In Deir El Balah War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine, including Gaza, is the Commonwealth War Grave of Captain John Wilson MD serving with the 78th General Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps who died 30/12/1918.

Ian Murray has submitted the following:-
John Wilson, M.D., was born in 1877, the eldest son of Thomas Leishman Wilson and Jessie Lang Wilson (nee Sweet) of Garelochead, Glasgow. He trained as a doctor in Glasgow and after completing his medical training moved to County Durham some time before 1902 to take up a post as a medical practitioner.

In 1906 he married Elizabeth Annie Buckham, the youngest daughter of the late John Buckham from Alderdene House in Lanchester. On the 1911 census John and Elizabeth Annie Wilson are living at Tigh Na Gaoth, 44 West Terrace, Burnhope. This property was for a number of years a restaurant called Open House.

Following the outbreak of war John Wilson enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps where he rose to the rank of Captain, serving in the 78th General Hospital. He died on active service in Palestine on 30 December 1918, aged 41, leaving a widow and no children.

Captain Wilson is buried in Deir El Balah War Cemetery, grave ref C 38. His grave inscription reads: Heavens Morning Breaks And Earths Vain Shadows Flee In Life And Death O Lord Abide With Me

His CWGC certificate gives his wife’s address as Southcote, Lanchester. This is the end house of Prospect Terrace next to Linden Lodge where her brother, Thomas lived.

The Northern Echo 10/01/1919 carries the following announcement:
News has been received of the death on 30th December of Capt. John Wilson, M.D., while on active service in Palestine. The deceased was the eldest son of Mr. T.L. Wilson, of Garelochead, Glasgow, and married the youngest daughter of the late Mr. John Buckham, of Allerdene House, (sic) Lanchester, and resided at Tigh-na-Gmbry Goath, Burnhope Colliery, for several years prior to joining the Army. He leaves a widow but no family.

The Stanley News and North West Durham Observer 16/01/1919 reports:-
Burnhope
Doctor’s death in Palestine
News has reached Burnhope of the death of Capt. John Wilson. MD while on active service in Palestine, on 30 December. Dr Wilson who was attached to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force was the eldest son of Mr TL Wilson of Garelochead, Glasgow. He married the youngest daughter of the late Mr John Buckham, of Allerdene House (sic), Lanchester and resided at Tigh-na-Goath Burnhope Colliery, for several years prior to joining the Army Dr Wilson was professionally engaged as colliery medical man, in partnership with Dr Buckham and Ritson. He leaves a widow, but there is no family.

John Wilson is remembered at Burnhope on B153.01 and B153.03 and at Lanchester on L62.01 and L62.04.