Edward George WILSON DCM, MM

Badge Number: S16091, Sub Branch: West Croydon
S16091

WILSON, Edward George

Service Number: 116
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 10th Infantry Battalion
Born: Hindmarsh, South Australia, Australia , 14 March 1893
Home Town: Hindmarsh, Charles Sturt, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Cabinet Maker
Died: Cedar Ave Croydon, Adelaide , 1951, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia
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World War 1 Service

20 Oct 1914: Involvement Private, 116, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: ''
20 Oct 1914: Embarked Private, 116, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide
11 Nov 1918: Involvement 116, 10th Infantry Battalion
Date unknown: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal
Date unknown: Honoured Military Medal

WW1

Added to the entry, Edward maintained a diary during his service. this has been donated to the Australian War Memorial, refer PR84/201

WW1

The details provided are taken from the book "Stealth Raiders - a few daring men in 1918" written by Lucas Jordan, published 2017, refer to pages 173,278 & 284. Prior to the war he was a cabinet maker of Hindmarsh SA. He enlisted 19th Aug 1914 aged 22 years. He served with the 10th Infantry Battalion, rising to the rank of CSM Company Sergeant Major. During his service he was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal and a Military Medal for his activities. He survived the war, departing the UK for home 8th Oct 1918.

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Biography

Edward George Wilson was born on the 14th of March, 1893 in Hindmarsh, South Australia. He died on the 7th of December 1951 in Croydon S.A at age 58. He was the fourth child of William Dodds Wilson and Matilda Wilson (maiden name Toohy). He had three older siblings Elizabeth Lily, William Dodds Junior and Charlie.

 

Edward grew up, and received all of his schooling in Hindmarsh. He was brought up as a Roman Catholic. In 1913 he completed an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker at the Premier Manufacturing Company Port Adelaide, where he had worked five years prior. He would have continued to work there but a year later on the 19th of August 1914, he enlisted for World War 1. Matilda, his mother, signed his papers as his father had died in 1903. Before enlisting he lived in Bacon Street, Hindmarsh with his mother and he was a member of a local rifle shooting club.

 

Edward enlisted in the 10th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF). His battalion was made up of mainly South Australian soldiers and his regimental number was 116. He trained at Morphettville racecourse. On the 20th of October 1914 the 10th Battalion marched through Adelaide, to board the HMAT Ascanius ship at Outer Harbor for Egypt. His training was continued in Egypt. He embarked on the Itonian for Gallipoli and on the 25th of April 1915, he landed in Gallipoli, During the war he saw action in Gallipoli, on the Western Front (Ypres, Belgium) and France.

 

He rose in ranking over time and was promoted from Private to Sergeant on 22nd of March 1916 and later to Company Sergeant Major. He was wounded in France from a gun shot wound to the foot on the 22nd of August 1916. He embarked on HS ‘Brighton’ at Calais France for England. He was admitted to the Cornwall Hospital at Sevenoaks, on 29/8/16. He returned to the field in France by the 8/11/16 and was temporarily promoted to Company Sergeant Major on the 28/12/16. He fell sick again due to gassing and due to his absence from the field he lost his position as Company Sergeant Major.

 

On the 15 of the 1st 1917 Edward George Wilson was admitted to County of London Hospital. He later re-joined his unit from hospital who were in France on the 1/5/17 and was promoted to Company Sergeant Major again on the 18th of June 1917. Edward George Wilson was later awarded two medals for bravery in action.

 

The first was a Military medal which was awarded on the 2/7/17 “During the operations east of YPRES, 19/22nd September, 1917 C.S.M. WILSON displayed great bravery and initiative in reorganizing and steadying the men after they were caught in an enemy barrage. During the heaviest of shelling he moved constantly up and down among the men and by his cheerful manner and disregard of his personal safety set a great example to his men. Later when the Company was running short of bombs and ammunition he organized a party and went back and brought them up under heavy fire, and by his skillful handling of the men had very few casualties bringing up the ammunition when it was most urgently required.”
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189
Date: 8 November 1917

 

The second medal was a Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded on the 15/3/18, awarded “for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in reorganizing and steadying the men after they were caught in the enemy barrage. When the company ran short of bombs and ammunition he organized a party, and by skilful handling had very few causalities, bringing up ammunition when urgently required.” Source: ‘commonwealth Gazette’ NO. 110 Date: 25 July 1918

 

On the 4th of June 1918 Edward was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major and later on 8/10/18 he embarked on a ship to return to Australia from Italy following special leave. On the 2nd of December 1918 he returned to Australia and landed at Port Sydney. On the 31st of the 1st of 1919 he was discharged from the army due to “cessation of hostilities”. In total he spent 4 years and 166 days in army service and 4 years and 44 days of which were spent overseas.

 

After the war he purchased a war service home at 40 Cedar Ave Croydon. He married Eileen Wilson (maiden name Wells) on the 17th of July 1919. They had two children Edward Herbert Wilson who married Dorothy Wilson (maiden name Norman) and Constance Joan Wilson. Edward George ran a small cooperage (wine barrel) business in Hindmarsh, where his son Edward Herbert (Bill) also worked with him. Due to the gas attacks during his time in war Edward’s health deteriorated and he spent time at the Repatriation Hospital and died in 1951. His grave site is at Cheltenham cemetery.

 

I believe that Edward George Wilson demonstrated ANZAC spirit as his actions were recognised by his medals. More importantly he put the needs of others before himself. During my research I found a quote from a book which mentions him and backs up my previous statement. “Company Sergeant Major EG Wilson MM again demonstrated his efficiency in battle and great courage under fire when he organised and led forward carrying parties to the front lines and at one stage took a section of rifle grenadiers to silence a hostile machine-gun,”(Page 249 Silent voices, Robert Kearney)

 

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