WICKS, Albert Henry

  1. Service Details
  2. Personal Details
  3. Unit and Rank Details
  4. Notes
  5. Sources

Service Details

Branch of Service
Army
Conflict
World War I (1914-1918)
Date of Enlistment
07/09/1914
Date of Discharge
19/05/1920
Place of Enlistment
Melbourne, Victoria

Personal Details

Gender
Male
Date of Birth
29/01/1877
Place of Birth
Croydon, London UK
Address (at enlistment)
Home Affairs Camp, Duntroon ACT
Occupation
Labourer
Next of Kin
Elizabeth Jane Wicks (wife), Chisel Beach, England

Unit and Rank Details

Service Number
63
Final Rank
AIF Admin Headquarters
Final Unit
Private

Notes

Wicks was living at the Home Affairs camp near Duntroon when he enlisted on 7 September 1914 in Melbourne as a "servant to General Bridges". He was born in Croydon, a suburb of London, England in 1877 and had served with the British Army in India and spent 16 years with the Imperial Reserve. Married with a son born in London in 1909, Wicks served on Gallipoli as Bridges' batman but was evacuated in June 1915 with influenza, diarrhoea and enteric fever. He was transferred to 2nd Anzac HQ in February 1916 before arriving in France in March and then served with 1st Anzac HQ as batman to Cyril Brudenell White, the chief of staff of Sir William Birdwood the Commanding Officer of the AIF. Wicks transferred to AIF Admin HQ in London in February 1918 and was promoted to Corporal. In May 1918 he was placed in charge of the trophy room at Australian War Records Section at Millwall Dock in London and lived in Harlesden with his wife and son. Wicks was granted 75 days leave in December 1918 in lieu of returning to Australia but was court martialled in February 1919 accused of stealing a German rifle. He claimed that he borrowed the rifle to show off to his son's friends. He was found guilty and sentenced to six months detention and reduced to the ranks, however, the detention period was remitted. Wicks returned to Australia in April 1920 with his family and was discharged on 19 May 1920.

After the war he worked as a warder at Pentridge Gaol in Melbourne but separated from his wife. He retired to Horsham in western Victoria to live with friends and died there Horsham on 28 January 1954 aged 78 years. Wicks was buried in the local cemetery.

The AWM photos describe Wicks as the batman to General Bridges. One shows him standing outside Bridges' tent at Mena Camp, Egypt and in another Wicks is riding a camel at Mena. Photo 'G00933' shows Wicks at Bridges' headquarters on Gallipoli on 3 May during lunch. The position is described as being "exposed to shrapnel fire and Major Gellibrand was wounded there."

Description - height 5 feet 10¾ inches, weight 161 pounds, chest 39-41 inches, fair complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, Church of England.

Sources

NAA RecordSearch (A207) G1915/2180 Stealing old iron etc at Duntroon
NAA RecordSearch (A471) 20529 - Number - 63 : Unit - Administrative Headquarters, Australian Imperial Force : Date of Court Martial - 30 January 1919
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)
AWM Collections Records : G00933, J02151, J02168
The Horsham Times - 3 February 1954

Create Certificate
Albert Wicks (third from left with sleeves rolled up), Gallipoli, 3 May 1915. AWM image G00933.

Albert Wicks (third from left with sleeves rolled up), Gallipoli, 3 May 1915. AWM image G00933.

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