Wilson, Horace
No.157 – Sergeant Horace Wilson MM – 16th Battalion AIF
Horace Patrick Wilson was born in Broken Hill NSW on the 1st March 1895 to Kenneth and Elizabeth Wilson. The family moved to Western Australia while Horace was still young but tragically his parents soon died. His siblings were split up and Horace was sent to Clontarf orphanage. After spending his formative years in the orphanage, Horace was able to leave and went to live with his elder sister, Mrs. K.T. Williams in Beaconsfield South Fremantle. While he was at the orphanage Horace had learnt farm work and he continued this career when he began work as an orchardist.
The Great War soon intervened on any future plans that Horace may have had for on the 8th September 1914 he went to the Francis Street Drill Hall in Perth to enlist in the AIF. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner stating that he was 5 feet 8 & ½ inches tall; weight of 124lbs; chest measurement of 33-36 inches; dark complexion; green eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.
Upon his successful enlistment Horace was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to “C” Company of the 16th Battalion AIF with the regimental no.157. The 16th Battalion trained in WA for the next month but in October they were transferred to Broadmeadows Camp in Melbourne to complete their training with the other Battalions of the 4th Brigade. On the 22nd December 1914 Horace left Melbourne with his unit aboard the HMAT Ceramic and set sail for Egypt.
Arriving in Egypt in early February 1915, they were disembarked at Suez and sent into camp to proceed with more training. Their eight company system was then changed to four companies with the result that Horace’s “C” Company became part of the new “B” Company. On the 12th April 1915 the 16th Battalion arrived in Alexandria where they boarded a ship which took them to Lemnos Island.
Horace had just over a week at Lemnos Island, most of which time was spent aboard the ship. On the 25th April the Anzac landing took place in the early hours on the Turkish coast at Gallipoli by the 1st Australian Division. The 16th Battalion, as part of the 4th Brigade were landed in the early evening between 5 & 6pm on the 25th April. They were immediately sent up to the ridge and what would be known as Pope’s Hill, named after the 16th Battalion commanding officer. Over the next two weeks the battalion was absolutely decimated as they fought the Turks for possession of the vital heights around Quinn’s Post and Popes Hill.
It was health issues that first struck Horace and not Turkish bullets. He had survived several actions after landing but on the 6th May he was sent to the 4th Field Ambulance with an abscess. After a few days of treatment Horace returned to his unit. For the next few months the 16th Battalion remained in the northern sector of the Anzac battlefield as the campaign became a stalemate. Plans were soon in place to break through the Turkish lines and part of the campaign involved advancing through the northern foothills to capture the vital heights of Hill 971. The 16th Battalion was one of the units tasked with this when the advance began on August 6th. Initially all went well, but the Turks soon put up a strong resistance and the advance was strongly resisted with the result that the advance stalled in the northern foothills. Horace survived the August actions but by October his health began to suffer and he was evacuated to Lemnos Island suffering from jaundice.
Horace spent several weeks in the hospitals on Lemnos and by late November was fit enough to return to Anzac. Though when he was at the forward base on Lemnos he got into trouble for being absent from a parade and was fined one day’s pay and confined to camp for the same amount of time. On the 7th December 1915 Horace returned to Anzac and rejoined the 16th Battalion in the northern sector of the battlefield. Winter was in full swing when he returned and snow covered the battlefield.
It was about the time of Horace’s return that rumours began to spread about the evacuation of Gallipoli. The rumours proved to be true and the units began to slowly withdraw their men with the bulk of men being evacuated over the final few days. Horace left Anzac at 5.20pm on the 19th December as part of “A” Company’s Echelon and the final men of his battalion withdrew several hours later in the early hours of the 20th December.
After the evacuation the men were assembled at Lemnos Island and were then returned to Egypt, reaching Alexandria on the 30th December 1915. For the next five months the 16th Battalion trained hard in the Egyptian desert as well as holding portions of the Suez Canal defence line. On the 26th May 1916 Horace was appointed Lance Corporal and shortly after their orders to depart soon came through. On the 1st June 1916 the 16th Battalion boarded the HMT Canada in Alexandria and set sail for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 9th June 1916.
After their arrival the men were then disembarked and marched through the city to the railway station where they boarded trains which took them to northern France. The 16th Battalion were initially billeted in the Armentieres region and they soon had their first experience of trench warfare on the Western Front at Fleurbaix. However they only had a few weeks there as in mid July 1916 they were relieved and sent south to the Somme battlefield where they would soon be in action.
On July 23rd 1916 the 1st Australian Division had captured Pozieres, and had been relieved in turn by the 2nd Division who furthered the gains already made. In early August the 4th Division came into the line and continued the advance towards Mouquet farm. Horace had been promoted Corporal before entering the Pozieres action. The German shellfire was horrendous and on the 10th August Horace was wounded by shell splinters to the face and eyes. He was evacuated to the 2nd Field Ambulance and then was sent to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. After more treatment Horace was put on an Ambulance train and was transferred to the 12th General Hospital at Rouen.
His wounds were assessed and the doctors marked him to be evacuated to England. On the 13th August he boarded a hospital ship and set sail across the Channel to England, where on arrival he was admitted to the 3rd London general Hospital in Wandsworth. Horace only spent five days here and was soon discharged as fit. On the 19th August he was sent to the AIF Depot camp where he remained until the 23rd September 1916.
The following day Horace arrived back in France and was sent into the 4th Australian Division Base Depot in Etaples. He spent just over a week here and rejoined the 16th Battalion near Ypres in Belgium on the 4th October 1916. Shortly after his return the 16th Battalion as part of the 4th Division were returned to the Somme battlefield near Flers and they would spent the French winter in this sector. On the 27th January 1917 Horace was promoted to Sergeant and in February served with his unit at the Stormy Trench action where Harry Murray of the 13th Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross.
It wasn’t long after this action that the Germans began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australians followed up the German withdrawal closely and several sharp actions were fought around the outpost villages. The 4th Division were then ordered to attack the German positions at Bullecourt in the Hindenburg Line. Despite the bravery of the men attacking the German line the attack was not a success and the 16th Battalion paid a heavy price with only a few men returning to their own lines. Horace was one of the fortunate soldiers to survive this action.
In May 1917 the 4th Division were sent to Ploegsteert in southern Belgium and on June 7th took part in the Messines offensive. This assault was a success and for the next few months the 16th Battalion remained in this sector. In September the 16th Battalion was moved to the Ypres front to take part in the current offensive. Horace survived his unit’s actions at the Battle of Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde Ridge and Zonnebeke. His bravery came under notice and he was recommended for distinction. The official recommendation reads;
“Is brought under notice for splendid behaviour and gallantry during the operations near Zonnebeke on the 26th September 1917. At an early stage in the attack on the Rec Line his platoon commander became a casualty. He took command of the platoon at once and with splendid gallantry and fine initiative, led it forward. On reaching his objective he got his men under cover as quickly as possible, and whilst they were digging, he, by his cool and cheerful example, inspired confidence in them. Whilst the task of consolidating was in progress, he was wounded but he refused to go back to a Dressing Station and remained in the front line until the Battalion was relieved. He was instrumental in securing a number of prisoners and displayed great courage in attending to a number of wounded under heavy artillery fire. He is strongly recommended for high distinction.”
As a result of the recommendation Horace was awarded the Military Medal.
Horace served with his unit in the Passchendaele region until the 15th November 1917 when he was evacuated with influenza. He was sent to the 21st General Hospital in Etaples and spent the rest of the year in various convalescent camps. On the 19th January 1918 he was transferred to the Australian Infantry Base Depot. He spent a few weeks there and on the 9th February 1918 he rejoined the 16th Battalion near Messines.
On the 15th February 1918 Horace was granted three weeks leave to the UK, returning on the 6th March. Just 15 days after his return the Germans launched their Spring Offensive which broke through the Third & Fifth British Armies. They were making a speedy advance towards the vital city of Amiens and so the 3rd & 4th Australian divisions were sent south to the Somme to stop the German advance. On the way there the 16th Battalion as part of the 4th Brigade were detached for duty at Hebuterne. Together with the New Zealanders the 16th battalion helped stop the German advance in this sector and they were retained in this sector until the end of April 1918.
They then rejoined the rest of the 4th Division on the Somme and the 16th Battalion arrived in the Corbie sector where they would stay for the next two months. The German advance in this sector had been halted and the Australians began to raid the German lines and retake several positions and generally cause havoc amongst the Germans. The 16th Battalion would soon be tasked with a vital role during the Battle of Hamel which was due to begin on July 4th 1918. However Horace would not take part in this action for on the 25th June 1918 he was badly wounded when shrapnel struck him in his thigh. He was evacuated to the 4th Field Ambulance but he died of wounds the following day. Sgt Horace Wilson MM was buried at St Pierre Cemetery Amiens France in plot XIII.E.2.