Biographical entry: Wickham, Harry (1882 - 1962)

Born
10 September 1882
Died
14 October 1962

Details

Harry Wickham, son of Frank Wickham (q.v.) and Ameriga (also Manga, Meriga, or Siporapo) from Buin, was born on 10 September 1882 and jointly raised in Roviana Lagoon, New Georgia, by his father and chief Hingava (q.v.). He attended Newington College in Sydney from 1899 to 1900, and is acknowledged as an early exponent of the crawl swimming stroke in Sydney before its introduction to competitive swimming. Following his return to the Solomons, he managed a copra plantation at Hobopeka in the Roviana Lagoon, and worked as an accountant for Burns Philp & Co. (q.v.). He served as a Lieutenant and as joint leader of a scouting force with Sergeant Willie Paia (q.v.) during the Japanese occupation of Munda in the Second World War. Harry married several times, to Keike, Ima Taku, Sarah Pratt, Tekurande, Lydia Sambe Vido and Eme, respectively, and fathered several children. He died on 14 October 1962 at Hobopeka, where he is buried. (PIM Sept. 1945, 6, Nov. 1945, 65, Sept. 1967, 27; Gary Osmond, interviews with Wickham family, Munda and Honiara, Nov. 2004; Osmond 2006) (entry by Gary Osmond)

Related Concepts

Published resources

Books

  • Lawrence, David Russell, The Naturalist and his 'Beautiful Islands': Charles Morris Woodford in the Western Pacific, ANU Press, Canberra, 2014. Details

Journals

Theses

  • Osmond, Frederick G., 'Nimble Savages: Myth, Race, Social Memory and Australian Aquatic Sport', PhD, University of Queensland, 2006. Details