Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of  Abel and Caroline WILKINS, Wellington NSW

MR. GORDON WILKINS
Mr. Gordon (Dick) Wilkins, soldier, politician, public spirited townsman, good sport, and genial all round personality, has passed away. His death took place at 9 o'clock on  Wednesday morning after a comparatively short illness. A few weeks ago Mr. Wilkins took a bad turn, but with his indomitable spirit, he rallied and returned to his business.  However, after a few days, he again took bad, and had to take to his bed. His condition became very grave. He battled strongly against his complaint, but it was not to be, and  despite medical attention and careful nursing, the gradually sank and passed away on Wednesday morning.
Although for the past three or four days it was known throughout the town that he was fighting a losing battle, his death came as a great shock to all, and profound regret was  manifested throughout the town and district when the news spread that he had passed away.  This has another of the town's most useful citizens been called away, just when it  appeared that he had many more years of active life ahead of him. His death is just another added to the list of prominent citizens who have passed away of late.

Deceased was born at Grenfell 52 years ago, and was the eldest son of Mrs. and the late Mr. Abel Wilkins, and came to Wellington when quite young. After leaving school, he was  attached to the Postal Department for a number of years, and after the death of his father, he went into the office of Abel Wilkins and Co. with has brother George, a firm that has  been established in this town for a great number of years. In his young days, Dick, as he was known to all his friends — which were legion — took an active part in all kinds  of sport, and even in those days he was a leader, and his younger friends all looked up to him for advice in all matters. In the old Union days of football, he was a keen member of  the School of Arts team, and he was also a keen cricketer, joining up with the junior lads in this summer sport. As he grew to manhood he maintained the principles of his  younger days, always being foremost in anything that was for the benefit of the town and district. His was a most genial personality, and it was always a pleasure for anyone to  meet him. 

When the war clouds gathered in 1914 he enlisted, and though he missed the landing at Gallipoli, he went through the greater part of the war, being in most of the big engagements which took place during those dark days. His ability as a soldier was at once recognised by his superior officers, and he soon rose to the position of lieutenant. He went through many hardships with his pals on the other side, and it was in France on the 3rd May, 1917, that he was struck with a piece of shell which completely shattered his leg. For three days he lay out in the open until found by some en gineers and brought in to a dressing station, where the leg was amputated. The horrors of those three days did  not quell his wonderful temperament, and even the loss of his leg was not the end, for afterwards he had to suffer no less than six more operations for the injured limb.

He was invalided home, and despite his disability, he was still fighting for his comrades on the other side, and there was never a function that was held in the town or district for  the boys on the other side for which he did not devote both his time and his money. When the war was over he was still a worker for the returned men. He was one of the  foundation members of the Wellington R.S. and S.I.L., and for many years he was the President of the League, and was also a councillor of the head branch in Sydney. 
He was always a great fighter for the returned men, and during his association with the head branch he was able to obtain many concessions for the returned men of this district.  No returned man ever appealed to Dick in vain. No unfortunate down and out Digger ever went away from him empty handed. He understood them, and knew what they had  gone through on the other side. They were all still pals an Digger mates to him, and he stuck to them just as they had stuck to each other on the other side. 'Old soldiers never  die, they simply fade away,' is an old quotation by the Diggers, but his death has been an exception to the rule, though his memory will never die with those who knew him and  had the pleasure of his acquaintance. His death can be attributed to the war.

He was a most public spirited man, and was associated with practically every public body in town. A born organiser, his services were always at the disposal of all. A most fluent  speaker, with a good deal of humour in his remarks, he would always command attention at any public function, as well as in his business as an auctioneer. He was for some years a member of the Hospital committee, and afterwards became secretary of that institution, for which he did a lot of fine work. He was elected as an alderman of the Wellington  municipality and held the position of Deputy Mayor. During his term his sound advice and ideas were responsible for much progress in the town. Stress of business compelled him  not to seek re-election, otherwise he would no doubt have been elected as the chief citizen of the town.

Later on he nominated for parliamentary honors, and although he suffered defeat at first, this did not deter him from trying again, and in the end he was elected for the Bathurst  seat, defeating the present sitting member, Mr. Kelly. During his term in Parliament he did good work for his constituents, but with the ever swinging pendulum of the political clock, he was defeated at the following election, although he was held in the highest regard by all — both by his supporters and opponents, for he was always a clean campaigner. He was always ready to help and foster good clean healthy sport, and thus it was that he was associated with most of the sporting bodies of the town.

He had certainly fulfilled his dutied in this town as a perfect citizen, and his death has left a gap that will be hard to fill. To his wife and little son, his aged mother and the rest of  his relatives the heartfelt sympathy of all will go out, but they will have the comfort of knowing that he acted his part as a man and died as a true soldier.
Deceased is survived by a wife and one young son — Gordon — as well as his aged mother. His brothers are Messrs. Ross (Tas-\mania), George (Wellington), and Frank. His  sisters are Mrs. W. Wilkins and Mrs. W. T. Brown, both of Sydney.

The funeral took place this morning, and was an exceptionally large one, representative of the town and district. The remains were encased in a polished maple casket, which was covered by the Union Jack. The cortege was headed by the Wellington District Band, then followed a large contingent of returned men, who also acted as pall-bearers. It was a  wonderful tribute to the respect and esteem in which the deceased was held. Many beautiful floral tributes were placed on the grave. The remains were laid to rest in the Church 
of England portion of the Wellington cemetery, the services at the graveside being read by Rev. K. D. Norman, while the 'Last Post' was sounded by Bugler J. Whitehouse. The  funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Murray Bros.