WICKS, George Viner
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 November 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Fremantle, Western Australia , 8 October 1890 |
| Home Town: | Marrickville, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Consulting Engineer |
| Died: | Injuries suffered in accidental plane crash, Leighterton, Gloucestershire, England, 13 October 1918, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Reading Cemetery, England Grave reference 35. 13395. Second Lieutenant George Viner Wicks has a private headstone, however is death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Nov 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1917: | Involvement Australian Flying Corps (AFC), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Nov 1917: | Embarked Australian Flying Corps (AFC), HMAT Nestor, Melbourne |
Help us honour George Viner Wicks's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in UK & Ireland”
George Viner Wicks was born on 8th October, 1890 at Fremantle, Western Australia to parents William Henry & Alice Mary Wicks (nee Viner).
He served 5 years apprenticed with NSW Government Railways, Sydney & served 5 years with Vickers Naval Construction Works.
From 1910 until 1916 he was listed as Crew serving in the following ships – Suevic, 5th Engineer on Argyllshire, 3rd Engineer on Manchuria & Assistant 3rd Engineer on St. Albans.
On 18th August, 1916 George Viner Wicks was issued a Certificate of Competency (No. 627) for 1st Class Engineer, issued by the Department of Navigation, NSW.
He applied for a Commission with the Australian Flying Corps of the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) stating he was a 25 year old, single, Consulting Engineer from “Caversham” Anderton Street, Marrickville, NSW.
George Viner Wicks was accepted into the Australian Flying Corps on 5th November, 1917. He was posted to Special Draft No. 1, Australian Flying Corps on 17th November, 1917.
On 21st November, 1917 Second Lieutenant George Viner Wicks embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Nestor (A71) & disembarked at Suez on 15th December, 1917. He was posted to Australian Camp, Suez on 15th December, 1917.
He entrained for embarkation Overseas on 30th December, 1917 & embarked from Alexandria on 31st December, 1917 & disembarked at Alexandria on 2nd January, 1918. Second Lieutenant Wicks embarked from Abbassiah on 8th January, 1918 & disembarked at Taranto on 13th January, 1918 then finally disembarked at Southampton, England on 24th January, 1918.
Second Lieutenant Wicks was marched in from Australia to A.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps) Training Depot at Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England on 24th January, 1918.
On 1st March, 1918 Second Lieutenant Wicks was on command at No. 1 Royal Flying Corps School of Military Aeronautics at Reading, Berkshire, England for training as a Flying Officer (Pilot).
He was marched in to A.F.C. Depot, Wendover from No. 1 School of Military Aeronautics at Reading on 17th May, 1918. Second Lieutenant Wicks was marched out from A.F.C. Depot to 1st Wing Headquarters & reposted to No. 5 Training Squadron. He was taken on strength with No. 5 Training Squadron at Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire on 30th May, 1918.
Second Lieutenant Wicks passed the Vickers Gun Test “B” on 7th June, 1918. He passed Lewis Gun Tests No. 1 & 2 on 13th June, 1918. Second Lieutenant Wicks passed Vickers Gun Test “C” No. “A” on 15th June 1918 & passed the Lewis Gun Test No. 5 on 21st June, 1918.
On 16th September, 1918 Second Lieutenant Wicks was taken on strength with No. 7 Training Squadron at Leighterton, Gloucestershire.
Second Lieutenant George Viner Wicks, of No. 7 Training Squadron, was killed in an aeroplane accident at Leighterton, Gloucestershire on 13th October, 1918.
A Court of Enquiry was assembled on the 13th October, 1918 at Leighterton Aerodrome, Gloucestershire, by order of Major W. H. Anderson, D.F.C. Commanding No. 2 Squadron Station, A.R.C. with instructions to enquire into the circumstance connected with the accident on 13th October, 1918 at Leighterton Aerodrome involving plane R. E. 8 C/2628 type – 140 HP. R.A.F. which the plane was totally damaged & the engine seriously damaged. R.E.8 C/2628 was piloted by Second Lieutenant George Viner Wicks, of No. 7 Training Squadron, A.F.C. He was the sole occupant & was fatally injured.
The scene of the accident was visited before the aeroplane was removed with the following findings: “The Aeroplane was found lying on its side, having evidently fallen on its nose and right wing. The rudder controls were intact.”
The accident took place at 12.30 pm. The Court found, in their opinion, that the cause of the accident was “through the Pilot (while on his first R.E.8 solo) putting on full left rudder at 50 feet after taking off and allowing the machine to get into a flat spin to the left.”
The Report of Squadron Commander:
The Pilot was on duty and was not to blame. His flying was previously very good in the air, and the only reason for his being kept on dual for so long on the R.E.8 was that his landings were not consistently good. He had previously flown Avros and Sopwith Scouts.
He was buried on 16th October, 1918 in Reading Cemetery, Reading, Berkshire –Grave reference 35. 13395.
Second Lieutenant George Viner Wicks has a private headstone, however is death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/reading.html
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