Sapper Rupert Gilchrist Whicker

SAPPER RUPERT GILCHRIST WHICKER

8087 – 1st Tunnelling Company

Liverpool, Lancashire, England was the birthplace of Rupert Gilchrist Whicker on February 6, 1873. In 1881 the eight year old scholar was residing with his Aunt, Fanny Edwards at West Hill House in Hampshire, England. He left London at fourteen years on the ship Aberdeen and was probably brought to Australia to work arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on November 14, 1887.

He married Ellen Wara at Ballarat, Vic on June 20, 1896 and in 1909 they were living at Diamond Creek, Vic. While there in 1914 the following appeared in the newspaper:

In 1916 he was working for an English Company at Wolfram, North Queensland.

Having previously been rejected due to under the height restrictions he applied to enlist for service abroad on August 21, 1917 at the recruiting depot in Townsville, N.Q. The forty-four year old passed the preliminary medical examination and personal particulars taken show he stood 156cms (5ft 1½ins) tall with an 87cms (34ins) chest. Address was given as Peoples Palace, Sturt Street, Townsville. A further medical examination declared him fit for service and the recruiting officer accepted the application.

Attestation forms were completed and further information shows he weighed 48.6kgs (107lbs) with a fair complexion, hazel eyes testing to good vision and auburn hair. Distinctive marks were a birthmark on the side of his left foot and two scars on his left cheek between the eye and bone. Church of England was his religious faith. He was married with four children and next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Ellen Whicker of 5 Maroona Road, Glen Huntley, Vic and later of Diamond Creek, Vic. He allotted three-fifths of his pay to support his wife and one dependant child Sydney Ernest Whicker born in December, 1908. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance.’

Basic training for Private Whicker commenced at Enoggera Camp Brisbane from September 1, 1917 until September 10.

The following misdemeanour was dealt with while in camp on September 15, 1917:

Rifle Range camp Neglecting to obey standing order in that he did commit

a nuisance at the latrines.

Award: 48 hours C.B. [confined to barracks]

He was transferred out of the State to the 3rd Military district and into the No. 1 Depot Coy until October 15, 1917. At Broadmeadows 1st (Depot) Battalion, Vic he continued training which concluded on November 5, 1917 and was transferred to the Miners’ training camp at Seymour, Vic. He was assigned to the June Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Company in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 8087. In preparing for departure it was noted that his Will was lodged with Equity and Trustees Agency Co., 85 Queen Street, Melbourne, Vic. Final Home Leave had been taken.

130 Reinforcements departed Melbourne, Victoria at noon on November 26, 1917 aboard the SS Indarra. On November 30 at 10.15 p.m. the ship arrived at Albany, W.A. and departed at 2.10 p.m. on December 1, 1917. Colombo, Ceylon was reached by December 13 at 10.30 a.m. and departed two days later at 8.30 a.m. on December 15. Christmas Day was specially provided for by the ship and religious services were held on board. The troops disembarked at the Suez at 7 a.m. December 27, 1917. Amusements such as sports and cricket between various troop decks took place with some competitive teams made up of officers. Occasionally a religious service was held during the week. Weather was excellent and warm in the tropics.

The troops were transhipped to HMT Kashgar on January 9, 1918 and arrived at Taranto, Italy on January 20, 1918. They were entrained at Bordighira, Italy about January 27 arriving at Cherbourg, France on January 31, 1918 where they boarded H.M.T. Mona’s Queen and disembarked at Southampton on February 2, 1918. The men were entrained to Parkhouse camp and marched into No. 3 Details camp the same day for further training for the front. They had gone from the tropic summer into the Northern winter.

On April 2, 1918 they departed Southampton for France and marched into the Aust General Base Depot at Rouelles. Eleven days later he went to the Aust Corps Depot at Caestre and left to join the 1st Tunnelling Company in the field on April 15 and taken on strength the following day.

He was taken sick to hospital on August 11, 1918 and was transferred with Gastritis to the 12th Aust Field Ambulance on August 23, 1918 then moved to the 41st Casualty Clearing Station. Conveyed on A.T.17 the next day was admitted to the 3rd General Hospital diagnosed with Inflammation of Stomach. Transported to the hospital ship Archangel by Aust Train he departed for England on August 27. He entered the Bath War Hospital and on admission was weak and emaciated. A medical report stated he had pain in abdomen after food but no vomiting. He had occasional pain until September 13 when he was attacked with acute pain on left side. His abdomen was opened when a malignant growth with perforation through it from stomach ? incision. Stomach contents exiting.

Advice was sent to his wife from Base Records on September 13, 1918 stating that her husband had been admitted to hospital and where to write to him.

Sapper Whicker died at 3.10 a.m. the following morning on September 14, 1918 cause of death was a result of malignant disease of stomach perforation, at the Bath War Hospital (Central). He was forty-five years of age.

His sister Mrs Thomas of 66 Lees Street, Moss Side, Manchester had been notified arrived after his death and his son 2577 Air/Mechanic Whicker of No. 5 Squadron, R.A.F. Minchinhampton had also been advised and told the news on his arrival.

On September 17, 1918 he was accorded a military funeral and interred in the Locksbrooke Cemetery, Bath in a single grave no. 64 of consecrated ground. The Undertakers were H.C.G. Lye of 78 Holloway Street and his elm coffin with brass fittings was draped with the Union Jack and surmounted by beautiful flowers sent by relatives. Firing party and bugler were in attendance and the service was conducted by Rev. J.D. Pring, C.F. with pallbearers and the “Last Post” sounded. Administration Headquarters, London were represented. His grave was to be turfed and an oak cross supplied by the A.I.F. London.

Official advice was sent to his widow on September 19, 1918 that her husband had died of illness. A copy was made for Pensions on September 28 and his Will was forwarded on October 15, 1918.

An Official Death Certificate was dated January 7, 1919 confirming the cable sent on September 16, 1918 and the confirmation by mail from A.I.F. Headquarters on September 22.

A letter describing his Funeral and burial place went out on December 20, 1918.

Probate was granted on March 25, 1919 in Melbourne, Vic.

The Australian Kit Store forwarded his personal effects back to Australia on the transport Somerset which were signed for on May 22, 1919 by his executors the Equity Trustees Executors and Agency Co. Ltd.

Photographs in triplicate were forwarded on October 11, 1919 and a booklet and circular were also posted on December 12, 1919.

For his sacrifice for his country Sapper 8087 Rupert Gilchrist Whicker, 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (59280) and the Victory Medal (58240).

Mrs Whicker received the War Medal in August, 1921 and the Victory Medal in June, 1923. The Memorial Scroll (351343) was dispatched to her on July 6, 1921 and the Memorial Plaque (351343) o November 21, 1922.

A copy of The Bath Herald newspaper dated April 26, 1924 was forwarded to Base Records to be passed on to Mrs Whicker. Further copies in following years up to 1930 were sent to her each year. Mrs Crowle of 2 Johnstone Street, Bath, England again forwarded a copy of the Bath and Wiltshire Chronicle and Herald which featured the Anzac Day Commemoration Service at the Locksbrooke Cemetery in 1935 and also the next year with the Pilgrimage and Service featuring in the newspaper. Copies to 1940 were also posted to his widow.

His son also served

2nd LIEUTENANT BERTIE WALTER WHICKER

2577 – AUST FLYING SCHOOL

Bertie Walter Whicker was born at Diamond River, Vic on May 17, 1897. He became a mechanic.

At the Town Hall Recruiting Depot, Melbourne, Vic on October 13, 1917 aged twenty years applied to enlist and passed the medical examination. While his father was in training camp he and his wife consented for their son to enlist for active service abroad. Forms of Attestation were completed that day and reveal he was 166cms (5ft 5½ins) tall, weighed 65.9kgs (145lbs) with a chest measurement of 84-92cms (33-36ins). Complexion was fresh with blue eyes and brown hair. Religion was Church of England. Distinctive marks were four vaccination scars on his left arm and a scar on his right forearm. He was sworn in the same day.

Basic training commenced as a 2nd Class Air Mechanic on October 22, 1917 with the Aust Flying Corps at Laverton, Vic. On November 23 he was transferred to the A.F.C. Special Draft No. 1 and three days later embarked on the same ship as his father. Indarra’s voyage was the same except when they departed Cherbourg for Southampton, he sailed on Prince George and went to the A.F.C. Depot in Wendover.

On June 10, 1918 he was taken on strength at Minchinhampton with the 5th Training Squadron. He was struck off strength on November 2, 1918 and went to the No. 2 School of Aeronautics at Oxford and joined in training as a Flying Officer (Pilot) with the No. 2 Squadron and an approved Cadet. He was there when Peace was declared and on November 29 the 2nd Air Mechanic Cadet marched out to the 1st Aust. Wing, Tetbury in Wendover.

He was taken sick to Montdore Hospital in Bournemouth on Christmas Day, 1918 and returned on January 15, 1919.

He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on probation on April 1, 1919 but two days later was admitted to Flying Corps Hospital, Tetbury with a fractured left radius in his forearm. Discharged on April 19 returned to 1st Wing Headquarters and then to the N.E.O. pool and to the 8th Training Squadron A.F.C. Leighton.

On May 1, 1919 he embarked on the H.T. Karagola for the voyage to Australia. He arrived on June 12, 1919 in Melbourne, Vic.

His Statement on return lists the following:

No sickness. Taken to hospital with broken forearm three months ago.

Also December 1918. Synovitis of left knee November, 1918.

His present condition and progress on August 4, 1919 was knee normal and grasp of left forearm weakened and on that date his Appointment was terminated.

His Will was returned to 3rd Military District on October 31, 1919.

On July 7, 1920 he was appointed to R of O 3rd Military District as 2nd Lieutenant.

Tragic news of his death were reported in The Argus on Thursday April 7, 1921:

Funeral notices were published the following day:

The same day acknowledgement of his brothers’ loss was reported in the Sporting section:

His Funeral and comments on the tragedy were reported:

The following are In Memoriam Notices placed by Mrs Whicker for many years to come:

LEST WE FORGET