Shep's Place Family Tree

In 1922 the Premier of South Australia, Henry Barwell, announced the "South Australian Farm Apprenticeship Scheme", which undertook the ambitious target of arranging the immigration of 6,000 young men and boys from England to cover the 6,000 South Australian World War I casualties. He travelled to England to oversee the recruitment of what became known as the "Barwell Boys". Widespread unemployment in England led 14,000 boys, mainly aged between 15 and 17, to apply for the scheme. While the eventual number of Barwell Boys numbered only 1700, the scheme was considered a great success, with many of the émigrés playing significant roles in the development of South Australia.

Service Record:
Name: WILD, GERALD PERCY
Service: Australian Army
Service Number: WX908
Date of Birth: 2 Nov 1908
Place of Birth: CHICHESTER, ENG
Date of Enlistment: 11 Nov 1939
Locality on Enlistment: KALGOORLIE, WA
Place of Enlistment: NORTHAM, WA
Next of Kin WILD, COLIN
Date of Discharge: 12 Nov 1945
Rank: Major
Posting at Discharge: 2/11 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION
WW2 Honours and Gallantry: Member of the Order of the British Empire
Prisoner of War: No