The Stanley News 05/10/1916 reports
Tallest soldier in Durhams killed
Mrs Jordan of 1 Dobson Street Blackhill has been officially informed that her grandson Pte. Rd. Bagnall Wilson D.L.I. has been killed in action. He was attached to the Lewis gun section
The deceased, who was only 20 years old and single, was one of the tallest men in the British Army, and was certainly the tallest in the Durhams and of powerful physique. He had grown to 6 feet 11 inches in height and his officers had tried to persuade him to join the Guards but he preferred to remain amongst his own comrades. His family was connected with the Bagnalls, a well known Tynedale family and his father who formerly resided at Anick near Hexham is now in Australia. Pte Wilson was formerly a player for Blackhill Rugby Club and before enlisting was employed at the Consett Iron Co's Westwood Colliery.
Richard Bagnall Wilson is remembered at Consett on C101.01 as B. Wilson
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 245
