Pte
Henry Thomas Wilkie
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1891 |
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Place of birth: St. Peters, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Wood Machinist |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 4278 |
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Enlistment date: 20/09/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Holsworthy, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 21/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 26 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XXIV Row: D Grave: 10 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Henry Thomas Wilkie served as a Lewis gunner in “D” Company of the Australian Infantry 2nd Battalion, part of the 1st Australian Brigade, of the 1st Australian Division. The Division participated in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge (20 September - 25 September 1917), a stage in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack of the Division was carried by the 2nd and 3rd Australian Brigades.
On the 20th of September 1917 the 1st Australian Division attacked through Glencorse Wood and the Nonne Bosschen. It captured all its objectives and consolidated a line in Polygon Wood, just west of the former Racecourse. In the meanwhile 2nd Battalion took up positions in the Nonne Bosschen.
During the following night the 2nd Battalion relieved the 9th and 10th Battalions in Polygon Wood. “D” Company took up positions in the new frontline. The Battalion’s Headquarter was located near Glencorse Wood. Just when the relief commenced the alert German artillery started shelling the Polygon Wood area, heavily interfering the relief.
Private Henry Thomas Wilkie killed in action on the 21st of September 1917. The 26-year old possibly fell, due to German shelling on the new frontline in Polygon Wood. His remains were exhumed after the war and were interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.
On the 20th of September 1917 the 1st Australian Division attacked through Glencorse Wood and the Nonne Bosschen. It captured all its objectives and consolidated a line in Polygon Wood, just west of the former Racecourse. In the meanwhile 2nd Battalion took up positions in the Nonne Bosschen.
During the following night the 2nd Battalion relieved the 9th and 10th Battalions in Polygon Wood. “D” Company took up positions in the new frontline. The Battalion’s Headquarter was located near Glencorse Wood. Just when the relief commenced the alert German artillery started shelling the Polygon Wood area, heavily interfering the relief.
Private Henry Thomas Wilkie killed in action on the 21st of September 1917. The 26-year old possibly fell, due to German shelling on the new frontline in Polygon Wood. His remains were exhumed after the war and were interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.
Sources 7
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"Nulli Secundus: A History of the Second Battalion, A.IF. 1914-1919", Taylor F.W. and Cusack T.A. (eds.), Swanbourne, John Burridge Military Antiques, 1992, pg. 259. Sources used |
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"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 80-81. Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10269619 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480499/wilkie,-henry/ Sources used |
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National Archives of Australia http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Australian Infantry 2nd Bn. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |