Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Awarded Military Cross
'For devotion to duty in the forward area from 25th February to 16th September 1918. The Revd. WILSON has rendered splendid service to the wounded and dying, often under the most difficult circumstances under fire during operations. His cheeriness and encouragement at all times is of the greatest value to all ranks of the unit.'

DEATH OF CANON B. C. WILSON, I.A., M.C.
DISTRICT'S GREAT LOSS

There were many and widespread manifestations of sympathy throughout the town, the district, and the State early on Tuesday evening last when it was learned that Canon Bicton Clemence Wilson, M.A., M.C., Rector of St. Luke's Church of England, for the last ten years, was no more. The sad intelligence came as a stunning blow which failed to be tempered for the reason that very few outside the rev. gentleman's immediate family circle realised that his indisposition was so serious, or rather, had taken a sudden serious turn. It was only on the previous Friday morning that he was admitted to the Scott Memorial Hospital suffering from a most painful affliction, but from the outset his condition was such as to cause much anxiety and a worsening, when complications intervened, dissipated all hope of the patient even rallying, let alone recovering. Thus the Upper Hunter, the State itself, lost one of its most outstanding personages, for Canon Wilson was a great churchman, a chaplain who distinguished himself in World War II., a townsman and a gentleman — a real man, and one of the very best. He was a church man whose philosophy, his kindliness and his great affection for all classes and sections of the community, especially the aged and the young, caused him to be loved by all, and in the hearts and estimation of the people he was raised to a plane or pinnacle, probably not realised by himself because of his unassuming nature, reached by few men. His work in connection with his Church covered a very wide field of activities, and in the performance of his duties, a labour of love, he was seemingly tireless, and adapted himself to every occasion and emergency. Just as the Upper Hunter was enriched and blessed by his long association with it — he was Rector at Gundy when quite a young man, and in turn like wise administered in all other parishes of the extensive district — it is now the poorer, and very much so, by his demise, and the all too suddenness of which has added to the poignancy of the blow, for it can be said with all truth that the people in their entirety were his friends.The Union Jack fluttered at half-mast at the Soldiers' Memorial School of Arts yesterday,for the deceased cleric was not only a chaplain with the rank of Captain in the last Great War, but was a prominent and active member of the Scone branch of the R.S.S. and A.I.L. of Australia. He was also first Presidentof the Muswellbrook Soldiers' Club.

​​Learned, deeply read, and scholarly, a fluent and cultured speaker, Canon Wilson was also a gifted writer. Dignity and charm, yet simplicity, which made his every utterance clearly understood by his hearers, was a characteristic on all occasions,and combined with his perfect enunciation, there was ever, present a commingling of understanding, encouragement, and inspiration. Such was but the natural corollary when it was so obvious that the words of a resonant voice emanated from one whose ideals and principles, whose very conception, were put to practical use and observance to the letter. His kindly words of advice, his wise, counsel, and not so infrequently his words of comfort, of consolation, were invariably couched in beautiful language, as also was his everyday conversation. He saw the things beautiful and his observations in this respect, were coordinated in the administration of his spiritual duties, which so often took him to all parts of the diocese itself. A lover of horticulture, the garden at the Rectory was always carpeted with a profusion of the best blooms. His travels were conducive to the sharpening or polishing of his education, yet he was most homely, and many will recall the fidelity, the loving care, consideration, thoughtfulness and helpfulness ever forthcoming in the parental menage, where a mother's love for a worthy and noble son wag reciprocated to the full, even in a sacrificial measure in certain respects, by the subject of these lines.

Canon Wilson was Stanton Chaplain at Newcastle in 1909, entering office on his. return from England. Except for four years in Queensland, he was associated with the Upper Hunter diocese until his death. The late rev. gentleman was for a number of years a membes of the Board of Directors of the Scott Memorial Hospital, and right up to the last took a lively interest in the administration and activities generally of the Institution in question. The late Canon Wilson was educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, graduating as a B.A. in 1904, and took his M.A. in 1908. He was educated for the ministry at Well's Theological College, England, which he entered in 1904, and was ordained Deacon on 21st September, 1905, and Priest on 23rd September. 1906 by the Bishop of Wakefield. He entered the Diocese of Newcastle in January, 1909, and prior corning to Newcastle was Curate of Barnsley in the Diocese of Wakefield, from 1905 to 1908. His first post in the Diocese of Newcastle was that of Stanton Chaplain, which position he filled from 1909 to 1910 — his license to officiate in the. Diocese of Newcastle bears date 1st January, 1909. He relinquished the position as Stanton Chaplain in order to take up duty as Incumbent of the Parish of Gundy, to which Incumbency he was licensed on 1st April, 1910. He remained at Gundy until 1912, when he was appointed Incumbent of the Parish of Merriwa, his license to this Cure bearing date 1st September,1912. He remained at Gundy till1915, and was granted leave of absence from the Diocese by the Lord Bishop as from 30th September, 1915, in order to serve as a Military Chaplain to the Hospital at Ghezirah, Cairo, Egypt. He served as a Chaplain from1915 to 1919, during which time he was awarded the Military Cross. He returned to his Parish of Merriwa in 1919, but removed that year to the Parish of Muswellbrook. to which parish he was licensed as' Rector on 1st December, 1919. He remained at Muswellbrook until October, 1921, when he left, the Diocese in order to go to Longreach, in the State of Queensland. The parishioners of Muswellbrook presented him with a cheque for £100 on his departure. He returned to the Diocese of Newcastle in 1925, and was appointed to the Cure of Denman as Rector in June of that year. He resigned the Incumbency of Denman at the end of 1925, and was appointed Headmaster of Broughton School for Boys at Newcastle on 1st January. 1926. He held the position as Headmaster of the Boys' School until 1933, when he was licensed as Rector of the Parish of Aberdeen on the 24th June, 1633. He resigned the Parish of Aberdeen on the 28th February, 1935, and was granted leave of absence from that date for the purpose of visiting England. He returned to the Diocese at the end of 1935, and was licensed Rector of Scone on 14th December, 1935. On 24th August,1936, he was appointed a Surrogate (for the issuing of marriage licenses) by the Bishop. He also held the office of Rural Dean of the Hunter, and was appointed an Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, by the Bishop on 26th May, 1938. He was also one of the Bishop's Domestic Chaplains. With Mr. Norman Morriss, the subject of these lines was cofounder of Legacy in Newcastle14 years ago, and was the foundation President.

The Scone Advocate Friday 02 March 1945 page 4

The Reverend Canon Bicton Clemence Wilson attended Barker from 1896 until 1899 under Rev Plume. Upon the completion of his schooling, he was employed by Plume as a pupil teacher for a period of two years.
When Plume was considering retirement, he offered to sell the School to Wilson, but he declined.
Bic Wilson, who served as a Chaplain in World War I, is described by the historian CEW Bean as “..one of the best loved Chaplains of the AIF”. He was decorated with the Military Cross and twice Mentioned in Despatches.
He was President of the OBU in 1912 and was invited to unveil the memorial tablet at the entrance of Plume House in 1931.
In 1979, the Headmaster, Mr McCaskill, named a new day-boy house in honour of his service to the School.
The house crest, introduced in 1998, depicts his Military Cross. Through the embellishment of the sword and the Alpha and Omega symbols, reference is made to his calling as a Chaplain. The motto translates as God is my shield. The house colour is maroon.

​http://barkerlibrarynsw.libguides.com/archives/wilson