Photos: J.C. Harvey
Photo : J C Harvey
Medal Index Card
Daily Mail Official War Photograph,
John Wilson was born 11th May? 1889 at 1 Hebburn Buildings, Great Lumley, the son of George Wilson, [born 1857 at Newbottle], and his wife Margaret, [nee Cain or Kane], (daughter of Austin and Bridget Kane, of Great Lumley, born 10th October 1862, died 1947). He was one of ten children, of which eight survived and two had died by 1911.
The eldest was William A, born 22nd November 1880, a scrap Metal Dealer, [married an Eliza, born 31st January 1881, in 1939 both were residing at 28 Front Street, Hetton-le-Hole], Ann, (Annie), [residing widowed at 17 Lady Street, Hetton-le-Hole, in 1939], born 7th December 1882, George, born 8th September 1884, [married an Ester born 2nd March 1888, and in 1939 were residing at 13 Front Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Durham with 3 children, he was a Roadman for Durham County Council], Matthew, born 9th May 1891, [married a Catherine A. Bones, born 13th October 1891, and in 1939, both were residing at 28a Front Street, Hetton, with one child Austin, born 9th May 1920, who was employed as a Fish Fryer. Matthew worked as a Labourer in the local Royal Ordnance Factory], Thomas born 7th January 1894, Robert born 1896, Nora born 1900, but died in 1937, [she married a James Ledger Stephenson, born 8th January 1900, died 12th March 1964 in September 1922, in 1919 they were residing at 27 Eglington Street, Monkwearmouth, James was in the Royal Flying Corps, prior to this was in the 85th Training Battalion, 5/96565 as a Private, by 1939 he had remarried a Doris born 21st November 1901, and was residing at 29 Florence Crescent, Sunderland]. Charles, born January 1901, Peter born 29th March 1905, and Ralph born 12th July 1907. [Peter and Ralph were wet fish salesman in 1939].
George and Margaret were married in September 1879, and were residing at 4 Hopper Street, Newbottle.
In 1891 the family were residing at Great Lumley, and by 1901 the family had moved to 10 The Green, Houghton-le-Spring.
In 1891 William was staying at his widowed grandmother, Bridget Cain at Cross Street, Waldridge Fell, Durham and her son Thomas age 24.
By 1911 the family settled down and were residing at 141 Wilson Buildings, Middle Rainton, Durham.
John Wilson was a Brick Labourer working at the local Brickworks in 1911.
John Wilson enlisted on the 11th August 1914 at Durham. He was 25 years and 3 months old, 5 feet 8 and a half inches tall, weight 145lbs, grey eyes and brown hair. Allocated to the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry and given the service number 3/10828. His trade was a Hawker.
John may have been residing at West Hartlepool when he enlisted.
On the 22nd August 1914, responding to Lord Kitchener's letter dated 7th August asking for 100.000 men for the New Armies, 500 men left the Durham Light Infantry Depot at Newcastle-upon-Tyne for Woking in Surrey, destined to be the 10th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry. By the end of the month 2000 men had volunteered, the surplus became the 11th (Service) Durham Light Infantry, and on September 16th, 2180 recruits were dispatched to Bullswater Camp near Pirbright, in Surrey.
The 11th Battalion remained at Woking until the end of November then moved to the unfinished camp at Pirbright. The War Ofiice deemed the 11th Battalion to be part of the 61st Brigade in the 20th Light Division. However in January 1915 the Battalion became the Divisional pioneers for the 20th Division.
On the 2nd January 1915, John was late back and overstayed his pass from midnight 2nd January to the 3rd January 1915. 1 days pay deducted. Then on the 31st January 1915, he again overstayed his pass from midnight 31st January to 1st February to 2.15pm. He was confined to barracks for 4 days and forfeits 4 days pay.
On the 10th February 1915 still at Pirbright another misdemeanour resulting in another 4 days confined to Barracks.
In February the Battalion was now located at North Chapel near Witley, and one company put in three weeks of necessary work on the roads and drains.
On the 20th March John is absent from the tattoo until 10.20 pm. This time two days confined to Barracks.
At Aldershot the Battalion were still training and on the 14th June 1915, John overstayed his pass from midnight until 9.15pm on the 2nd July 1915. This time he was awarded Field Punishment No 2. The prisoner was placed in fetters and handcuffs but was not attached to a fixed object and was still able to march with his unit. This was a relatively tolerable punishment.
In both forms of field punishment, the soldier was also subjected to hard labour and loss of pay.
On the 20th July the battalion sailed from Southampton to Le-Havre then onto Esquerdes. On August the 3rd 'C' Company were employed upon strongpoints behind the 8th Division front at Fleurbaix.
The 20th Division took over the line in the flat lands north of Neuve Chapelle, three companies worked on the trenches, but 'C' Company were making hurdles in the forest. The rest of the battalion assembled at Estaires.
In October the battalion took their turn in the trenches near Laventie. The Battalion continued its principal tasks, drainage and road making.
On August 22nd they moved to the Laventie area constructing defences. The companies were broken up from time to time, some sent to construct tunnels under the German lines, with the tunnelling companies, others railways, etc, and then returned to the 11th Battalion.
On the 11th December 1915, John is admitted to the 60th Field Ambulance, this is one of three Field Ambulance's belonging to the 20th Light Division. On the 12th December John is at Arques, in the 4th Stationery Hospital. He is discharged on the 17th December and arrives at Etaples. He re-joins his unit on the 18th December.
On the 12th February the Battalion arrives at Elverdinghe Chateau. On the 20th February 1916, John is admitted to the 61st Field Ambulance with Influenza.
John rejoined his unit in the field on the 4th March 1916.
April the 17th the battalion was at Oudezeele, just north of Cassel for training. On the 20th May the 11th Battalion arrived at Brandhoe, halfway between Poperinghe and Vlamertinghe. Every night 300 men were sent up to the forward area to repair trenches, heightening parapets and putting up barbed wire. 'C' Company moved into the cellars at Ypres to be nearer their work.
On the 22nd August, 1916 the 20th Division took over the sector in front of Trones Wood. This also included the remains of Guillemont station to the north. The 11th Battalion arrived at Morlancourt on the 20th August, and them marched on the 21st to the Citadel. Three companies reached the front line and immediately commenced work on the trenches north of the railway and in front of the extreme left of the Divisional line.
At 10.30 pm, a German counter attack was repulsed. The preparations for the attack went on. By the end of the month the assembly trenches were complete and good progress had been made on the trenches in front of Arrow head Copse. The British guns began their bombardment on August 30th.
John Wilson was killed by shellfire on the 2nd September 1916.
The War Office was given an incorrect address for where the Medals were to be sent, the correct address was 141 Cross House, Middle Rainton, Hetton, and also there was some confusion to relatives names. John's Medals were received by his father in December 1920 as was John's Gratuity of £8 10s.
In 1939 Margaret a widow, and her three sons Thomas, Ralph and Peter were residing at the Fox and Hounds public house between Middle Rainton and East Rainton.
Acknowledgements : J. C. Harvey
Bottom Photograph: World War I Daily Mail Official War Photograph, Series 21, No. 164, titled "The high street of Guillemeont (captured September 3rd, 1916)".
John Wilson is remembered at West Rainton on W113.02 and W113.05 at Houghton-le-Spring on H132.09 and H132.11
