WILKINS, Sydney Thomas
| Service Number: | Q109512 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 February 1942, Julia Creek, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31/51 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Longreach, Queensland, 30 November 1913 |
| Home Town: | Longreach, Longreach, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Julia Creek, Queensland, 20 September 1980, aged 66 years |
| Cemetery: |
Julia Creek Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 28 Feb 1942: | Enlisted Private, Q109512, Julia Creek, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109512, 31/51 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF | |
| 1 Mar 1942: | Involvement Private, Q109512, 31/51 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF, Homeland Defence - Militia and non deployed forces | |
| 19 Mar 1946: | Discharged Private, Q109512, 31/51 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF | |
| 19 Mar 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109512, 31/51 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF |
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Sydney Thomas Wilkins lived in and around Longreach, Qld where he and his sister, Mildred Keziah Wilkins, were raised by their grandmother Agnes Williams (nee Simpson) while their mother Ivy Wilkins (nee Williams) worked around Julia Creek, Qld.
Their father had died tragically in 1926 when Sydney was just 13 and Mildred (Millie) 11. Death of Victor George Wilkins (nla.gov.au)
Their father, 2335 Pte. Victor George Wilkins (/explore/people/352271) served in WWI (Victor George Wilkins full record here) (recordsearch.naa.gov.au)mostly working as a driver in Egypt. He had contracted malaria in Egypt and never fully recovered from associated pain before his tragic death. His dying words were: "You look after Millie".
Sydney and his sister Millie were both keen cricketers as there are many references to their participation in local cricket teams around Longreach, Qld. (An example of their sporting participation here (trove.nla.gov.au)) They were both active members of their community. Sydney was also involved with the tennis club, football, boxing, swimming and cycling.
In 1942 Sydney Thomas Wilkins was a passenger in a car accident in Heathcote, Vic, while in the AIF at Puckapunyal. The driver was fatally injured. Details here (nla.gov.au)
After the war Sydney was no longer able to work in the wool trade as he had before and joined his mother in Julia Creek, Qld, in a drapery business where he set up a menswear department.
In 1951 he married Patricia Margaret Keating from Brisbane and they eventually ran the business together. Further details of Sydney's life in Julia Creek here (ia801706.us.archive.org). Sydney was known by the nickname "Wicky" or "Wick".
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