cricket for PAC in the B Grade District Cricket competition.

Adelaide University

Dick commenced studying Applied Science (Engineering) at Adelaide University in 1910. Later newspaper articles state that Dick was a cadet to Professor R.W. Chapman at Adelaide University for his three years at the University.

While at University, Dick was a member of the Senior Cadet Corps. In November 1910, he was a lieutenant on probation and by June 1911, he was a second lieutenant (provisional) with the 10th Infantry Regiment and was later posted to C Company. Finally, he was a second lieutenant in the 78th Infantry (Adelaide Rifles). He resigned from his commission on the 16th of December 1912.

Dick’s academic record is shown on his student card (see docment).

University Sport

Cricket
Dick played the occasional B Grade cricket match for Adelaide University between the 1910/11 and 1912/13 seasons. At times he acted as wicketkeeper.

Football
Dick played his first game of football for Adelaide University along-side his brother Alec in a match against PAC in June 1911. He then played A Grade football for Adelaide University in the Amateur League in 1912. He may have played in the 1912 match against St Peter’s College however as no initials were recorded in the newspaper article, the Wilton who played may have been his brother (Alec).

Rowing
Dick rowed for Adelaide University from November 1910. He was stroke in the Forrester Fours (Maidens) at the summer regatta in December 1910 and stroke in the Torrens Fours at the autumn regatta in March 1911. In December 1911, Dick was bow for University in the Le Hunte Cup.

Pre-War Career

After three years at Adelaide University and not having completed his applied science (engineering) course, Dick joined the Irrigation Department and later transferred to the department of the Hydraulic Engineer. He appears to have first worked at Murray Bridge, as he was listed among the likely players for Murray Bridge in lacrosse match to be played in June 1913. Dick may have later been at Cowell on Eyre Peninsula as a R.G. Wilton was selected to play cricket for Cowell in a match against Mangalo in October 1913.

Immediately prior to WWI, Dick had charge of the Warren waterworks (Williamstown, SA, 16 km south east of Gawler) during their construction.

World War I

Dick enlisted on the 29th of May 1915 and was appointed a second lieutenant (late of the 78th Infantry, Adelaide Rifles) with the 7th reinforcements of the 10th Battalion. His AIF records all show his name as Richard Gladstone Wilton (dropping the s from Gladstones, his mother’s maiden name).

Dick embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A61 Kanowna on 23 June 1915. On the 31st of August 1915 he was taken on the strength of the 10th Battalion at Gallipoli and fought there for four months before the withdrawal of the Australian troops.

On 26th February 1916, Dick was transferred to the 50th Battalion. He served in Egypt at Ismailia, Tell-el-Kebir, Serapeum and at the Carinya Post.

Dick left Egypt via Alexandrina on the 5th of June 1916 and landed at Marseilles, France on the 12th of June 1916. At about this time he was promoted to Captain. Dick served on the Western Front until he was wounded in action on the 10th of June 1917 at the Battle of Messines, West Flanders, Belgium. He had wounds to the hand and right eye. He was transferred from France to England on the 5th of July 1917, having lost his right eye and first finger.

In December 1916, in response to a request from Charles Hodge (Registrar of the University of Adelaide) for information on Dick’s WW1 service, his father responded (see document).

After spending time in England recovering from his wounds, Dick departed from England on the 26th of September 1917, onboard the HMAT A30 Borda, disembarking in Melbourne on the 21st of November 1917. His appointment was terminated on the 6th of December 1917. He was granted a pension of £4/5/ fortnightly, from the 7th of December 1915.

At some stage during the war or on the journey home, Dick met Annie Heath (born 18th March 1880 at Piccadilly, SA), the daughter of Edward Heath and Annie Peters.

Annie had enlisted with the Australian Army Nursing Service on the 2nd of September 1914. She embarked on the 21st of November 1914 onboard the HMAT A55 Kyarra and served in Egypt, England and France. She was promoted to temporary Head Sister in July 1916. Annie was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst and operated on in England.

She returned to Australia on the 26th of September 1917 onboard the HMAT A30 Borda, for recovery and was discharged as medically unfit on the 19th of January 1918. Annie was granted a pension of £2/6/6 fortnightly from 27th December 1917.

Dick and Annie married at Christ Church, North Adelaide on the 27th of December 1917.

Dick’s brother, Alec (Dr Alexander Cockburn Wilton) left for WWI in March 1918.

From the 12th of April 1918, Dick was on duty with the 4th Military District Reserve Guard. In April 1918, returning soldiers were given a guard of honour formed by the Base Light Horse, under Captain R. G. Wilton, late of the 50th Battalion, and Lieutenant W. H. Bertwhistle, late of the 27th Battalion. He also led the guard of honour from Mitcham Camp who greeted returning soldiers in September 1918. He oversaw platform arrangements for the parade of returning soldiers in December 1918.

Post War Career and Family Life

On the 25th of November 1918, Dick and Annie’s only child, a daughter, Dorothy Clyve Wilton (known as Clyve) was born at “Konetta”, North Adelaide. Dick and Annie were living at “Waroonga”, Hughes Street, North Unley at the time of Clyve’s birth.

In July 1919, Dick was appointed assistant engineer in the Irrigation and Reclamation Works Department.

In January 1920, Dick and Annie left Adelaide for the River Murray town of Barmera, where Dick was involved in the development of the Murray ‘prairies’.

In April 1921, Dick and Annie holidayed in Melbourne and in June 1921, Dick visited Adelaide because of his father’s ill health. In July 1921, Dick’s father travelled to Barmera to recuperate from his severe illness.

In October 1921, Dick and his family moved from Barmera to Chaffey, near Renmark. In the December 1922 Henley on Torrens rowing regatta, Dick was bow for Renmark in the Maiden Clinkers Fours. His weight was reported to be 11 stone 7 lbs. In December 1922, Dick gained his Bronze medallion from the Royal Life Saving Society. In January 1923, Dick was a steward at the Wallaroo rowing regatta, and he competed in the Maiden Fours.

In January 1923, Dick resigned from his position as Senior Assistant Resident Engineer at Chaffey and became a partner in the firm Murdoch, Sampson and Wilton. The firm was to undertake a large project on the shores of Lake Bonney. The family moved to Renmark.

The firm Murdoch, Sampson and Wilton, sold its dam sinking equipment in July 1923 and in about mid-August the Wilton family moved back to Adelaide. By October 1923, Dick was an assistant engineer at the Adelaide Office of the Irrigation Department.

In October 1925, Dick was appointed Resident Engineer of the Central South-Eastern District for the Hydraulic Engineer’s Department.

Dick’s father, Charles, passed away in March 1927 leaving a widow, three sons and a daughter. Dick’s brother, Raymond, was at this stage the Elder Professor of Mathematics at Adelaide University and, Alec was in general practice at Clarendon. Then in June 1927, after a long illness, Dick’s mother Annie Isabel Wilton passed away.

Dick took up golf and in July 1929 he played in the qualifying round of the Public Service golf championship on the Municipal Links.

In June 1930, Dick was a member of the Public Works committee which inspected the Millbrook Reservoir.
June 1930.

From January 1931, Dick was a member of the Hydraulic Engineer’s Department Board (Industrial Board) as an employees’ representative.

By 1936, when Clyve made her debut at a dance at the Mount Osmond Golf Club, Dick and Annie were living at 24 Stanley Street, Leabrook.

World War II

In June 1941, Clyve became engaged to Mr John Eliot Excell, the only son of Mr. W.A. Excell of Blackwood, and the late Mrs. Excell. Clyve and John married in December 1941 at Christ Church, South Yarra, Victoria.

In September 1943 Dick was appointed Engineer for Water Supply.

Sadly, for Dick, his elder brother, Raymond, passed away in April 1944. In August 1944, Dick was appointed Deputy Engineer-in -Chief for Water Supply and was to head the department during the absence in America of the Engineer in Chief.

Dick and Annie became grandparents in July 1943, when their daughter Clyve, gave birth to a daughter (Margaret Wilton Excell). Clyve and John had a second daughter in July 1945 (Shirley Wilton Excell). John and Clyve were living at Hughesdale, Victoria at the time of Shirley’s birth.

Death

Richard Gladstones Wilton passed away on the 22nd of June 1946, aged 53. He was cremated at the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

Clyve and John had a third daughter, Joan in August 1947 and by 1948 the family were living at Eaglemont, Victoria. Annie made regular trips to stay with the family then in July 1951 she moved to Victoria, she stayed with Clyve and John and then planned to get a flat nearby.

Annie passed away on the 28th of January 1953. She had been living at Eaglehawk, Victoria.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.