Service Details
- Branch of Service
- Army
- Conflict
- World War I (1914-1918)
- Date of Enlistment
- 03/10/1916
- Date of Discharge
- 08/01/1920
- Place of Enlistment
- Sydney NSW
Personal Details
- Gender
- Male
- Date of Birth
- 19/02/1890
- Place of Birth
- Glebe NSW
- Address (at enlistment)
- The Rectory, Ainslie ACT
- Occupation
- Student for Holy Orders
- Next of Kin
- David Wilson (father), Randwick NSW
Unit and Rank Details
- Final Rank
- Lieutenant
- Final Unit
- 55 Battalion AIF
Notes
Cyril Wilson was appointed as a stipendiary lay reader at St. John the Baptist Church of England in February 1914, "filled with all the freshness and enthusiasm of youth", while studying as a Student for Holy Orders. Duirng 1915 and 1916 he ran monthly services at the Brickworks in Yarralumla and was still serving at St. John's when he enlisted. Wilson was appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1918 and arrived in London in October 1918 before joining the 55th Battalion in France in February 1919. He returned to England and studied at the Bible College at Oxford between April and October 1919 before returning to Australia where his appointment was terminated on 8 January 1920. He had married Marjorie Richmond a month after enlisting. After the war he served as deacon at Delegate on the southern Monaro until he was ordained in 1921. He then served in parishes in Cobargo, Taralga, Boorowa and Gunning and as a chaplain in World War 2. Returning to parish duties in 1946, Wilson was appointed to Temora and Bombala before being given a general licence in the diocese of Newcastle in 1959. He died on 26 July 1968 in Gosford NSW.
Description - height 5 feet 9 inches, weight 134 pounds, chest 33-36 inches, medium complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, Church of England, had a mole on his left leg and scars both sides of his neck.
Sources
Alfred Body, 'Firm Still You Stand', 1986
AWM First World War Unit Embarkation Rolls
Cable Clerical Index - www.anglicanhistory.org/aus/cci/
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)