The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1626) Private William Wilson, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Charis May, the story for this day was on (1626) Private William Wilson, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1626 Private William Wilson, 9th Battalion, AIF
DOW 22 April 1916
Story delivered 7 November 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Wilson.

William Wilson was born in 1879 in Ballarat, Victoria. Nothing is known of his early life, other than by the beginning of the First World War he was living in Rockhampton, Queensland, and working as a labourer.

He enlisted in Rockhampton on 16 December 1914 and after initial training was allotted to the 3rd reinforcements to the 9th Battalion. Wilson left Brisbane two months later aboard the transport ship Seang Choon, bound for Egypt.

After a brief stop in Egypt, Private Wilson was sent to Gallipoli where he joined the 9th Battalion at the beginning of May. A fortnight later he took part in the defence of the Australian line when a counter–attack by Ottoman infantry attempted to drive the Australians into the sea.
Wilson was evacuated to Malta in July with haemorrhoids and in late August was transferred to England and hospitalised at Bethnal Green.

From late September 1915 to January 1916, Wilson was admitted on several occasions to Verne Citadel, Portland, with a recurring skin complaint.

In December he was charged with overstaying his leave. He was confined to barracks for three days and forfeited four day’s pay. It is likely that during this time he married a lady by the name of Nora.

Wilson returned to Egypt in March 1916 and rejoined the 9th Battalion. At the end of the month, the battalion sailed for France, disembarking in Marseilles in early April.

By 19 April, the 9th Battalion was in reserve billets near Rouge-de-Bout, one mile behind the front line near Armentieres. Intermittent artillery fire was landing nearby.

Early in the afternoon of the 20th of April, tragedy struck, when the battalion’s C Company billets were heavily shelled. One shell landed outside a canvas tent, wounding four soldiers. As men went to assist, another shell landed amongst them, killing several and wounding others. A further shell hit a brick wall of a nearby billet, causing a further 47 casualties. C Company was decimated, suffering 25 men killed and a further 50 wounded.

Wilson was wounded in the head by shrapnel. He was evacuated to 7th Casualty Clearing Station, but his wound proved mortal and he died on 22 April. He was laid to rest in the Merville Communal Cemetery that same day. He was 37 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private William Wilson, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section