The AIF Project

Howard Rupert WILSON

Regimental number211
Place of birthMount Gambier, South Australia
SchoolMount Gambier Public School, South Australia
ReligionMethodist
OccupationMechanic
AddressLakeside, Mount Gambier, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 8.75"
Weight156 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Martha Wilson, Lakeside, Mount Gambier, South Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 6 months in the Volunteer Infantry, Mt Gambier; resigned.
Enlistment date22 July 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner, Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
121
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Howard L.D. and Martha WILSON
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.

Admitted to 8th Field Ambulance, 29 May 1916 (deafness); discharged to unit, 30 May 1915; rejoined unit, 5 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Reported missing in action, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'killed in action, 20 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2981007, 296 T. THAWSON, 32nd Bn, 7 December 1916: 'When we were retiring from an unsuccessful attack, I saw him dead in a shell hole'.

Second statement, 180 Pte H. SIGGINS, 32nd Bn: 'He was of A Company, III Platoon. At Fleurbaix on 20th July 1916 during our attack was killed outright. Shot through head. This happened just as wehad gone over and had got about 30 yards. I was alongside him when he fell. His body would be left on the field. Came from Mount Gambier'.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, WILSON Howard Rupert
Red Cross file 2981007

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