Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

- 26/09/1957 - enlisted in the Australian Regular Army and completed recruit training
- 18/07/1958 - allocated to Corps of the Royal Australian Infantry and completed Corp training at Enoggera, QLD where the unit was in preparation for a two year tour in Malaya to relieve the 3rd Battalion in September 1959.
- 27/03/1959 - volunteered as reinforcement to 3 RAR and embarked for Malaya, Served with 3 RAR unit till the unit was received by 1 RAR and completed his two year tour of duty, during this time he served as a forward scout, a visual tracker and acting section commander. Performance in all duties were exemplary.
- 00/03/1961 - On return to Australia was posted to 2 RAR stationed at Holsworthy, NSW, volunteered to be trained as a military parachutist, completed parachutist course successfully and was posted to Airborne Platoon, Air Support Unit which was attached to RAAF Base at Williamtown, NSW.
- Spent two and a half years with Airborne and attended Commando Courses, qualified with high grades as a Battle Physical and Unarmed Combat Instructor. Returned to his unit and assisted with other instructors, the training and supervision of unarmed combat in the unit.
- 00/03/1964 - Posted to 4 RAR at Woodside, SA and was appointed to Lance Corporal.
- 00/05/1965 - Reposted to the First Recruit Training Battalion 1 RTB at Kapooka, NSW and was promoted to Corporal Safety Supervisor, during the next three years in the unit as an Instructor, Platoon Sergeant and acting Platoon Commander. His experience and abilities were invaluable, on two occasions during that period as a Corporal Safety Supervisor, on the grenade range he was directly responsible for saving the lives of two trainees who were throwing live grenades for the first time after removal of the safety pin. With the first incident he picked up the grenade and threw it over the safety wall where the grenade exploded. On the second incident, he pushed the trainee out of the throwing bay, then extracted himself, uninjured as the grenade exploded.
- 00/03/1968 - Volunteered for service in South Vietnam, completed Tropical Warfare Advisors Course at Jungle Training Centre, Canungra, QLD. Attended an Intelligence briefing at the School of Military Intelligence. Promoted to Warrant Officer Class Two and posted to the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV).
- 04/06/1968 - Served twelve months in Vietnam with distinction, first as an advisor with the 5th Battalion, second Army Republic Vietnam Regiment 5/2 ARVN on the demilitarised zone, than as reconnaissance platoon commander and Strike once Company Commander with the United States With Special Forces, commanding indigenous mountain tribesman in the Vietnam Highlands.
- During Service in Vietnam, awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal by the Australian Government, the Silver Star and Bronze Star for Valour by the United States Government and the Cross pf Gallantry with Bronze Star by the South Vietnamese Government.
- 28/05/1969 - Returned to Australia, posted to 12 Cadet Battalion Adamstown, NSW.
- 00/05/1970 - Attended an investiture by H.M Queen Elizabeth II at Government House Sydney, NSW to receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
- 26/10/1970 - Posted to Third Training Battalion Singleton, NSW as a platoon Commander until the unit was disbanded in 1973, reposted to the Infantry Centre who moved to to the location of Ingleburn, NSW. During his two years at the Infantry Centre he was the Infantry Corps Training, Company Sergeant Major. Internally reposted to Doctrine Publications and Trails Wing as a Co-ordinator, where he doubled as Secretary/Treasurer of the Infantry Magazine and was interim Curator of the Infantry Corps Museum.
- 00/10/1975 - Reposted as Company Sergeant Major of District Support Unit Sydney, during these two years was appointed the Area Sergeant Major for Randwick Military Area and for six months of that time was additionally appointed as the Administrative Commander of the South Sydney Detachment DSU Randwick, NSW as a suitable officer was not available. During this posting he held the following additional appointments
a) Deputy President of the Sergeants Mess
b) Supervising Officer - Howell Soldiers Club
c) Housing and Property Manager Member - Sergeants Mess
d) Supervising Officer - Area Regimental Funds
e) Supervising Officer - Rank and File Mess
f) Area Fire Officer
g) Unit Secretary Officer
Performance of all duties was with enthusiasm and was an example of efficiency to his officers and subordinates.
- ??/01/1978 - posted to HQ 2 Cadet Group Crows Nest, NSW from were he elected to terminate his military service at the completion of twenty-one years. Reposted to 1st Military District Personnel Depot at Enoggera, QLD at his request to be discharged.
- 25/09/1978 Discharged thus completing twenty-one years of loyal service

DCM Citation:
Place: Saigon, South Vietnam
Date: 31st May 1969

Army number: 2411081
Rank: Sergant, Warrant Officer Class 2
Recommended by R.D.F LLOYD, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer, Australian Army Training Team.

Warrant Officer Wilkes enlisted in the Australian Army in 1957 and served with the Royal Australian Regiment in Malaya. He joined the Australian Army Training Team in May 1968.

- On 4th July 1968 he was battalion advisor with the 5th battalion, 2nd Regiment, Army of the Republic Vietnam, which was operating in the Quang-Tri province close to preparing to evacuate the dead and wounded, As the medical evacuation helicopter began to set down in the landing zone a heavy volume of fire was directed at the helicopter, wounding the pilot, Warrant Officer Wilkes immediately moved into position to observe the enemy and under heavy fire he then assaulted the enemy position single handed. At close quarters, he killed an enemy soldier about to fire a B-40 rocket at the helicopter. Warrant Officer Wilkes’ courage and his disregard for his own life, prevented the almost certain loss of the helicopter and saved the lives of it’s crew and wounded near the landing zone.

- On 16th March 1969, when he was serving as Commander of the 223rd Company of 2nd Mobile Strike Force Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, the battalion was diverted to clear a North Vietnamese company who were in a fortified bunker system, which had formally been a fire support base. Warrant Officer Wilkes was leading his company in the assault, when three of his soldiers were wounded within twenty metres of the enemy wire. Completely disregarding his own safety and under heavy enemy fire, he personally ensured that the wounded were moved in a position of safety in the rear. Warrant Officer Wilkes once again over forward in full view of the enemy and re-joined the forward elements of his company. Despite very heavy enemy fire, he then personally led his company through the enemy wire, secured the eastern portion of the perimeter nd cleared the enemy from their bunkers. This enabled the remainder of the battalion to move safely through the fire and secure the position. Known enemy casualties in the action were twenty eight killed and most of these were inflicted by Warrant Officer Wilkes’ company which lost only five soldiers wounded in the action. Throughout the attack which lasted more than nine hours, Warrant Officer Wilkes was continually exposing himself to heavy enemy fire, encouraging and directing the movement of his company. His outstanding leadership and personal bravery were a major contributing factors in the schuss of the attack.

- On a number of other occasions in his twelve months operational service in Vietnam, Warrant Officer Wilkes has shown exceptional bravery. His professionalism, dedication to duty and comradeship have been an inspiration to all Vietnamese, United States and Australian soldiers who served with him and reflect great credit on himself, the Australian Army Training Team and the Australian Army.