WICKS, Ernest
| Service Number: | 2861 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, 20 March 1893 |
| Home Town: | Guildford, Swan, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Guildford Grammar School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Civil servant |
| Died: | Bassendean, Western Australia, 18 December 1977, aged 84 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Bassendean War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2861, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2861, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2861, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Fremantle | |
| 1 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Sep 1916: | Honoured Military Medal, Mouquet Farm | |
| 4 Mar 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 10 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Jan 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 16 May 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 52nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Ernest Wicks was the son of Mr. C.R. Wicks and his wife, Emma, and were living in Guildford, Western Australia when Ernest enlisted. The father had just retired as chairman of the West Guildford Roads Board. Ernest was working as a civil servant when he enlisted.
Wicks arrived in Egypt just after Gallipoli was evacuated. The AIF underwent reorganization with the ‘doubling’ of recruits and the 52nd Battalion was formed on 1 March 1916.
Wicks was promoted to Corporal a few weeks before the 52nd Battalion assaulted the formidable Mouquet Farm position, which cost the unit 50% of its fighting force to injuries or death. Wicks was awarded a Military Medal for bombing German grenadiers who were supporting their Machine Gun. He then helped to bomb remainder of German machine gun crew, thus enabling others to work to right and eventually join up with 49th Battalion, and continued to observe German movements throughout the night. Wicks was wounded in action the next day at Mouquet Farm with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder, and evacuated to England.
Wicks rejoined his unit late in 1916 and fought in the trenches during the harsh winter. He was promoted to rank of Sergeant shortly after. He was promoted to Lieutenant during January 1918, and was awarded a Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at Dernacourt during April 1918. During May 1918 the 52nd Battalion was disbanded and he had to transfer to the 51st Battalion. He returned to Australia in April 1919.
He later served during WW2 with the rank of Major.