South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 33149 Albert WILKS - 5th Battalion, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

Killed in action on Thursday 4th April 1918 aged 35

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders British War & Victory Medals Pozieres Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Jan 1917 ~ Stratford on Avon WW1 Memorial
    Stratford Holy Trinity Church 
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted Stratford Cemetery Memorial 
German Spring Offensive December 1916 in Stratford on Avon  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Hamel  Pte 19528 Royal Warwickshire Regt  
     

Circumstances of Death

Albert is listed as being killed in action on 4th April 1918. The 5th Battalion war diary entries for the period 3rd to 5th April 1918 are transcribed below.

Bois de Blangy - 03.04.1918: Remain in wood till afternoon, when we march to Hamelet. Battalion rests here for 3 hours. Move out at 8 p.m. and relieve cavalry holding line just east of Hamel. All four com­panies in front line.
 
Hamel - 04.04.1918: Heavy bombardment opens at 5.25 a.m.
About 8 a.m. Germans attack, employing at least four waves of troops. Both flanks go; Battalion forced to evacuate position. Line taken up south of Vaire.
Casualties : Killed 2nd Lieut. E. N. N. Sellman,
Wounded: Lieut. C. R. Charsley, 2nd Lieuts. Cliff, Borman, Horncastle, S. Clark, R. N. Addington
Wounded and Missing: Major A. M. Labouchere (died while a prisoner, on the 20th April.—ed.)
Missing: Lieut. L. V. D. Owen,
Other ranks killed, wounded, and missing, about 160.
 
Vaire - 05.05.1918: Relieved at 1 a.m. by Australians. March back to Aubigny; rest for half-hour for rum and coffee; then march out and man rear defence line near canal. Captain Symonds in command.
 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1883 in Bilston, Staffs  
   
Parents Names Abode
Henry and Abigail Wilks Bilston
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Annie Elizabeth Wilks nee Bambrook Lily born 26 Sep 1907
Dec Qtr 1906 in Wolverhampton Florence born 24 Oct 1909                               
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1883 - Bilston 1891 - Scholar
1891 - 6 Back House, Bilston 1901 - Furnishers Carter
1901 - 20 House Row, Bilston 1911 - Oil Company Carter
1911 - 12 New Street, Leamington Spa 1914 - Drayman
1918 - 6 Mulberry Street, Stratford on Avon  

 

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