Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

WICKS Frederick Ralph MB BS

1898 - 1983

Frederick Ralph Wicks was born on 27th July 1898, in Norwood, SA. He was the son of Henry Wicks, a horticultural nursery owner, and Marian Trevenen, nee Pitt. Wicks was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1923. He was a resident medical officer at the Adelaide hospital in 1924. He moved to Murray Bridge where he became the MO for the Murray Bridge Memorial Hospital and the Health Officer of the Mobilong District Council. He married Ardna Dulcie Warren on 2nd May 1925. She was the daughter of Edgar Hampton Warren and Agnes Elizabeth, nee French of Lyndhurst, Paradise, SA. Wicks and his wife were living at Adelaide Road, Murray Bridge, SA, when he enlisted.  Wicks had many interests including golf, tennis, football, cricket, field sports and lacrosse.

Wicks enlisted at No 5 Recruit Centre on 29th July 1940, and was granted a commission, on probation, as flight lieutenant in the Medical Branch of the RAAF on 29th July 1940; this was confirmed on 28th August 1941. Initially he was posted to RAAF Laverton, then 5 Recruit Centre from 14th August 1940, and 4 STT from 19th May 1941. He was granted acting rank of squadron leader with effect from 9th December 1941 and promoted to temporary squadron leader with effect from 1st October 1942.  He was posted as SMO at 105 AGH in Adelaide, spending time also at the Royal Adelaide Hospital from 6th January 1943, 6 SFTS from 13th April 1943 and 7 RAAF Hospital from 25th November 1943. He was granted acting rank of wing commander with effect from 1st May 1944 and promoted to temporary wing commander with effect from 1st July 1944. He was the Deputy Principal Medical Officer 2 TG, in Brisbane from10th January 1944. GPCAPT RB Davis, Principal Medical Officer, No2 Training Group wrote, on 18th August 1945 ‘W/Cdr Wicks has occupied the post of D/PMO Brisbane for the past eighteen months, during which time he has given most excellent administrative service to medical sections in Southern Queensland, not only to No2 TG but also of the eastern area and No5 MG. The post of D/PMO Brisbane is one of the most difficult to fulfil in the Medical Branch since there is an everchanging pattern of formations to be dealt with as new squadrons and other small units are constantly being formed without adequate medical establishments and in unsuitable camps from a hygiene point of view. However, W/Cdr Wicks has tackled these problems uncomplainingly in a very efficient manner only seeking help from the Medical Directorate when the situation grew beyond his resources. He has also been largely instrumental in organising the very effective procedure of receiving and transporting south many hundreds of medical evacuees from northern operational areas. The PMO has thought so highly of W/Cdr Wicks’ service as D/PMO that he has recently recommended him for the award of OBE. W/Cdr Wicks has finally been given his chance of a posting to an operational area and is now on his way to No 11 Group as PMO’. He embarked from Australia for Morotai on 17th July 1945 and returned to Australia on 22nd December 1945 serving with 4 PD and 3 RPP until he was demobilised on 29th April 1946.

Wicks, following the war, moved his general practice to the Main North Road at Nailsworth when, in 1947, £100 worth of medical instruments were stolen from his car; police later recovered them from a public convenience at the rear of the Imperial Hotel in Adelaide. Frederick Ralph Wicks died on 11th June 1983.

Blood Sweat and Fears 111. Medical Practitioners who served in WW2. Open Books Howden, Adelaide. 2019

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers.

uploaded by

Annette Summers AO RFD