Tag Archives: Springwood recruits

Jack Graham WIGGINS

Pte. J. Wiggins (Sunday Times, 8/10/1916, p. 9)

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4918), Jack Graham Wiggins was born at Springwood, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 21 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination form was height 5 feet 10 inches tall, weight 9 stone 7 lbs., with a dark complexion, dark grey eyes, and dark hair.  His religious denomination was Church of England.  He claimed that he had no previous military service.

His “Joined on” date on his Attestation Paper was recorded as 9^th November 1915, the day the Coo-ees marched from Springwood to Penrith.

He completed his medical examination at Springwood on 9^th November 1915, but was not attested until 11^th November 1915 at Ashfield (when the Coo-ees were at Ashfield).

After completing the Co-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.

On 4^th January 1916 Private Wiggins was charged with being absent without leave for 7 days. He was fined.

On 21^st February 1916 he was charged with being absent from Parade on 19^th  February 1916. He was fined.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Sassafras Road, Springwood, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his father, E. Wiggins, at the same address.[2]

On 8^th March 1916 Private Wiggins, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England.  He arrived in Egypt on 11^th April 1916.

On 19^th April 1916 he was transferred to the 45^th Battalion in Egypt.

On 2^nd June 1916 Private Wiggins left Alexandria aboard the transport Kinfauns Castle bound for France.  He arrived at Marseilles on 8^th June 1916.

Private Wiggins served with the 45^th Battalion through its first action at Fleurbaix, France, in July 1916, then as it moved to Pozieres in early August 1916.

From the 5^th August 1916 until the 8^th August 1916 the 45^th Battalion was holding front line trenches between Pozieres and Martinpuich, France, until they were relieved, and moved back into support trenches.[3] On 8^th August 1916 Private Wiggins was wounded in action, with a gunshot wound to his face.  He was evacuated to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on 9^th August 1916. On 10^th August 1916 he was admitted to the 2^nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux, France.

On 14^th August 1916 Private Wiggins was sent by Hospital Ship from Le Havre to England, where he was admitted to the Northampton War Hospital.

On 6^th October 1916 he reported back from leave to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, England.  He then marched in to the 12^th Training Battalion camp at Codford.

On 14^th October 1916 Private Wiggins departed England for France.

On 5^th October 1916 Private Wiggins marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, France.

On 29^th October 1916 he re-joined the 45^th Battalion when it was training at Brucamps, France.

On 5^th December 1916 the 45^th Battalion was training at Dernacourt, France.[4] On this day Private Wiggins was charged with being absent from parade (fatigue work). He was awarded 168 hours Field Punishment No. 2.

On 23^rd December 1916 the 45^th Battalion was training at Flesselles, France.[5]  Private Wiggins was charged with being absent without leave from Parade at Dernacourt on 11^th December 1916. He was fined 7 days pay.

On 29^th December 1916 Private Wiggins was sent to hospital.  On 1^st January 1917 the 45^th Battalion was still training at Flesselles, France, when Private Wiggins was evacuated to the 8^th Australian Field Ambulance with Trench Feet. He re-joined the 45^th Battalion on 15^th January 1917 when it was manning the front line in the vicinity of Guedecourt, France.

On 12^th November 1917 the 45^th Battalion was training at Erny St Julien, France.[6] On this day Private Wiggins was charged in a Field General Court Martial with while on active service, deserting his Majesty’s Service. Private Wiggins pleaded not guilty. He was found not guilty of desertion, but guilty of being absent without leave from 10 am on 19^th October 1917 to 4 pm on 20^th October 1917. The 45^th Battalion had been in the front line around Ypres, Belgium, at the time.[7] He was awarded 90 days Field Punishment No. 2 and fined 49 days pay. 65 days of the Field Punishment was later remitted.

On 28^th March 1918 the 45^th Battalion was in support and front line trenches in the vicinity of Dernacourt, France, during the First Battle of Dernacourt, when Private Wiggins was wounded in action for the second time, receiving a shrapnel wound to his left thigh.[8]  He was admitted to the 13^th Australian Field Ambulance. The next day he was moved back to the 56^th Casualty Clearing Station, then admitted  to the 20^th General Hospital at Camiers, France.

On 1^st April 1918 Private Wiggins was placed aboard the Hospital Ship Ville De Liege for evacuation to England. Upon arrival he was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital at Norwich, England.

On 9^th May 1918 Private Wiggins was discharged from hospital, and granted leave to report to the No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, England, on 23^rd May 1918.

On 16^th June 1918 Private Wiggins was admitted to the Sutton Veny Military Hospital suffering Influenza. He was discharged on 24^th June 1918.

On 6^th July 1918 Private Wiggins was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, England. On 3^rd August 1918 Private Wiggins departed Folkestone, England, bound for France. On 5^th August 1918 he marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Harve, France.

On 11^th August 1918 Private Wiggins re-joined the 45^th Battalion when it was resting in the vicinity of Sailly-Laurette, France.[9]

On 20^th January 1919 the 45^th Battalion was at Hastiere, Belgium, when Private Wiggins was charged with using insolent language Towards an NCO. He was awarded 14 days Field Punishment No. 2 and fined 14 days pay.

On 30^th January 1919 Private Wiggins was one of a party of 50 men from the 45^th Battalion sent to the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Harve, France, to commence the journey to Australia for demobilisation.

On 10^th February 1918 Private Wiggins departed Le Harve for England, arriving at Weymouth on 11^th February 1919, where he marched into the 3^rd Training Brigade.

On 31^st March 1919 Private Wiggins was declared an Illegal Absentee, having been absent without leave from 3^rd March 1919.

On3^rd July 1919 a court martial was held where Private Wiggins was charged with being absent without leave from 0001 3^rd March 1919 till reporting back at 1700 on 11^th June 1919. He was found guilty and sentenced to 4 months detention. On 28^th July 1919 Private Wiggins was admitted to the Lewes Detention Barracks, England.

On 21^st August 1919 Private Wiggins was discharged from the Lewes Detention Barracks, with the remainder of his sentence remitted.

On 22^nd August 1919 Private Wiggins departed England bound for Australia aboard the HMAT  Anchises.

He arrived in Sydney on 13^th October 1919, and was discharged the same day Services No Longer Required.

A welcome home concert was held for ‘J. Wiggins’ and several other local soldiers at Springwood on  27^th December 1919.[10]

[1] NAA: B2455, WIGGINS JACK GRAHAM

[2] Australian War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Roll, Jack Graham Wiggins, 4918.

[3] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War – AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45^th Infantry Battalion, August 1916.

[4] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War – AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45^th Infantry Battalion, December 1916.

[5] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War – AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45^th Infantry Battalion, December 1916.

[6] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War – AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45^th Infantry Battalion, November 1917.

[7] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War – AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45^th Infantry Battalion, October 1917.

[8] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War – AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45^th Infantry Battalion, March 1918.

[9] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War – AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45^th Infantry Battalion, August 1918.

[10] SPRINGWOOD. (1919, December 26). The Blue Mountain Echo (NSW : 1909 – 1928), p. 7. Retrieved January 26, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108249963