Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
George was the son of Robert William and Nancy (aka Annie nee Brass) who was born at Barnard Castle in 1896. The couple had married the previous year. He had a sister, Hazel.
1901 census shows the family living at 12 Queen Street Barnard Castle. Father, Robert was a sanitary engineer and blacksmith Sibling. Also at their home on census night was a niece, Rowena Kipling.
In 1911 George was an apprentice hairdresser with a Mr Bainbridge. Now that the family was living in a larger house (9 rooms at Headlam House) they were able to take in boarders. There were three lady boarders staying with them at census time.
George enlisted on November 11th 1914 at Beverley soon after the war broke out. He was recorded as being 5’1”, light complexion and hair, blue eyes and considered of good physical development. His faith was Church of England.
He was posted to France on May 13th 1915 and was wounded by a gunshot wound to the head about July 28th 1915. He was boarded on the 10 Ambulance Train and then treated at the Anglo Army Hospital, Wimeceaux. He was sent home to recuperate on September 7th 1915 until February 24th 1916 when he was sent back to the front to join the 7th East Yorkshire Regiment. He was awarded a wound stripe.
George was reported missing on July 1st 1916 and it was later assumed that he had been killed in action. No body was recovered so he is listed on the Thiepval Memorial alongside thousands of his comrades.
George William Wilson is remembered in Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.10, B135.12, B135.23 and B135.25
