Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bernard (known as Oscar) was born at Eudunda on the 12th December 1908 to Louisa Bertha and Ferdinand Wilksch with the family living in the Riverland town of Cadell. His family were well known orchardists and were part of the large settlement of Lutherans, (Although Oscar later described himself as being of the Methodist faith). Oscar was the third child and second son with siblings Gertrude Hilda, Edgar Ferdinand, Arthur Bernhard, Eunice, Ernest Harold, Erwin Herbert and Melba.
The children all attended the local Bower Public School, between Morgan and Eudunda, originally a Lutheran School. However, following WWI, anti-Germanic feeling caused the school to become a non-religious place. Initially, Oscar worked with his father as an orchardist, and truck driver, but still found time to enjoy dances at nearby Cadell, as did most river town residents. As a 21-year-old, Oscar and his siter, Melba won the Monte Carlos dance, with Melba also winning a fancy dress competition as a Pierrette, Alma a rainbow and Arthur as an Old Dutch.
Whilst families were hard working, they also made time to enjoy life, with Oscar meeting Irene Louvane Salter, whose family lived on Glen Forslan Station on the Murray, near Murkbo and Blanchetown. To celebrate her 21st birthday, the family had organised a celebration at the Woods Flat Hall with about 100 guests. Her father, Frank presented Irene with an envelope with a very generous £21, one for each year of her life. During the evening, Oscar and Irene announced their engagement, which made the dancing and magnificent supper even more special.
The following year, the two married, announcing the day in the Advertiser on Saturday 13 June 1936, SALTER—WILKSCH. — The marriage of Irene Louvain. only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. J Salter, of Blanchetown to Oscar, second son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Wilksch. of Cadell will be solemnised at Paisley Church on Saturday. 20th June, at 6.45 pm. Relatives and friends cordially invited to ceremony. The following year, their first child, a daughter Fayleen Dawn was born in September in the Waikerie Hospital.
1942 was a challenging year for the Wilksch family when five of their sons all enlisted to serve in WWII. Youngest son, Ernest Harold was the first on the13 March ’41 as S85405. He was followed by Ferdinand and Arthur also in the Milita on the 16th January ’42, Ferdinand as S85446 and Arthur as S85449. Oscar enlisted on the 14th April ’42 at Blanchetown, then Erwin, the athlete of the family, who had been serving in the Militia as S27107 enlisted on the 21st August ’42 at Ingleburn, New South Wales and became SX22359 in the 48th Battalion, initially serving in the Prisoner of War camp at Loveday in the Murray area.
Oscar’s early training was at Terowie, where the conditions were considered similar to those the men would face in the Middle East. Following special leave, Oscar was allocated to the 2/48th Battalion as part of their reinforcements, and was soon on his way, arriving on the 10th October ’42, facing more training before joining the famed battalion. Just days prior to the 2/48th returning to Australia, Oscar, uncharacteristically received a fine of £1 for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline’ – a harsh conclusion to his time in the Middle East. His battalion returned to Australia via Melbourne at the commencement of February, with Oscar enjoying leave with his young family.
Training in Queensland followed, preparing the men for the tropical conditions they would encounter in New Guinea, and against a very different enemy. Unfortunately, while training, Oscar developed several niggling conditions in the humidity, including conjunctivitis and a range of skin infections. He eventually sailed for New Guinea, arriving at Milne Bay in August, 43. By January the following year, Oscar was selected as part of an Advanced Party, tasked with special duties. He eventually returned to Australia in February ’44, when he again experienced health issues with extremely high temperature (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) and respiratory illness for several months before returning to Queensland.
By March ’45 Oscar was appointed Lance Corporal and again returned to Morotai and thence to Tarakan for the last days of the war. Oscar’s service was quite diverse. In the dying days of the war, he was wounded in July ’45 as was SX31263, Corporal William J Westley from Renmark who had also served in the 2/48th. At the time the battalion was involved in the taking of Freda and implementing an all-out attack on Fuku-Kaki. Oscar received multi bullet wounds to his face and also his left knee, causing him to be immediately evacuated to the 2/2 ambulance where he received treatment over the following month.
With the war over and peace declared, brothers Ferdinand, Arthur and Ernest were all discharged on the same day, the 21st September ’45. Oscar followed on the 8th November ’45 and finally, Erwin was the last of the sons to be discharged on the 5th March ’46. In March ’49 Oscar and Irene had a son Geoffrey Jame, completing their family.
With all sons surviving the war, both of their parents died in the ensuing decade; Ferdinand in ’53 and Louisa in ’56.
Aged 70, Oscar died at Blanchetown on the 22 April ’79 and was buried in the Waikerie Cemetery near Path 33. Irene later re-married Allan Murray and she lived to be 100.
Post war, soldiers were offered undeveloped plots of land between six and ten hectares, as part of the Soldiers Settlement Scheme and many took up this opportunity to clear land and plant vines, especially in the Riverland area. The stated aim was that this then gave the soldiers ‘the chance to make a new start and leave the turmoil of battle in the past.‘ Oscar was one such pioneer and he began planting vines. Over the years, many of these original vine plantings were removed or replanted with different crops. To help keep the stories of those first Soldier Settlers, alive and their service honoured, later orchardist, the Zadow family created a ‘Soldiers’ Land Orchardist Shiraz’ in honour of Oscar of the 2/48th Battalion. The wine made from Oscar’s original plantings, included their award-winning Ricca Terra 2022 (Ricca Terra meaning Rich Earth) The added aim was also ‘to provide ongoing funding to the Returned & Services League. (The RSL was in a partnership with Ricca Terra.)
Tribute researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133 2/48th Battalion.