KILPATRICK, Samuel Wilson
| Service Number: | 101 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 January 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Benayeo, Victoria, Australia , December 1891 |
| Home Town: | Binnum, Naracoorte and Lucindale, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Apsley, West Wimmera Shire, Victoria, Australia, 27 October 1968, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Naracoorte and District Town Hall Honour Board WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 101, 43rd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 101, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 101, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 28 Sep 1917: | Honoured Military Medal |
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Samuel Wilson Kilpatrick
Life Before the War
Samuel Wilson Kilpatrick was born in Benayeo, a town in the western countryside of Victoria near the South Australian Border. He was born in December of 1893. Before enlisting for the war, Samuel Wilson worked as a labourer in Binnum, South Australia. Samuel Wilson was 5’7’’ feet tall (174 cm) which was around the average height at the time. He had blue eyes, light brown hair and weighed 138 pounds (62.6 kg) with a fresh or healthy complexion. He was part of the Church of England and was never married. Samuel Wilson had an older brother named William Kilpatrick who also lived in Binnum, South Australia.
Life in Service
Samuel Wilson enlisted in Adelaide, South Australia on January 17, 1916, as a private and part of the 43rd infantry battalion. He was 24 years and 1 month old. He embarked from Adelaide on June 9, 1916, onboard 'HMAT Afric A19’ ship.
On the 25th of November (1916), Samuel Wilson proceeded to France. Shortly after on 20th January 1917, he was admitted to the hospital sick with mumps and rejoined the battalion a month later on 16th January 1917. During his time, Samuel Wilson was promoted and moved up several ranks. He was appointed lance corporal on 18th May 1917, appointed to be corporal 10th August 1917 and was finally appointed to be sergeant 6th October 1917. He went on leave to England on 31st August 1917 and returned to rejoin the battalion on 15th September.
On 28th September 1917, Samuel Wilson was awarded a Military Medal for bravery in the field. His records do not show what action led to him receiving this award. This had him featured in the London Gazette that month and also mentioned in the Naracoorte Herald and Commonwealth Gazette in January 1918.
He went on leave in England on 2nd March 1918 and rejoined the battalion on 16th March. On 4th July 1918, during the 43rd battalion's attack on the village of Hamel in northern France, Samuel Wilson was wounded in action, severely fracturing his lower jaw. He was admitted to the queen’s hospital before being discharged and moved to the 1st southern general hospital in Birmingham, England.
After the War
Samuel Wilson was unable to fully recover from his injury. He returned to Australia on 3rd January 1919 and discharged on the 24th of March 1919 due to being medically unfit. He served for a total of 3 years and 67 days and spend 2 years and 151 days of his service abroad. During his service, Samuel Wilson would have been involved in the battle of Bretonneux in 1918, the battle of Hamel in 1918, the battle of Messines in 1917, the German Spring Offensive in 1918 and the third battle of Ypres in 1918.
Samuel Wilson lived to the age of 74. He passed away on 26th October 1968 in Apsley Victoria. His cause of death is unknown. He was buried in the Apsley cemetery. He was honoured on the Naracoorte and District Town Hall Honour Board for WW1.
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