Military History

Wilkerson was an early enlistee, joining the 11th Battalion, the first West Australian Battalion raised in WW1. The 11th Battalion undertook several weeks of training at Blackboy Hill before embarking overseas. Wilkerson was 2nd Lt. 28.9.1914
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Ascanius’ A11 to Egypt 2.11.1914.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 11th Infantry Battalion, ‘B’ Company.
Wilkerson disembarked in Egypt and marched in to Mena Camp in December 1914. After almost 3 months of training, he marched in to Alexandria, joined the MEF and embarked per HMAT ’Suffolk’ for Lemnos 2.3.1915, in preparation for the Gallipoli landing. From Lemnos he embarked per HMS ‘London’ on 24.4.1915 and sailed for the Dardanelles. ‘B’ Coy were in the second wave of landings under heavy Turkish machine gun fire 25.4.1915. Wilkinson was wounded in the raid on Gaba Tepe 4.5.1915. He recorded his experiences in a letter to his mother that was reprinted in the local newspaper (Toodyay Herald  24.7.1915 p4) He was evacuated to Malta and admitted to Forrest Hospital 13.5.1915, transferred to the Convalescent Hospital at Tigne, then transferred per HT ‘Andina’ to the 2nd Stationary Hospital at Lemnos. Wilkerson was discharged to duty and returned to Gallipoli 10.7.1915. He became ill in the field and was admitted to the Casualty Clearing Station at Gallipoli 17.8.1915. He was evacuated to Mudros with influenza and gastritis 18.8.1915 and transferred to Heliopolis with enteritis 25.8.1915. Wilkerson was transferred to Egypt and was admitted to hospital at Heliopolis with diarrhoea 29.9.1915. He rejoined his Unit at Sampi Camp, Mudros 19.11.1915, following their evacuation from Gallipoli. Wilkerson sailed with his Battalion to Alexandria per HMT ‘Lake Michigan’. They engaged in a further period of training in preparation for the Western Front. He entrained to Alexandria, joined the BEF and embarked for France per HMT ’Corsican’ 29.3.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 5.4.1916. Initially he was billeted at Fletre and then moved to Sailly 19.8.1916. In June the 11th Battalion moved to the Somme and fought around Pozieres in July 1916. (Wikipedia 11th Battalion). Wilkerson was wounded in action (2nd time) receiving a GSW to his foot (contusion) shell shock and was severely gassed 23.7.1916. He was evacuated to England per HS ‘Panama’ and admitted to the 3rd Western Hospital at Newport 29.7.1916 . On recovery, he was discharged and marched out to Perham Downs 17.10.1916. He was transferred to 70th Battalion at the 4th Command Depot at Wareham 14.5.1917. Wilkerson proceeded overseas to France was transferred to the 49th Battallion. 13.9.1917. He was taken on strength in the field 19.9.1917. Wilkerson was transferred back to England 9.2.1918 as an invalid. His medical report described him as suffering from chronic bronchitis and dilated heart resulting from gas exposure. He was listed for early return to Australia as an invalid and permanently unfit for service.
Embarked Hospital Carrier ‘Llanstephan Castle’ from Plymouth 18.2.1918 invalided.
Disembarked Fremantle 8.4.1918.
Discharged 1.5.1918.
Final Rank Private, 49th Battalion. AIF.
Medical Condition Invalided. Gas poisoning and asthma/ bronchitis.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Wilkerson had 2 brothers in active service including Sidney (SN 2758a) KIA and James (SN2757)
Photo  Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire. Palmer and Ashworth (1922)  Facsimile Edition. Reproduced with permission of Hesperian Press. 2014 p. 231
           Sunday Times 1.8.1915 p1
           HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
           Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph source AWM P00035.001
           Pozieres village destroyed by shell fire 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00511

       
Information Source
Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire 1914-1918, Facsimile Edition Palmer and Ashworth (1922). Published by Hesperian Press.Victoria Park. WA. 2014
AWM Embarkation Roll Ernest Wilkerson
AWM H16157.HMAT 'Ascanius' Photographer Mitchel E.L. photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P00035.001. Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00511. Pozieres village destroyed by shell fire 1916.  Photographer unknown, photograph sourced form the Pictporial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Wilkerson E
Sunday Times
Toodyay Herald
Wikipedia 11th Battalion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Battalion_(Australia)
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA



Dangin

West Guildford, WA. (wife)

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