John Valentine Wilson

JOHN VALENTINE WILSON (1891-1915)

John Wilson was a 23 year old farmer from Yarra Glen. He enlisted 17 August 1914. He joined the 7th Platoon, “B” Company, 8th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division of the AIF. His service number was 836. He embarked at Melbourne on 19 October 1914 aboard the HMAT A24 “Benalla” and disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt, on 6 December 1914. On 5 April 1915 he boarded the “McGillivray” at Alexandria to join the Expeditionary forces at Lemnos Island prior to the landings on Gallipoli. On 25 April 1915 the Australians landed at Gallipoli with the 8th Battalion coming ashore as part of the second wave.

Another member of the 8th Battalion, John Gibson Pitt, kept a diary of the Campaign. This is how he described the landings on Sunday 25 April. “Reville 3 am. 7 transports here now and the number eventually increased considerably. Shrapnel and rifle fire all around the boats. 7.15 am Embarked in destroyer. Boats were lashed to the side of the destroyer so that their bottoms just skimmed the water and the men were able to get in them whilst she was going. She slowed down and the boats were released from her side. The 3rd Brigade were cover party and landed first. We formed up in platoons on the beach and forced our way through thick and prickly scrub. When we got to the first ridge inland, we were ordered by Lieut. Col. Gartside to strengthen the line already established there and dig in as he considered that our fellows out in front would have to retire there before night, as they had met with considerable forces of the enemy and were loosing heavily”. By the following day 75% of the 8th Battalion’s officers were out of action with 60% dead.

Ten days after the landing the Second Brigade (including the 8th Battalion) were transferred from Anzac Cove to Cape Hellas to help in the attack on the village of Krithia. On 8 May the Australian 2nd Brigade advanced along Fir Tree Spur between the right flank of the New Zealand Brigade and the edge of Krithia Nullah, and had to travel up to 800 yards from their reserve position just to reach the start line at “Tommy’s Trench”. The Brigade managed to advance a further 500 yards beyond the start line, suffering 50% casualties in the process. The Second Battle of Krithia was a dismal failure.

On 17 May the 2nd Brigade returned to Anzac Cove to help secure the beach head. By the beginning of June the 8th Battalion were at Anzac Cove refitting. Since the landing they had lost 73 killed, 284 wounded and 73 missing. On 3 June 1915 John Valentine Wilson was killed in action. There are no details other than a report that his body was found by Captain Goodfellow and Major Waterhouse and buried.