Military History

Embarked Fremantle per SS ‘Suffolk’ A23 for UK 10.10.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 51st Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinf.
Wilson disembarked at Plymouth with the 51st Battalion 2.12.1916. After 4 weeks of training, he proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone 29.12.1916. He marched in to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot (ADBD) at Etaples 29.12.1916 and joined the 51st Battalion. Wilson’s SN changed to 2759A. He was hospitalized with mumps and admitted to the 25th Stationary Hospital at Rouen 8.1.1917. Wilson marched into the 4th ADBD at Etaples 8.2.1916 and rejoined his unit 27.2.1917. The 51st Battalion as part of the 4th Division assaulted the Hindenburg Line as part of the Battle of Bullecourt in April 1917. Wilson was KIA at Bullecourt 2.4.1917. His death was reported in newspapers (West Australian Newspaper 23.6.1917). He was buried in an isolated grave 5 ¾ miles NNE of Bapaume. The identity and body of this soldier was lost in concentrating remains from Noreuil-Longatte Road Cemetery into the HAC British Cemetery, Ecoust St. Mein. A collective Memorial Cross was erected for 13 Australian soldiers in this cemetery as their grave sites were unknown. The cemetery was located 5 miles NNE of Bapaume. Wilson is commemorated today at HAC Cemetery, Ecoust St Mein, Arras, Nord Pas de Calais, France
Final Rank Private, 51st Battalion, AIF.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Wilson’s Mother moved to Coleman St. Moonah, Tasmania. Obituary (Western Mail 29.6.1919)
‘Somewhere abroad a volley rings
A bugle sounds farewell.
A wooden cross, a passing flower
Marks where my dear son fell.
A hero asleep, Good bye dear brother
Until we meet again.
(Family Obituary West Australian Newspaper 23.6.1917)

Photo SLWA1364B/182, Merle Carr Wilson, reproduced with permission of SLWA
           SS 'Suffolk' in Suez Canal 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P00998.027
           HAC British Cemetery, Ecoust-St Mein. Photgraph AWGC

Information Source
AWGC. Photograph HAC British Cemetery Ecoust-St Mein. Photograph from the Australian War Graves Commission website http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/31200/H.A.C.%20CEMETERY,%20ECOUST-ST.%20MEIN
AWM P00998.027. SS 'Suffolk' in Suez Canal 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll- Merle Carr Wilson
AWM Roll of Honour- Merle Carr Wilson
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455 Wilson M C
SLWA 1364B/182 sourced from the collection of the State Library of Western Australia and reproduced with permission of the Library Board of Western Australia
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
St Matthew’s Fallen 
West Australian Newspaper
Western Mail
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

16 Bridge Street, South Guildford, WA.



 

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