Military History

Appointed L/Cpl 4.10.1916.
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Suffolk’ for UK 10.10.1916.
Roll Rank L/Cpl.
Roll Unit 3rd Reinf, 44th Battalion, AIF.
Wicks disembarked at Plymouth with the 33rd Reinf. 44th Battalion 3.12.1916. After a short period of training he proceeded overseas to France 20.12.1916. Wicks marched in to 3rd Division Base Depot in France and was appointed Acting Corporal 21.12.1916. He reverted to rank as Private 17.1.1917. Wicks was taken on strength with the 44th Battalion 26.1.1917. He was allotted Regimental No. 2166A. The 44th Battalion fought their first major battle at Messines, Belgium in June 1916. Wicks was wounded in action in this battle - gassed 8.6.1917. He was transferred to the HS A23 ‘Suffolk’ for England. Whilst in England he was hospitalized with a debility for 10 days. He rejoined his unit 11.10.1917. Wicks fought in the trenches in Belgium through the winter of 1917. He was admitted to Hospital sick 13.1.1918 and embarked for England per HS ‘St. David’ 5.2.1918 with Trench Fever. Wicks was admitted to East Suffolk, Ipswich Hospital 6.2.1918. On recovery he was deemed fit for active service and proceeded overseas to France with a Training Brigade from Longbridge, Deverill 19.6.1918. Wicks was hospitalised 14.7.1918, invalided to England and admitted to Reading War Hospital sick 28.7.1918. He was admitted to Bulford 23.9.1918 with debility. Wicks marched in for return to Australia invalided with ‘effort syndrome’.
Embarked per HT ‘Argyllshire’ for return to Australia 9.12.1918.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 19.1.1919.
Discharged 28.2.1919.
Final Rank Private. 44th Battalion.
Medical Condition Invalided with ‘Effort Syndrome’.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photo   HMAT 'Suffolk' A23 . Photograph from the S.M. Curry Collection. Photograph source Don't Forget the Diggers
              Only wall standing in Messines Town Square 17.6.1918.  Photographer unknown, image courtesy AWM E01484
              No. 1 War Hospital Reading, Berks. Photograph from Reading Museum source flickr
              HMAT 'Argyllshire' 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, Photograph source AWM P10581.002

Information Source
AWM E01484 . Only wall standing  Messines Town Square. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the  Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E01484/
AWMP10581.002. HMAT 'Argyllshire' 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll William Wicks.
Digger History- HMAT 'Suffolk' photgraph from the S.M.Curry Collection, photograph source Don't Forget the Digger  website- http://www.dontforgetthediggers.com.au/galleryImg_large.asp?galID=31&galImgID=202
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Wicks William
Reading Museum. No. 1 War Hospital Reading, Berks. Photograph from Reading Museum, image source flickr



Perth Road, West Guildford, WA.

Associated Images