Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Jessie and Alexander WILSON

Robert was the sub-accountant of the Bank of Australiasia from 1908 to the time of his death.

Robert Reginald Wilson was born on the 28th of May, 1890 in Kent Town, South Australia. His parents were Jessie and Alexander Wilson. He attended Norwood Primary School, and later he attended Adelaide High School. His name is mentioned on the Norwood Primary School Honour board and on the Adelaide High School Honour board. For the remainder of his life, he lived at 113 Sydenham Road, Norwood, and from 1908 until his death he worked at the Bank of Australasia as a sub-accountant.

Wilson had a dark complexion, with brown eyes and dark brown coloured hair. At the time of enlistment, Robert was 25 years and 2 months old. He was 5 feet and 8 inches tall and weighed 169 lbs. Wilson was not married at the time of enlistment. His next-of-kin was his mother, Jessie Wilson. Robert Reginald Wilson enlisted in the AIF as a private on the 13th of August, 1915. He served as a member of the 43rd Infantry Battalion.

The 43rd Battalion was a part of the 3rd Division and it was part of the 11th Brigade. The Battalion was one of four in the Brigade, the others were the 41st, 42nd, and 44th Battalions.

The 3rd Division was created in the UK on the Salisbury Plain, and the commander of the Division was General John Monash. The 43rd Battalion was based at the Morphettville Racecourse, where the soldiers trained and stayed in barracks during the night. The Battalion held firearms practice on the sandhills located between Henley and Glenelg. The Battalion also launched a practice attack against the Hindmarsh Bridge from Montefiore Hill.

After leaving Australia during June 1916, the Battalion stopped briefly in Egypt before arriving in England for further training in July 1916. The soldiers then suffered through a mumps epidemic, after which, the Battalion underwent an extended period of training in the Salisbury Plain. The 3rd Division then travelled to the Western Front in December 1916. It spent the first half of 1917 engaged in trench warfare. On the 23rd of February, 1917, Wilson was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, proving that he was a valuable soldier and performed his job well.

The 3rd Division was involved in major action at Messines on the 7th of June 1917, and it fought again at Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde Wood and Poelcapelle for the Third Ypres campaign.

On the 13th of August, 1917, Wilson was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital suffering with a ruptured Tympanic membrane(eardrum). He was returned to duty on the 4th of December 1917.

Wilson was sent to hospital for the second time on the 1st of November 1917. He was admitted to 7th General Hospital suffering with tonsilitis, transferred to 59th general hospital in St Omer, and was discharged to duty one month later. On the 2nd of July, 1918, Robert Wilson was sent to 2nd General Hospital due to being sick. He was then transferred to England on the 4th of July 1918. Wilson was admitted to 3rd Southern General Hospital suffering with debility and laryngitis. He was discharged to duty on the 16th of August, 1918. 

In April 1918, the 43rd Battalion was assisted in stopping the German Spring Offensive. It held off the Germans in the front line, later being awarded a Battle Honour award for the work near Villers-Bretonneux along the River Ancre, and also on the 4th of July at Le Hamel.

On the 26th of May, 1918, Wilson was wounded in action (for the second occasion). He was admitted to 41st stationary hospital suffering with slight gas shell poisoning. He was discharged on the 23rd of June, 1918.

The Battalion was also heavily involved in the “Last Hundred Days” campaign, which occurred from Amiens to the Hindenburgh Line. After this, the 43rd Infantry Battalion assisted in the advance that followed the 2nd Divisions’ victory at Mont St Quentin (Australian War Memorial).

On the 20th of May, 1919, Robert Reginald Wilson was demobilised and left England to return to Australia. He arrived in Australia on the 29th of June, 1919

There are no records of Wilson’s activities or life after he returned to Australia. 

On the 29th of August, 1934, Robert Reginald Wilson died in a private hospital at the age of 44 years. The cause of his death is currently unknown. His grave is located on the West Terrace Cemetery (General) in Adelaide.

Robert Reginald Wilson showed true spirit during his time serving in the war. This was recognised by his promotion to 2nd Lieutenant.

Bibliography:

https://learn.ignatius.sa.edu.au/seqta/student/files/stream?jwt=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https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/enlistment