WILSON, Roy
| Service Number: | 3180 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 47th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Yea, Victoria, Australia , 1895 |
| Home Town: | Gobur, Murrindindi, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Dernancourt, France, 28 March 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Yarck Gobur Roll of Honor, Yarck Gobur School No 1047 Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3180, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3180, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: Also enlisted with the service number 537. | |
| 16 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3180, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Lincoln, Melbourne | |
| 28 Mar 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 3180, 47th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3180 awm_unit: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-03-28 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Sergeant Roy Wilson was from Gobur, a very small near town near Alexandria in Victoria. He was reported to have been a member of the Gobur Rifle Club, and was said to have been a splendid shot.
He was one of the first men from the district to enlist in March 1915, and was very strongly built. He was transferred to the 47th Battalion in Egypt during early 1916 when the AIF was reorganising its battalions.
He fought right through 1916 and 1917, being promoted to Corporal then Sergeant. During the fighting at Passchendaele in Belgium he was recommended for a Commander in Chiefs Congratulatory Card. The recommendation stated “Near Zonnebeke from 12 October to 14 October 1917. For coolness, courage and determination in handling his platoon. His disregard for all danger was a great help and incentive to his men. He showed fine leadership and resource under very adverse conditions.”
Roy Wilson was killed in action near Dernancourt on 28 March 1917, when the 47th Battalion was defending its position against a heavy German attack. He was said by his mates to have been killed by machine gun fire near the railway embankment at Dernancourt and buried where he fell.
The local newspaper reported “This young hero was a fine fellow, and will be long remembered by his Gobur friends. The flag was flown at half-mast on receipt of the news. He was mentioned for bravery and determination by his General. Sergeant Wilson was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Wilson, who are very old and respected residents of the Gobur district.”