NEVER COMING HOME
William Wahlers Wilson - 32nd Battalion

The ticking clock seemed louder as Ada stood in the hall outside the lounge room, her forehead pressed against the cool wall, her eyes closed.

On the other side she could hear the sounds of her children, their children. She imagined him standing there, her hand instinctively reaching for him, her fingers closing on nothing.

“Why?” she wondered. “Oh God why?”

Standing up straight, she ran a hand through her hair. It was time. She had to tell them their father wasn't coming home.

With the outbreak of war, William Wahlers Wilson was obviously keen to do his part, despite his age and the fact that he was married with six children; Eileen, Lydia, Reginald, Thelma, Iris and Audrey. Currently finding employment as a furnace man, the 6ft 2in, 190lb Wilson joined the Australian Imperial Force in South Australia on 2nd October 1915 .

Assigned to the 32nd Battalion, he embarked for the Middle East in early 1916 on board the transport ship Miltiades after having spent some time at camp in Mitcham. Following a brief period in the desert, Wilson and the rest of the 32nd Battalion departed for France on the transport ship Transylvania , arriving in late June 1916 before moving by train to their billets at Estaires.

On 19th July 1916 , Wilson took part in the allied attack on Fromelles, where he was reported as missing on 20th July; a later enquiry pronounced him killed in action. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated at VC Corner memorial in Fromelles.

In the Adelaide Advertiser on 15th September 1917 , the following obituaries were printed:

Killed in action (previously reported missing) No 2144, Private WW Wilson, the dearly-beloved son of Mr and Mrs W Wilson, Victoria Street, Prospect, aged 32 years. “He was a man of action, not words.” – Inserted by his parents.

Wilson, W.W. Private, No 2144. A Company, 32nd Battalion. Killed in action in France (previously reported missing), aged 32 years. All that he had he gave, All that was his to give, Freely surrendered all; That we in peace might live. – Ever remembered by his sister and brother-in-law Clara and Travis De Laine, Prospect.

Wilson – Killed in France on 20th July, 1916 . Previously reported missing. No 2144, Private William Wahlers Wilson. A Company. 32nd Battalion, beloved husband of Ada May Wilson, 6 Pulsford Road , Prospect, aged 32 years. Fighting for King and country, he like a hero fell. – Inserted by his loving wife and children.

Research notes:

1) Ada Wilson had remarried by 1922, becoming Mrs Jackson.

2) Two of William Wilson's children (Reginald and Eileen) may have been from an earlier marriage of his wife, Ada . Reginald's name is recorded as ‘Reginald William Gold Wilson' and Eileen is described on a gratuity form as ‘Eileen Doris May Gold, child (ex-nuptial)'.

3) 1916 was a tough year for Ada , later in the year she also lost her oldest daughter, Eileen.

Photos:

1) William Wahlers Wilson studio photo AWM photo

2) Comfort funds bag owned by William Wilson.

3) William Wilson's panel on the VC Memorial, photo by Robert Pike.

 

I would like to thank Graeme Hosken of FFFAIF for his help with this report.