Richard Gilbert Clarence WRIGLEY
Per his military service record (regimental no. N214093), Richard Gilbert Clarence Wrigley was born in Gilgandra, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 22 years and 3 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as horse breaking. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination form was 5 feet 7 inches tall, weight 10 stone, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair. His religious denomination was recorded as being Anglican. He claimed to have 18 months previous military service with the Gilgandra 9th Light Horse Regiment.
His next of kin was recorded on his Australian Imperial Force Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad form as his father, Mr T. J. Wrigley, Post Office, Gilgandra.
“Dick” Wrigley was reported to having mounted the platform following an appeal for recruits at another soldier’s farewell in Gilgandra on 21st October 1915, and the Gilgandra Weekly reported that ‘“Dick” will pick up the “Coo-ees” at Wallerawang’.[2]
He completed his medical examination at Gilgandra on 26th October 1915 (16 days after the start of the Coo-ee March).
Along with Tyson Ryan, also from Gilgandra, he caught up with the Coo-ees, and was attested by Captain A. C. Eade at Lawson on 7th November 1915 (the day the Coo-ees rested at Lawson).
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment.
Trooper Wrigley was apprehended by the civil police on24th December 1915 for being drunk and absent without leave for four days. On 30th December 1915 he was charged with being absent without leave for two days on 29th and 30th December. He was fined £1 and forfeited 2 days pay.
Private “Dick” Wrigley and Corporal “Bill” Hitchen were given a send-off at the Australian Hall in Gilgandra on Monday 20th March 1916.[3]
On the 4th May 1916 Trooper Wrigley was posted as a deserter from Menangle Park. On 19th May 1916 a warrant was issued for his arrest.
The warrant was withdrawn on 30th January 1919.
[1] NAA: B2455, WRIGLEY R G C
[2] ‘Another for the Front’, Gilgandra Weekly, 29 October 1915, p. 12. Retrieved December 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119923921
[3] ‘Good-bye!’, Gilgandra Weekly, 24 March 1916, p. 25. Retrieved December 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119923643
1915 Coo-ee March 