SWB to Gnr. J Wilkes AIF

[Tony]

The badge can be seen here http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=28063 Leigh, please merge the threads if you wish.

Isn't it fun, a simple Silver War Badge with a number that can tell so much.

19374 Gunner James Wilkes AIF was born in Birmingham, England and at 6'2? he was quite big for blokes back then. At some point in his life, this labourer migrated to Australia ? no worries back then about being on the Migration Occupations in Demand List or having to splash out for trade recognition in Canberra, police checks, visa, medicals and copies of documents signed by a lawyer.

James lived with his wife Edith Isabel Wilkes in Old Pittwater Road, Freshwater NSW and later 40 Mona St., Auburn Queensland.

He first served for 82 days on home service as a provost at Liverpool camp on the outskirts of Sydney before enlisting in the AIF on 10.01.16 in Marrickvale, Sydney.

James left Sydney for England on the Argyllshire on 11.05.16 with 7th Field Artillery Brigade, 3rd Division arriving in Devonport on 10.07.16 and then on to Codford (a camp for ANZACS as far as I know) probably for training. At the end of 1917 James left for France with 107 Howitzer Battery.

All went well till 11.07.17 when James was hit in the elbow by a piece of shrapnel near the Menin Rd. in Belgium and was sent to 2nd CCS, then to the Wimereux General Hospital before his evacuation to the Middlesex War Hospital in Middlesex, England. After that, he was sent to the 1st Australian Aux. Hospital in Harefield, Middx. (I lived in Harefield for a few years, the church has a number of AIF graves). After rehab., James went to Weymouth Camp where he was fined for overstaying his furlough 15. - 17.09.17, then camp Hurdcott before arriving at the Artillery Depot Heytesbury in January 1918.

He embarked once again for France and arrived at Rouelles Depot on 23.01.18 before rejoining his unit near Amiens. James' elbow was still playing up and after a couple of weeks he was sent to Camiers Military Hospital. James was then moved onto Le Havre where on 19.05.18 he was medically downgraded. Poor old James had to stay in Le Havre until leaving for England on 3.12.18, he embarked for Melbourne on the Takoola Christmas Eve 1918, arriving 11th Feb. 1919. Within 5 days he had been discharged as medically unfit.

Tony

[leigh kitchen]

Good stuff all you need now are his medals.....