WILKINSON, William Stanley
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 September 1916, Rank: Honorary Lieutenant |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Dental Details: AIF |
| Born: | Bright, Victoria, Australia, 27 November 1888 |
| Home Town: | Toorak, Stonnington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Wesley College, Melbourne University, University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation: | Dentist |
| Died: | Mont Albert, Victoria, Australia, 31 March 1969, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Officer, Dental Details: AIF, Rank: Honorary Lieutenant | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Dental Details: AIF | |
| 11 May 1917: | Involvement Dental Details: AIF, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '24' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 11 May 1917: | Embarked Dental Details: AIF, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne | |
| 5 Jun 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, Dental Details: AIF |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sue Smith
William Stanley Wilkinson, known as Stanley, was born on 27th November 1888 at Bright VIC, the eldest of 4 children born to his parents John and Celia Wilkinson. His siblings were Jessie, Norman and Archer and both the latter served in WW1. Stanley was educated at Wesley College and went on to graduate from Melbourne University in 1910 with Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDSc) and Licentiate in Dental Surgery (LDS). He also achieved the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Pennsylvania. While attending Melbourne University he was a member of the Hockey Team and played in the first men’s InterVarsity hockey match in 1909 and again in 1910. He was awarded a “Half Blue” which is for outstanding achievement in sport just as the “Blue” is, however, because Hockey was a new club it was only eligible for “Half Blues. Full “Blues” weren’t awarded for men till 1913.
On the 12th January 1915 Stanley married Ruth Laycock at the Collins Street Baptist Church, Melbourne VIC. They began their married life living at Stonnington Place, Toorak, a suburb of Melbourne.
In mid-March 1916 Stanley was appointed Honorary Lieutenant with the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) Dental Reserve. He was granted a commission and enlisted for WW1 with the AAMC Dental Details on 1st September 1916 aged 28. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 6th April 1917 and embarked from Melbourne on 11th May 1917 on HMAT Ascanius. Stanley disembarked at Devonport, England, on 20th July 1917 and was immediately admitted to the Devonport Military Hospital having contracted the mumps during the voyage from Australia.
Stanley was posted to No. 93 Dental Unit and upon being discharged from hospital in late August 1917 he proceeded for duty to Larkhill Camp at Wiltshire on the Salisbury Plain. In late September 1917 he was attached for duty to the 6th Training battalion at nearby Rollestone Camp then proceeded to Fovant Camp for duty with the 7th Training Battalion in late October 1917. In early November he proceeded back to Fovant Camp for duty with the 9th Training Battalion then in late November proceeded to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny Camp where he re-joined his unit.
In late December 1917 Stanley received a letter from his father telling him that his wife Ruth had had a nervous breakdown. Their first child Celia had been born that year with a congenital heart condition and the strain of this and her husband being away overseas at the war took its toll mentally and then she contacted a serious kidney infection and was hospitalised at Mena House in Melbourne. Stanley wrote to the Director of Medical Services (DMS) in January 1918 explaining the circumstances and requested an early return to Australia. His request was granted in late February 1918. He proceeded to No. 2 Command Depot at Monte Video Camp, Weymouth, on 11th March 1918 and embarked 2 days later for Australia on HMS Dunvegan Castle. His appointment was terminated on 5th June 1918.
Stanley was transferred to the Reserve of Officers List in January 1921 then to the AAMC Reserve in July 1925. He was placed on the Retired List in March 1944.
Ruth recovered and she and Stanley had 4 more children…John, William, Ruth and Thomas but sadly, Thomas died aged 8 months in March 1925.
Stanley serve the community in various ways and had many achievements including being the President of the Australian College of Dentistry at Melbourne University for some years and President of the Australian Dental Association. In 1930 he was appointed as a lecturer in orthodontics at Melbourne University. He enjoyed playing golf and represented the Victorian branch of the Australian Dentists Association at the annual golf tournament in 1934. In 1961 he became a life member of the Australian Orthodontists Society.
Stanley passed away on 31st March 1969 aged 80 at Mont Albert in Victoria. He is commemorated on the Prahan RSL Honour Roll in High Street, Prahan VIC.
William Stanley Wilkinson was awarded for service in WW1 the British War Medal.
Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 3rd July 2023.
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