“Col. John Gerald Wilson, C.B., commanding 3rd Batt. York and Lancaster Regt., died March 8th, 1902 of wounds received in action between Tweebosch and Pamietkuil the previous day. He was the eldest son of the late Richard Bassett Wilson, Esq. of Cliffe, by his marriage with Anne, daughter of the late William Fitzgerald, Esq. of Adelphi, co. Clare. Col. Wilson was born in 1841 and educated at Cheltenham. He joined the 84th Regt. in 1858 from the Royal Military College as an ensign. After the death of his father in 1867, and his succession to the family estate of Cliffe Hall, Piercebridge, Darlington, he retired from the army as a Capt. but subsequently accepted a commission in the volunteer force, and in 1873 was appointed to the command of the 1st North Yorkshire Rifle Volunteers. From the latter he was transferred in 1883 to the command of the 3rd West Yorkshire Militia, now the 3rd Batt. York and Lancaster Regt., and in 1899 he was appointed to the command of the West Yorkshire Volunteer Brigade. He was awarded the C. B. on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of her late Majesty Queen Victoria in 1897 and was Hon. Col. of the 2nd Volunteer Batt. Prince of Wale's West Yorkshire Regt.. His battalion was first embodied in Dec. 1899, being disembodied after twelve months service. It was again embodied in Dec. 1901 and volunteering for active service proceeded to South Africa. In the course of the war Col. Wilson lost a brother (Col. Richard B. Wilson) and a son (2nd Lieut. Richard B. Wilson).The name of Col. J.G. Wilson is inscribed on the Eleanor Cross War Memorial erected at Cheltenham.”

Taken from ’The Last Post', Mildred G. Dooner, published 1903.

Acknowledgments: Colin Boyd

Col. Wilson is remembered at Darlington on D40.056