Wilfred Jefferson

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

Plumber Frederick William Jefferson from Carlisle married Sunderland born Elizabeth Appleton in 1876, and their first son also called Frederick was born in 1880 whilst they were living and working in West Hartlepool. Their next three sons, John, Stephen and Thomas were also born there. Wilfred born on 31st March 1891 was their first child to be born in Ryton, and he was followed by Edwin born in 1897.

The family remained living in Ryton after the death of mother Elizabeth in April 1900 and Frederick hired a housekeeper to look after his sons. In 1902 the boys gained a stepmother when Frederick married Mary Eleanor Curry, and their stepbrother James was born whilst they were living at Woodlands, Hexham in 1906. Wilf was a keen sportsman and played football for Northern Stars FC and rugby for Tynedale RFC. When the 1911 census was taken Wilfred’s parents and stepbrother were living in Silloth, Cumbria but Wilf was listed at a visitor staying at Delegate Hall, Hexham with the Davison family, his future wife’s family.

March 1913 saw Frederick and Wilf arrive in Canada on board SS Empress of Ireland, they were making for Battleford, Saskatchewan where they found work as plumbers at Saskatchewan Hospital, and were joined eighteen months later by Mary and eight-year-old James.

Wilfred was recruited into the 44th (Manitoba) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force in July 1915 and then went to Camp Sewell where he was formerly enlisted becoming Private 622729 in “A” Company at the end of August. Two months later the Battalion sailed from Halifax on board the SS Lapland, arriving in Liverpool at the end of October, and a posting to camp at Bramshott, Hampshire.

Whilst on Christmas leave, and with the permission of his Commanding Officer, Wilf married Mary Elizabeth (Daisy) Davison in Hexham Abbey on 30th December 1915. Returning to Bramshott Wilf was promoted to Lance Corporal in February, and despite being fined to going AWOL for one night, to Corporal in late July.

10th August 1916 saw the 44th proceed to France as part of the 19th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division sailing from Southampton on board the SS Viper, and travelling on by train and foot to Flanders, where they spent some time in the trenches at Ypres, but most of their time training behind the lines.

With previous attempts to take Regina Trench having failed and the Canadian troops decimated, only the 4th Division were left. The 44th Battalion attacked on 25th October 1916 and it was here that Corporal Jefferson was killed in action “hit in the chest and instantly killed by bullets from an enemy machine gun”. He was originally buried in the area of Le Sars, but his body was exhumed and buried in Adnac Military Cemetery in 1922.

Wilfred’s half brother was Brigadier General James Curry Jefferson, CBE, DSO and Bar, Croix de Guerre, who commanded the 10th Infantry Brigade from the D Day landings until the end of WW2.

Wilfred Jefferson is remembered in Hexham on H51.03, H51.06, H51.26 and H51.51, in Corbridge on C52.05 and on a family grave in Ryton Cemetery.

In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance, and on Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial.

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual Memorial
The CWGC entry for Corporal Jefferson