Gerald Langford d’Auverne Wilton was born in Sunderland, England c.1880. At the time of his enlistment on 19 February 1916 he was working as a motor driver/chauffeur. He was married to Emily Mary Wilton and was living at 55 Agnes Street, Jolimont. He was appointed to the 23rd Battalion and sent to Royal Park for training. He was then transferred to the 10th Brigade, 38th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements at Bendigo and Langwarrin.
He embarked for Plymouth on the Shropshire on 25 September 1916. He was taken on strength of 38th Battalion from 3rd Reinforcements on 26 January 1917 in France.
The 38th fought in its first major battle at Messines, in Belgium, between 7-9 June 1917. It fought in another two major attacks in this sector - the battle of Broodseinde on 4 October, and the battle of Passchendaele on 12 October.
The next day, 13 October, Gerald was admitted to hospital sick and was there for eight days. He was wounded in action on 29 November 1917 and evacuated to hospital in Carlisle, England with gunshot wounds to the back of the thighs. He returned to France on 20 December 1917. On 29 April 1918 he was back in England where he was attached to the Australian Mechanical Transport Service for duty at Tedworth. He returned to Australia on 7 February 1918.
By June 1917 Emily had arrived in England and her new address was registered with authorities.
In 1941 Gerald wrote to Base Records for a copy of his discharge papers from Allendale, Clarke Street, Springvale, Victoria. At that time he stated that he was working with the Victorian Railways.
He died on 9 October 1960.