Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

One of the most striking personalities in the present campaign is Chaplain-Captain James Wilson, who is contesting the Western Suburbs in conjunction with Captain Robins. He was born in New Zealand of an English-Australian father and a Scotch-New Zealand mother. His early life was spent on a farm in the agricultural areas of his native country,lie entered public life in New Zealand about 30 years ago, and has since had a stirring and varied career in many lands and under almost every condition. His work in this country us a public man is well known. Chosen by the miners as a chaplain, he went to the front with them as padre and on returning was again soon actively engaged in patriotic work. Mr. Wilson is a true friend of the Diggers in the best sense of the term. How true, indeed, has been repeatedly demonstrated by the enthusiasm with which they have received him and the implicit trust which they repose in him. A man of great energy and great moral courage, allied to rare ability, Mr. Wilson would be a valuable acquisition to the public life of any country in the British Empire. He has rare personal magnetism, something of the vision of the seer, and a measure of ability as a speaker which must always make him a tremendous force in any party with which he is connected. He is, in fact, the happy possessor of a real gift of oratory and has the power to move and impress a crowd as few public men in this country have been able to do. He is a man who inspires confidence, and the. generosity with which he gave himself to 'the interests and the welfare of the Diggers has made him idolised among those who have come in contact with him.

The Land (Sydney) Friday 05 March 1920 page 11

DEATH of CHAPLAIN WILSON
The Church in New South Wales and in New Zealand will note with deep regret the death of Chaplain Captain James Wilson, on Thursday, 14th April, at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, after a long illness. He had a generous nature which made him a popular personality in all places where he lived and laboured. His ministry in the Church, here and in New Zealand,was attended with much success. He was in the ministry from early life until 1920, when he was selected to the Legislative Assembly as a Soldiers and Citizens' representative. He possessed outstanding pulpit and platform gifts, and many great causes felt the force of his advocacy. He served the Empire in the Great War as a Chaplain in the camps, and went to the Western Front as Chaplain with Professor David's Mining Corps, where he remained until carried off the field invalided. He is survived by Mrs. Wilson, three daughters, and a son, the Rev. E.H. Wilson, our minister at Merewether. The funeral service was conducted by Senior Chaplain Rev. James Green in the Bourke Street Church, the address being delivered by Rev. P. J. Stephen. Assisting ministers were Chaplains Revs. H. E. cosier and H. C. Foreman. The remains wore cremated at Rookwood Where the service was conducted by Rev. James Green assisted by Rev. P.J. Stephen. Mr. Green conducted a memorial service in the Bourke Street Church last Sunday evening. We tender our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family.
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The Methodist Saturday 23 April 1927 page 3