Evan Wisdom
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General
Evan Alexander Wisdom, CB, CMG, DSO
(29 September 1869–7 December 1945) was a senior officer of the Australian Army
who served in World War I
. He was the Mayor
of the Municipality of Cottesloe between 1908 and 1911, served as the Western Australia
n Legislative Assembly
Liberal member for Claremont
for two terms between 1911–1917 and was the Administrator of the Territory of New Guinea
between 21 March 1921–13 June 1933. He died on 7 December 1945 in Melbourne
and was cremated.
. After his education he served in a militia infantry battalion and was later transferred to the Midlothian Coast Artillery.
He emigrated to Australia in 1891 to seek his fortune and settled in Western Australia, were he began as a prospector to Southern Cross at Yilgarn
. In 1892, with the discovery of gold at Coolgardie
he went prospecting and found success. With the money made from his prospecting he opened a store at Coolgardie. He later joined the gold rush at Kalgoorlie
and again had success. He acquired extensive mining interests and set up the Exchange Hotel at Kalgoorlie.
Travelling back to Scotland in 1894 he married Agnes Bell Jackson on 16 April 1895 at Edinburgh. Together they emigrated to Western Australia and bought a house at Claremont, Perth
. Retaining his business interests in the goldfields, he became active in the Citizens Military Force upon creation and was appointed lieutenant in the Western Australian Mounted Infantry, with the command of the Cannington troop. Promoted to captain in 1903 and in 1904 he was posted to militia headquarters in Perth. He later became the brigade major
of the Western Australian Infantry Brigade in 1908. Fostering a desire to enter politics, he became the mayor of Cottesloe between 1908–13 and later went on to be the Liberal member for Claremont in the Legislative Assembly in 1911–17.
in March 1915 as brigade major of the 5th Brigade
, serving with the brigade for the majority of the Gallipoli campaign. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
for his services at Gallipoli. Given command of the 18th Battalion
in February 1916 and arriving in France
in March 1916. He led the battalion during the battle of Pozières Heights
and the battles of the Somme. He was promoted to colonel and temporary brigadier general and appointed to command the 7th Brigade and led the brigade at the battle of Lagnicourt in March 1917 and the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May. Wisdom was appointed the Companion of the Order of the Bath in June. He went on to command the brigade at battles which captured the Menin Road, Broodseinde
and Passchendaele.
During the western front campaign of 1918, he led the 7th Brigade at the battle of Morlancourt in June, the battle of Hamel
in July, and took part in the battle of Amiens, storming Mont St Quentin and then the battle of Beaurevoir. Wisdom was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his leadership in January 1919. He had been mentioned in dispatches
six times. After the was he joined the Repatriation and Demobilization Department, in England.
and served this role from 21 March 1921 until 13 June 1933. His wife took ill during his appointment and they travelled to Sydney
where she died in November 1931.
He went on to resuming his business interests in Western Australia, while living in Melbourne. He died without issue on 7 December 1945 at St. Andrews Hospital in Melbourne and was cremated.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Evan Alexander Wisdom, CB, CMG, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(29 September 1869–7 December 1945) was a senior officer of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
who served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Municipality of Cottesloe between 1908 and 1911, served as the Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
Liberal member for Claremont
Electoral district of Claremont
Claremont was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1901 to 1968.Located in the affluent western suburbs of Perth, it was a safe seat for the Liberal Party and its predecessor parties...
for two terms between 1911–1917 and was the Administrator of the Territory of New Guinea
Territory of New Guinea
The Territory of New Guinea was the Australia-controlled, League of Nations-mandated territory in the north eastern part of the island of New Guinea, and surrounding islands, between 1920 and 1949...
between 21 March 1921–13 June 1933. He died on 7 December 1945 in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and was cremated.
Early life
Born on 29 September 1869 at Inverness, Scotland, the son of Francis William Wisdom and Mary, née Cameron. He attended his education at Inverness and EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. After his education he served in a militia infantry battalion and was later transferred to the Midlothian Coast Artillery.
He emigrated to Australia in 1891 to seek his fortune and settled in Western Australia, were he began as a prospector to Southern Cross at Yilgarn
Yilgarn, Western Australia
The Shire of Yilgarn is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia about east of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of and its seat of government is the town of Southern Cross. The main industries within the Shire are mining and...
. In 1892, with the discovery of gold at Coolgardie
Coolgardie, Western Australia
Coolgardie is a small town in the Australian state of Western Australia, east of the state capital, Perth. It has a population of approximately 800 people....
he went prospecting and found success. With the money made from his prospecting he opened a store at Coolgardie. He later joined the gold rush at Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Kalgoorlie, known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, and is located east-northeast of state capital Perth at the end of the Great Eastern Highway...
and again had success. He acquired extensive mining interests and set up the Exchange Hotel at Kalgoorlie.
Travelling back to Scotland in 1894 he married Agnes Bell Jackson on 16 April 1895 at Edinburgh. Together they emigrated to Western Australia and bought a house at Claremont, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Retaining his business interests in the goldfields, he became active in the Citizens Military Force upon creation and was appointed lieutenant in the Western Australian Mounted Infantry, with the command of the Cannington troop. Promoted to captain in 1903 and in 1904 he was posted to militia headquarters in Perth. He later became the brigade major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of the Western Australian Infantry Brigade in 1908. Fostering a desire to enter politics, he became the mayor of Cottesloe between 1908–13 and later went on to be the Liberal member for Claremont in the Legislative Assembly in 1911–17.
World War I
With the outbreak of war, he was appointed the commandant of the Karrakatta training camp in 1914. Commissioned into the First Australian Imperial ForceFirst Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
in March 1915 as brigade major of the 5th Brigade
5th Brigade (Australia)
5th Brigade is a brigade of the Australian Army. It is a Reserve combined arms formation based in New South Wales and forms part of the 2nd Division.-History:...
, serving with the brigade for the majority of the Gallipoli campaign. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
for his services at Gallipoli. Given command of the 18th Battalion
18th Battalion (Australia)
The 18th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. During World War I, the battalion was raised in 1915 as part of the Australian Imperial Force, attached to the 5th Brigade, of the 2nd Division...
in February 1916 and arriving in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in March 1916. He led the battalion during the battle of Pozières Heights
Battle of Pozières
The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Though British divisions were involved in most phases of the fighting, Pozières is primarily remembered as an Australian battle...
and the battles of the Somme. He was promoted to colonel and temporary brigadier general and appointed to command the 7th Brigade and led the brigade at the battle of Lagnicourt in March 1917 and the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May. Wisdom was appointed the Companion of the Order of the Bath in June. He went on to command the brigade at battles which captured the Menin Road, Broodseinde
Battle of Broodseinde
The Battle of Broodseinde was the most successful attack of the Battle of Passchendaele. Using the "bite and hold" tactic , the Allied forces conducted an attack on well-entrenched German forces and showed that it was possible for the allies to overcome even the stoutest German...
and Passchendaele.
During the western front campaign of 1918, he led the 7th Brigade at the battle of Morlancourt in June, the battle of Hamel
Battle of Hamel
The Battle of Hamel was a successful attack launched by the Australian Corps of the Australian Imperial Force and several American units against German positions in and around the town of Hamel in northern France during World War I....
in July, and took part in the battle of Amiens, storming Mont St Quentin and then the battle of Beaurevoir. Wisdom was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his leadership in January 1919. He had been mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
six times. After the was he joined the Repatriation and Demobilization Department, in England.
Later life
Travelling back to Australia in December 1919, he was appointed to the chairmanship of the Central War Gratuities Board in May 1920. He was successful in applying for the post of administrator of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea at RabaulRabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
and served this role from 21 March 1921 until 13 June 1933. His wife took ill during his appointment and they travelled to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
where she died in November 1931.
He went on to resuming his business interests in Western Australia, while living in Melbourne. He died without issue on 7 December 1945 at St. Andrews Hospital in Melbourne and was cremated.