Extract From the Diary of Pte James Wilkie

Regular contributor to the 31st Battalion Association Website, Mick James, in association with member Peter Nelson have posted the story of WW1 31st Battalion member Pte James Wilkie:

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At the Fromelles Commemoration in Ipswich last year a Descendant of Pte James Wilkie gave us a copy of his Diary extract from July17th to 20th 1916.

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Also Peter Nelson’s file on James Wilkie is below. you will note he joined 31st Bn in August 1915 & then in March 1916 transferred to 5th Div Signals & in this position he laid telephone lines between Brigade HQ & Battalion HQs,

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Some older screens may have difficulty reading the Diary below. If this is the case a link to the .pdf file is included here. Diary extract of James Wilkie 31st Bn AIF

📷📷📷 📷 📷 📷

Service No 62
Rank Pte
Born Booval, Queensland
NoK Mrs J. Wilkie, 7 Slowman St, Booral, Ipswich, Queensland
Enlistment 26th Aug 1915 Ipswich, Queensland
Age 22
Status & Religion Single Pres
Occupation Clerk at Redbank Railway
Address 7 Slowman St, Booral, Ipswich, Queensland
Outcome RTA 8th May 1919
Notes Original, Reg Signallers-HQ, 31stBn/ 5th Dvi Sig Coy
Embarked at Melbourne, on HMAT A62 “WANDILLA”, on 9th Nov 1915
Disembarked HMAT Wandilla at Suez on 7th Dec 1915
Transferred to ‘B’ Coy at Tel el Kebir, on 1st Feb 1916
Taken on strength 5th Div Sig Coy as Sapper, on 16th Mar 1916
Embarked to join BEF at Alexandria per HMT “Manitou” on 17th Jun 1916,
Disembarking at Marseilles on 25thJun 1916
(Battle of Fromelles, 19th/20th Jul 1916)
Sick to hospital on 3rdNov 1916
Admitted 38th CCS and transferred to No 27 Amb Train on 3rd Nov 1916
Admitted 3rd Stat Hospital, Rouen, (myalgia) on 4th Nov 1916
Embarked at Havre for England per HS ‘Formosa’ (myalgia) on 4th Nov 1916
Admitted 3rd London General Hospital (myalgia) on 4th Nov 1916
Proceeding overseas to France, from Overseas Engr Trng Depot, Sig Section, ex Shefford, via Folkestone,
on 8th Sep 1917
Marched in to R.E. Depot, Abbeville, on 11th Sep 1917
Marched out to 5th Div Sig Coy on 12th Sep 1917
Rejoined 5th Div Sig Coy from RE Depot and hospital on 15th Sep 1917
RTA per ‘Devanha’ on 8th May 1919
Disembarked at Sydney on 26thJun 1919, thence for Brisbane
Discharged at Brisbane on 19thAug 1919
Died at Toowoomba on 6thMar 1972, aged 78 years

Buried Ipswich General Cemetery, Queensland
James, born 1893, was the son of John and Jane Wilkie. He was a Clerk at the Redbank Railway. During World War 1 he was stationed in England and served in France. He joined the 31st Battalion on 1 November 1915 and the 5th Division Signal Coy. on 16 March 1916. He was in Weymouth 1916 and Folkstone 1917 England at some stage. He was discharged in 1919.He married Harriette Palmer in 1919. His home was at 7 Sloman Street, Booval.
Service Number:
62
Enlisted:
26 August 1915, Brisbane, Queensland
Last Rank:
Driver
Last Unit:5th Divisional Signal Company

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31st Battalion Association Branch AGM – Charters Towers

The following email was received from Vic Nicol, Secretary, – Charters Towers Branch, advising details of their recently held Annual General Meeting.

Good Morning All,

On the 21^st February the Charters Towers Branch held their 2025 AGM with eight members attending, at the RSL.

The executive positions have not changed with Raymond Barrett re-elected as President, Vic Nicol as Treasurer/Secretary, and all Members voted in as Committee.

Attached is our President’s Report.

As reported our Tunnellers Project has finally been completed. We will now make ready the Sellheim Army Camp Memorial for our ANZAC Day Morning service.

Kind Regards,

Vic Nicol

Secretary.

Ladies and Gentleman,

I have pleasure in presenting this Forty third (43^rd) Chairman’s Annual Report for the Charters Towers Branch, of the 31^st Infantry Battalion Association Inc.

During the year we held our committee meetings on the 3^rd Friday of each month. Our own Annual General Meeting, saw no new changes as Raymond Barrett remained the President Vic Nicol remained Secretary and Treasurer, of the Charters Towers Branch.

19^th January 2024 saw our oldest and newest member of the Charters Towers Branch Mr Norman Snell turn 100 years of age, 10 FSB doing an Honour Guard, the Local government doing a tree planting ceremony, then back to the local RSL for food, photos and drinks. Cards from the King and other officials giving congratulation and good wishes, an interview with channel 7, and with more than 80 people attending with President Greg Stokie and Paul Ellems enjoying the celebrations.

ANZAC Day saw us skip the Dawn Service held by the Charters Towers RSL, due to time restraints, A bit of car pool saw myself and others driving a few of our members out to Sellheim.

Sellheim saw approximately 60 spectators with the 130^th Army Cadet unit holding guard at the Cenotaph, with myself conducting the Service and Mr Vic Nicol laying a wreath for the 31^st Association.

On the flag was Mr Norm Snell who served in the 2^nd World War, he was in the 26^th Inf Battalion and has been doing the flag at Sellheim, since the flag pole was put up, around 40 years ago.

The main ANZAC Day service held in Charters Towers, had me as Parade Marshall, with Mr Vic Nicol again laying a wreath for the 31^st Association.

On the 1^st of March. Walter “Wally” Thomasson one of our members the Charters Towers branch had his funeral. He was 91.

A poppy service was conducted by the 31^st association at his gave side, with members from the 31^st association and National service members placing poppies. There were around 250 people attending.

A funeral service was held on Thursday 6^th June 2024. Mr Clement John Archer “Clem”. Much loved Husband of Joyce, cherished Father of Lynette, Julie, Robyn and Mark. He was 89.

FINALLY after a few years we (Vic Nicol) received the required information to get permission, place, and erect the headstones for the Tunnellers we also received permission to replace an old Headstone that had cracked and subsided.

Saturday the 19 Oct 2024 we had our Luncheon at the RSL for the unveiling for the Headstones.

Guest attended the Luncheon Included the Charters Towers Major, Mrs Liz Schmidt, Councillors, President of the 31^st Association, Mr Greg Stokie and Wife Janette, President of the Townsville branch Mr Paul Ellems. President of the Ingham branch Mr Felix Retano and Wife Judy. Descendants of the Tunnellers. Locals, members and their families.

A special thanks to Donna Baldey who passed on all the information regarding the Tunnellers.

13 headstones for Tunnellers have now been erected and we have been told they are final few.

Remembrance Day, saw us all attend the Charters Towers Cenotaph.

Raymond Barrett laid the Wreath for the 31^st Association as the Charters Towers RSL hosted the event.

December the Charters Towers, members, wives and partners had an informal lunch at the Sovereign Tavern, with 13 people attending.

Mr Norman Snell has since turned 101. Technically that is for next year, I figure it still worthy of mentioning.

In Conclusion, I would like to thank the members of the Association for their support.

Raymond Barrett.

31^st INF Bn Assoc Inc.

President, Charters Towers Branch.

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Norman Snell’s 100 Birthday

“They’re not going to make me dig the hole for this tree are they?”

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Norm Doing the Hard Yards

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10 FSB have a Guard of Honour for Norman Snell’s 100 Birthday celebrations.

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Norm’s Congratulatory Message From THe King and Queen

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Wally Thomasson

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Clement John Archer “Clem”

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Head Table at Tunnellers 2024 Luncheon

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Donna Baldey talks about her research into the Tunnellers

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Charters Towers Branch, Christmas Luncheon 2024

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31st Battalion Association Branch AGMs

Notifications of the Annual General Meetings ot the 31st Battalion Association and branches have been issued as follows:

31st Battalion Association AGM

and

Townsville Branch AGM

The AGM scheduled for next Tues, 11th Mar, is cancelled, as is the meeting scheduled for that night.

The AGM for the Branch and the Association proper will instead be held on Tues 8th Apr at 19:30 in the Conference Room at the Townsville RSL.

Best regards,

Paul Ellems

Brisbane Branch AGM

Members. Please be advised that the AGM, for the year 2024 for the, – 31st Infantry Bn Assoc. (Brisbane Brch.) will be held on TUESDAY 25th March 2025, at 11.00 AM .

VENUE:- Bronze Room, – SPORTS CENTRAL CABOOLTURE CLUB. – Cnr Hasking St & Beerburrum Rd. Caboolture
TIMINGS:- REGISTRATION – 10.30 AM. – Bronze Room – AGM – 11.00 AM – LUNCH – 12.30PM – Order Cafe, Eat in Bronze Room.
AGENDA & Reports to Follow.
NOMINATIONS for the following positions:- (A) PRESIDENT (B) SECRETARY (C) TREASURER (D) 3 X COMMITTEE MEMBERS; Please have nominations for Any of these positions to me (Secretary) (EMAIL ACCEPTABLE) by no later than Thursday 20th March.
FINANCE:- Pay for your Ordered Meal from Cafe Downstairs. We will eat it upstairs in the Bronze Room
RSVP to Me(Secretary) by Thursday 20th March – PH/TEXT – 0427 337 177 or Email:- wadesonriver@aapt.net.au
TRANSPORT :- I believe its about 150 mettres from Caboolture Train Station. There is ample parking at the Club. I will be driving up from Brisbane & will be collecting George Stanger (Subject to Health) & Mick James. We would like a good Roll up to this meeting as one of the main Discussion Items will be the “Future of the Brisbane Branch” .

If any further info is required please ring me.

Regards,

Tony Wadeson (Secretary)

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