Alexander Mark (Alick) WILSON DCM, MM+Bar

WILSON, Alexander Mark

Service Number: 12436
Enlisted: 2 July 1915, Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 10th Field Ambulance
Born: Footscray, Victoria, Australia, 13 June 1888
Home Town: Yarraville, Maribyrnong, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Ammunition worker
Died: Killed in Action, France, 20 May 1918, aged 29 years
Cemetery: Querrieu British Cemetery
Row A, Grave No. 22, Querrieu British Cemetery, Querrieu, Picardie, France
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Footscray Presbyterian Church Honour Board
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World War 1 Service

2 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 12436, Melbourne, Victoria
20 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12436, 10th Field Ambulance, HMAT Runic, Melbourne
20 Jun 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12436, 10th Field Ambulance, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: ''
27 Feb 1917: Honoured Military Medal, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, 'At ARMENTIERES on the night 26th/27th February, 1917, during the raid on the German lines, Sergeant WILSON was posted in the subsidiary line under Captain GLASSFORD, A.A.M.C., in charge of a party of Stretcher Bearers. Between 12.45 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. whilst under heavy shell fire and until 4 a.m. under machine gun and rifle fire, Sergeant WILSON was conspicuous for his devotion to the wounded and rendered valuable assistance by his coolness, energy and capacity in directing the stretcher bearers thus contributing materially to the expeditious evacuation of the wounded.' Source: 'Commonwealth of Australia Gazette' No. 133
8 Jun 1917: Honoured Military Medal and bar, Menin Road, On the afternoon of 8th of June 1917 near Ploegsteert Wood, this NCO displayed conspicuous gallantry in getting twelve stretcher bearers, including Lance Corporal Groat, through a heavy barrage of R.A.P. at Schnitzel Farm, returning with one stretcher case and eighteen walking cases. On previous occasions Sgt. Wilson has been conspicuous for his initiative in getting bearers forward and by his cheerful example has stimulated his men. (Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 219)
12 Oct 1917: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1st Passchendaele, 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in charge of the loading of horse ambulances with wounded under intense shell fire. When 30 cases still awaited transport, he organized stretcher squads to carry the wounded back, and then returned to his post, remaining on duty until daybreak without shelter, although suffering from a septic foot.' Source: 'Commonwealth of Australia Gazette' No. 110
20 May 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12436, 10th Field Ambulance, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front"

Help us honour Alexander Mark Wilson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts

Friends mourn the loss of another fine Footscray soldier in Sergt. Alex. M. Wilson, son of Mr H. Wilson, of Goulburn-street, Yarraville, who is officially reported killed in action. As a sergeant in the 10th Field Ambulance in charge of stretcher bearers, by letter written in April he had stated he was well, behind the lines, but it is presumed that he had either volunteered for some special duty or his hospital had been bombed and thus had met his death. Thirty years of age, he had two years of service crowned with distinction, as he was thrice honored, For devotion to duty and cool direction of men under heavy shell fire in a raid on the German lines at Armentieres on the nights of Feb. 26, 27 of this year he received the Military Medal. For conspicuous gallantry and initiative in getting twelve stretcher bearers through a heavy barrage he received a bar to the medal. Then on October 12 at Passcheudale Ridge he won notice again for conspicuous gallantry in loading horse ambulance with wounded under intense shell fire. At the time he was suffering from a septic foot and was allowed ouly on his strong personal plea to take the bearers into action. " His fearless disregard of personal safety was an inspiring incentive to all," says the official despatch announcing the award of a D.C.M. Before enlisting he was employed at the local ammunition works. Miss Ethel Gullock, the well-known
local vocalist, was his fiancee.

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Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From François Berthout, Australia and NZ in WWi

Today, it is with deep gratitude that I come to honor the memory of one of my boys of the Somme, I want to present a very respectful tribute to Sergeant number 12436 Alexander Mark Wilson who fought in the 10th Field Ambulance of the Australian Army Medical Corps and who was killed in action 102 years ago, on May 20, 1918 at the age of 29 on the Somme front

Alexander Mark Wilson was born in 1888 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and was the son of Hugh and Jessie Hume Wilson. Before the war, Alexander was engaged to Ethel Gullock and they lived at 33 Goulburn Street, Yarraville, Victoria and he worked as ammunition worker

Enlisted on June 14, 1915 at the age of 27 in the 10th Field Ambulance of the Australian Army Medical Corps, he embarked with his unit from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A54 Runic on June 20, 1916.Disembarked on August 10, 1916 in Plymouth , England, where he received his training, he embarked for France with his unit from Southampton and arrived in France on March 6, 1917.

Alexander served with exemplary courage on the front line and was decorated for the first time.At Armentieres, On the night of February 26-27, 1917, during the raid on the German lines, Sergeant Wilson was posted in the subsidiary line under Captain Glassford , Australian Army Medical Corps, in charge of a party of Stretcher Bearers. Between 12.45 am and 1.30 am whilst under heavy shell fire and until 4 am under machine gun and rifle fire, Sergeant Wilson was conspicuous for his devotion to the wounded and rendered valuable assistance by his coolness, energy and capacity in directing the stretcher bearers thus contributing materially to the expeditious evacuation of the wounded and was decorated with the Military Medal and for conspicuous gallantry and initiative in getting twelve stretcher bearers through a heavy barrage he received a bar to the medal.

Then Alexander was decorated a second time on October 12 at Passchendaele. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in charge of the loading of horse ambulances with wounded under intense shell fire. When 30 cases still awaited transport, he organized stretcher squads to carry the wounded back, and then returned to his post, remaining on duty until daybreak without shelter, although suffering from a septic foot and was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

After Passchendaele, Alexander left with his unit for the Somme front but unfortunately, on the night of May 20, 1918 in Allonville, Somme, while he was in a field hospital, a German plane dropped bombs which killed the Sergeant Alexander Mark Wilson and was buried the next day, May 21, 1918 at Querrieu British Cemetery, Somme, where he rests in peace today with his comrades and brothers in arms.

Thank you Alexander, you were an unarmed soldier but fighting every day to save the lives of your comrades, crossing the battlefields to help the wounded to get out of this hell of mud and blood, your only weapon was exemplary courage, bravery that nothing has stopped, braving the rain of blood after the storms of steel, you have done your duty with courage and determination to help others, to heal the physical and mental wounds caused by violence of war, you were the guardian angels of the soldiers carrying the scars of fury in a world that had become uncontrollable but you were there for them, you were and you will always be in our hearts a hero among millions that history doesn’t will never forget, we will never forget you and today it is a privilege to be there to watch over you, to watch over your grave and to watch over your comrades as you did with such courage 100 years ago.At the going down of the sun and in the morning,we will remember him,we will remember them.🌺

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