| Regimental number | 2577 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Diamond Creek, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Mechanic |
| Address | Glenhuntly, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Height | 5' 5.5" |
| Weight | 145 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Rupert Gilchrist Whicker, 5 Maroona Road, Glenhuntly, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | 2nd Air Mechanic |
| Unit name | Australian Flying Corps, No 1 Special Draft |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 8/15/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board SS Indarra on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 5th Squadron, Australian Flying Corps |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Discharge date | |
| Family/military connections | Father: 8087 Sapper Rupert Gilchrist WHICKER, 1st Tunnelling Company, died of disease, 14 September 1918. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, England Embarked Melbourne, 26 November 1917; disembarked Suez, 27 December 1917. Embarked Alexandria, 29 January 1918; disembarked to No 9 Rest Camp, Taranto, Italy, 4 February 1918. Entrained Taranto, 7 February 1918; detrained Cherbourg, france, 14 February 1918. Embarked Cherbourg, 14 May 1918; disembarked Southampton, England, 15 February 1918, and marched in to Australian Flying Corps Training Depot, Wendover. Found guilty, 2 May 1918, of falling out of Instruction Class, Halton Camp East, without permission at about 25 April: awarded 7 days' confined to camp, and forfeited 2 days' pay. Taken on strength as 2nd Air Mechanic, 5th Training Squadron, Minchinhampton, 10 June 1918. Struck off strength, 5th Training Squadron, 2 November 1918, and marched out to No 2 School of Military Aeronautics, Oxford, for training as a Flying Officer (Pilot), and appointed Cadet. Admitted to Montdore Hospital, Bournemouth, 25 December 1918; discharged from hospital to 1st Wing, AFC, 15 January 1919. Appointed 2nd Lieutenant on probation, 1 April 1919. Admitted to AFC Hospital, Tetbury, 3 April 1919 (fractured left radius); discharged from hospital, 19 April 1919. Commenced return to Australia on board HS 'Karagola', 30 April 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 12 June 1919; appointment terminated (discharged), Melbourne, 4 August 1919. Medal: British War Medal Died, 6 April 1921, as a result of injuries from a training flight crash. His was the first death of the Australian Air Force only 7 days after its formation. |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 23 |
| Place of burial | Brighton Cemetery, Victoria |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, WHICKER Bertie Walter |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
