Vernon John WICKINS

WICKINS, Vernon John

Service Number: 2086
Enlisted: 9 February 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 15th Infantry Battalion
Born: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 30 August 1886
Home Town: Hobart, Tasmania
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Railway porter
Died: Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 8 August 1915, aged 28 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hobart Roll of Honour, Tasmanian Amateur Athletics Association
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World War 1 Service

9 Feb 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2086, 15th Infantry Battalion
17 Apr 1915: Involvement Private, 2086, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: ''
17 Apr 1915: Embarked Private, 2086, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

The oldest son of the late Vernon Evan Wickins, Engineer, (who died shortly after the outbreak of war) and Mary Wickins of 32 Wellington Street, North Hobart, Tasmania. Vernon joined when young the Volunteer Force and for five and a half years was a member of the Derwent Infantry Regiment in which he was promoted Sergeant during 1911. He was for some years employed in the Government Railways Service at Launceston, and while there became an active member of the Hobart Launceston Rifle Club, but on the illness of his father resigned his position to return home to Hobart as to be a help to his mother and other members of the family. On his return to Hobart, he joined the A.N.A. Rifle Club and enlisted not much later. He married Hilda Collins only a fortnight before he left for overseas.

He was killed in action 8 August 1915 during the 15th Battalion’s disastrous attack on Hill 971 at Gallipoli. No details of his death are recorded.

Captain Simpson of the A.N.A. Rifle Club wrote, ‘Vernon Wickins endeared himself to all his club mates and to all with whom he came in touch by his quiet, kindly and unassuming manner, and no greater testimony can be given of his love for country and fellow mortals than he lay down his life for them.’

Vernon’s younger brother, who was also serving on Gallipoli, with the 12th Battalion, Rupert George Wickins, was later killed in action on 8 April 1917, aged 25.

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