WILKINSON, Archer Stalham

Archer Stalham Wilkinson was born on 15 January, 1895 at Bright, Victoria. His father John Wilkinson, after graduating as a doctor from the University of Melbourne in 1886, had moved to Bright to become a General Practitioner. John married Celia Eileen Harmer on 20 September 1887 at Bundoora. Archer was the third son of John and Celia. His elder brothers Stanley (also a doctor) and Norman also served in WWI. Eileen was a younger sister to her 3 brothers. After 10 years in Bright their father John returned to Melbourne in 1897. He became an eminent physician and biochemist, ultimately persuading the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories to manufacture insulin in 1923. He was an honorary Major in the AAMC during WWI. Archer was educated at Wesley College and  living at home when he enlisted in August 1916. His occupation was wool classer.

At the time of enlisment Archer had already completed 144 days of training, although his record does not specify any details about this. Upon enlistment he joined the 14th Australian General Hospital as a Corporal and embarked from Melbourne on 19 August 1916 on the hospital ship 'Karoola', arriving at Suez on 20th September. The 14th AGH was located at Abbassia on the outskirts of Cairo. Casualities of the Australian Light Horse were treated there and in November 1916 numbered about 570. Numbers rose to 1140 after heavy fighting at Magdhaba and Rafa, and the battlle of Gaza. Conditions were primitive requiring water to be boiled on primus stoves. In February 1918 Archer went with the hospital to Port Said. Archer's duties were not specified in his service record. However family remember him as an accomplished horseman.

In March 1918 Archer was granted a temporary detachment to the 1st Australian Flying Corps in his quest to learn how to fly. He was accepted as a cadet with the AFC and transferred to the AFC School of Instruction mid April, before embarking from Alexandria 28 May 1918 on the 'Indarra' for Marseilles then the UK. On 9 June he arrived at the AFC Deport at Wendover as a cadet. A month later he was accepted as a Flying Officer at the No.2 School of Aeronautics near Oxford. In September he was posted to the RAF Army School at Uxbridge prior to a stint with the AFC 8th Training group at their headquarters at Wendover. In January 1919 he graduated as a Flying Officer (Pilot) and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. In April 1919 he was attached to the Sports Control Board for the 8th Training Squadron in London. May 1919 he embarked for Australia from Plymouth on the 'China'. Officer records indicate that Archer was a fit young man who was fluent in French.

There is a family story that during the Victory March in London after the War there were three Australian pilots in the flypast, the second of whom was Archer. Each of the three broke formation and flew through Tower Bridge. Ther Commanding Officer gave them a stern dressing down afterwards, but finished by telling hem privately "Jolly good show, chaps!"

After returning to Australia, Archer married Olive Ruth Williams who he had known since childhood when her father Frederick was the Methodist Minister in Wandiligong, near Bright. He and Olive has two children David and Cynthia. AAsrcher had a farming career at various locations throughout Victoria. Soon after the war he purchased a farm at Lah, north of Warracknabeal. In 1921 Light Horse regiments were formed at several locations in the Wimmera, and Archer was selected to take charge of the Warracjnabeal regiment. Then in 1923 he moved to a farm at Wonga Park outside Melbourne, where he was active in the Lilydale and Yarra Glen Hunt Club. In 1925 he moved to a farm at Timberoo, west of Ouyen. Lastly, from 1933 to 1958 he farmed at Maldon, where he was Justice of the Peace and Deputy Coroner. He retired from farming to live at Pt. Lonsdale. During WW2 Archer was active within Australia in the recruitment of soldiers, reaching the rank of Squadron Leader.

He dies on 1985 at Queenscliff, Victoria, aged 90.