Strand Military Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Strand Military Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Carisbrook Castle
Summerdown Camp
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Ridley Wilson, one of 4 children all of whom survived, was the eldest of 3 sons and had an elder sister. His father William Reay Wilson was born in 1868 at Crossgate, Durham, County Durham, and married September 11th 1892 at St. Margaret’s Church, Durham to Mary Ridley, native of Shadforth, County Durham, also born in 1868. Their daughter Polly (Mary) was born in 1894 at Crossgate as was Edward in May 1895, William Reay Jnr and Tom were born at Framwellgate, November 2nd 1905 and December 17th 1910 respectively. In 1911 they were living in 7 rooms at Parkside, Durham, William Reay Snr was an accountant for his own account and employed Edward (15) as a clerk, Polly (17) assisted her mother, William Jnr (6) although of school age is not listed as a scholar and Tom was only 1-year old.
When war was declared in 1914 Edward Ridley Wilson was 19 years 2 months of age, he enlisted at Durham, September 17th 1914, assigned as Private 633 to the 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Pals Battalion. Eight days later, September 25th, he was one of the 20 men advanced party of the 18th Battalion sent from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Cocken Hall, home of the Earl of Durham, who had offered his house and land to the war effort. Some of the men were housed in the house the remainder in outbuildings. Trenches were dug in the grounds to simulate life at the front and a firing range was built, their training began in earnest as of October 26th 1914 when the sum of four companies had reached a total of 1004 men.
In November 1914 some 500 men were sent to the Coastal Defences at Hartlepool as there was a clear risk of German naval attacks. The attack came December 16th when a German battle-cruiser shelled the town, 5 of the Durham Pals were amongst the casualties.
In December they left Cocken Hall for Fencehouses, then back in February 1915, returning to Fencehouses in March. In May they went to Ripon via Cramlington where they came under the orders of the 31st Division. Having moved to Fovant in September the 18th Battalion was fully trained and ready to depart.
Private Wilson had been promoted, April 7th 1915, to Acting Lance Corporal Wilson, however was demoted and departed as Private 633 as part of the 93rd Brigade, 31st Division, posted to Egypt, embarking at Liverpool, December 6th 1915, arriving December 22nd at Port Said. The battalion remained in Egypt defending the Suez Canal from Turkish attacks until March 5th 1916 when it was recalled to France, arriving, March 11th 1916, as reinforcements for the forthcoming Battles of the Somme.
After a period of trench familiarisation, they moved to their designated zone, attacking July 1st 1916, at 7.30 a.m., the German trenches at Serre. Acting Lance Corporal Wilson was wounded in the line of duty, a gunshot wound to the right foot. Evacuated back through the lines he was admitted to the hospital centre at Rouen, July 9th 1916, repatriated to England, July 12th aboard the Hospital Ship Carisbrook Castle and admitted to Reading War Hospital, Berkshire, where he stayed until he was transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital, Summerdown Camp, Eastbourne, Sussex, July 20th-September 9th 1916.
Once discharged Edward was posted to the 2nd Training Reserve, Durham Light Infantry at Rugeley, Staffordshire, October 10th 1916, posted to the 2nd Battalion D.L.I. November 29th for retraining and departed with the British Expeditionary Force, May 8th 1917 to the front. At the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, France, he posted to the 18th Battalion with the rank of Private, however, was promoted again to Acting Lance Corporal 3 days later, joining his regiment in the field.
The 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry was in the Arras sector until the end of the offensive May 16th 1917 and participated at the capture of Oppy Wood, June 28th 1917, remaining in the sector until In 1918 they saw action in the Battle of St. Quentin Canal, September 29th-October 10th 1918.
Since his return to the front Edward had risen through the ranks, Corporal 633 Edward Ridley Wilson was killed in action during the Battle of St. Quentin, September 30th 1918, his body buried on the battlefield by his comrades, a cross bearing his name and military details marking the spot.
After the Armistice at the request of the French and Belgian Governments smaller concentrations and isolated graves were brought into larger cemeteries. The remains of Corporal Wilson were found at map reference Sh. 36. C. 2. d. 1. 9, the cross still intact, were exhumed, his identity further confirmed by a disc, and brought into Strand Military Cemetery, 12.5 kilometres from Ypres, Belgium, December 19th 1919 and re-buried with military honours. Private 633 Edward Ridley Wilson Northumberland Fusiliers is at rest grave VIII. Q. 9. At the time of his demise in 1918 he was 23 years of age and single.
His father was sent a letter December 4th 1920 from the Infantry Records Office, York, confirming his removal and was assured that the work of re-burial had been carried out, “with every measure of care and reverence, and that special arrangements were made for the appropriate religious service to be held.” No will was found in his pay book, his father William had already received all monies due to him, his personal items consisting of; wallet, Ingersoll watch and strap, photos, diary, January 31st 1919 also his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal were forwarded during 1920/21 to him at Parkside, Durham, County Durham.
Edward’s mother Mary Wilson nee Ridley died in 1942 aged 74 years, William Ridley Wilson aged 81 years, December 21st 1949, both registered at Durham Central.
Details as regards Polly (Mary) Wilson unknown. William Reay Wilson Jnr died aged 71 tears in 1978 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. Tom Wilson married at Lanchester in 1931 to Mary J. Ramsbottom, with whom he had 2 children, Kenneth born in 1931 and Annie 1938. In 1939 they were living with Mary Jane’s parents at 13, Douglas Terrace, Dipton, Stanley County Durham. He died aged 73 years in 1983, registered at Durham Northern.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Edward Ridley Wilson is remembered at Durham City on D47.043
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 268
