WILKIE, Charles Edward
| Service Number: | 1838 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 June 1915, Claremont, Tas. |
| Last Rank: | Company Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Georgetown, British Guyana, 26 July 1882 |
| Home Town: | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Flers, France, 14 November 1916, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hobart Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1838, 26th Infantry Battalion, Claremont, Tas. | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul 1915: | Involvement Private, 1838, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Jul 1915: | Embarked Private, 1838, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne | |
| 8 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 26th Infantry Battalion, Gallipoli | |
| 5 Nov 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 26th Infantry Battalion, Gallipoli | |
| 11 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 26th Infantry Battalion, Gallipoli | |
| 24 May 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 1838, 26th Infantry Battalion, BW to shoulder sustained during a trench raid at Armentieres. Evacuated to UK. Rejoined unit 12 November 1916. | |
| 14 Nov 1916: | Involvement 1838, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1838 awm_unit: 26th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Company Sergeant Major awm_died_date: 1916-11-14 | |
| 14 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 1838, 26th Infantry Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, Killed in action when hit by friendly artillery fire before an action at Flers. | |
| 20 Jan 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Although himself wounded, he rescued a wounded officer from "No Man's Land" under heavy fire.'(during the raid at Armentieres). |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
NB: Served in the AIF as Charles Ernest Wilkie.
"Sergeant-Major C. E. Wilkie has been reported killed. He enlisted at Claremont as private on l0th June 1915, and left for Egypt an 14th July, 1915. He steadily worked his way up to the rank of sergeant-major. He served some months in the trenches at Gallipoli and left with the troops at the withdrawal and proceeded to France where he was wounded very severely by a bomb.
In a letter received yesterday from him it appears that he could only have been back a week when the action in which he fell was fought. He stated in his letter that "I love the flag of old England dearer than life, and as long as God gives me strength to carry a rifle I will fight for the flag. Our lads are doing well and the name of Australia will live through the ages."
Sergeant-Major Wilkie has left a wife and two young children. He was an honoured member of the committee of the Helping Hand Mission, a Sunday school teacher and an earnest temporance worker.
The Mercury 15th December 1916
Source: tasmanianwarcasualties.com
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